Katherine Wald, LCSW
I am a solution-focused therapist and certified clinical supervisor in private practice in Miami, Florida. I am licensed to provide therapy in Florida, New York, Maryland, and North Carolina. Trained at the University of Pennsylvania with over 20 years of experience, I approach therapy in a way that will help you to heal the wounds of your past and deal with the issues of the present in a warm, validating, and non-judgmental manner.
Although I provide general psychotherapy to many of my clients, I provide specialized therapies in the areas of:
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dissociative Disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic illnesses
I am also a certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist and have advanced training in clinical hypnosis.
My Journey of Healing
My road to success has been long and difficult and I believe that my own struggles have made it easier to connect with the struggles of my clients. From personal experience, I know what it is like to fail often and to keep trying until finally achieving success.
When I was 7 years old, I was diagnosed with severe combined type Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and multiple learning differences, including dyslexia and dyscalculia. As a result of these difficulties, I struggled growing up.
That same year, I also began swimming, initially as a way to channel my energy after the ADHD diagnosis. Over time, swimming became a powerful outlet that taught me discipline, focus, and perseverance. I eventually competed at some of the highest levels and swam Division I in college. Sports played an important role in helping me build the drive and determination necessary for success both in and out of the pool.
With the support of an academic coach, I gradually learned how to compensate for my areas of academic difficulty and developed strategies that worked for my unique learning style. These tools became especially important when I was accepted into Ransom Everglades, an elite and academically rigorous college preparatory school. Although the environment was challenging, I persisted and
ultimately graduated. This achievement reflected both hard work and personal growth. Building on that foundation, I went on to graduate magna cum laude from Georgetown University and later earned my master’s in social work with honors from the University of Pennsylvania.
I decided to become a therapist in order to help others the way that I was helped. My struggles with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences have made me both resilient and more empathetic to others who also struggle with life’s challenges. For several years I have also faced some additional health issues which have enabled me to connect in a unique way with clients who suffer from chronic health conditions.
By sharing my story with you, I would like you to know that no matter what challenges or obstacles life presents, how you look at the situation controls how you feel about it. Do not give up. You are stronger than you think.
My Non-Profit Work
I am the co-founder and director of the non-profit organization Inspire Transformation (IT) which provides sustainable social improvements around the globe. We identify and support local leaders to establish team and community-based programs. These programs use sports, music, counseling, and other culturally relevant activities as a catalyst to bring about positive, social change.
Since 2010, I have been traveling to Africa to train local leaders to counsel gender-based violence survivors in remote areas of northern Namibia and the Nkomazi region of South Africa.
To learn more about my non-profit, please visit: inspire-transformation.org
