Dr. Keith Cates, LPC, LMHC

Dr. Keith Cates offers straightforward, practical therapy grounded in approaches that focus on meaning, present-moment awareness, and trauma processing. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 16 years of experience. He uses plain language and a respectful, down-to-earth manner to help people move toward clearer goals and better daily functioning.

Clients come with many concerns, and Dr. Cates works with issues such as trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, and career concerns. He also helps with relationship and intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, parenting strain, and coping with life changes. Additional areas he addresses include first responder and veteran matters, compassion fatigue, and non-traditional sexual cultures like BDSM and polyamory when those relate to a client's wellbeing.

His approach is collaborative. He adapts conversations and plans to fit each person’s situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all script. Expect goal-focused sessions that blend techniques from existential, mindfulness, solution-focused, and trauma-processing work.

Over the years he has supported people facing post-traumatic stress and the ongoing effects of disaster and high-stress jobs. He emphasizes support, respect, and practical steps you can try between sessions. Dr. Cates aims to empower people as they take the first steps toward change.

Dr. Cates practices in Alabama and conducts sessions in English. If you want to begin, use the Start Therapy button and complete the short matching questionnaire to schedule according to availability.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Existential Therapy invites people to talk about meaning, values, and choices in their lives. Online sessions can offer space to consider life direction, role changes, and questions about purpose using conversation and structured reflection.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a trauma-processing method that helps reduce distress linked to painful memories through guided attention and bilateral stimulation. When EMDR is used, the therapist and client work together to pace the steps and practice grounding and coping skills between targeted processing segments.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels manageable, then choose or combine methods to fit those needs. This is a collaborative process where adjustments happen over time based on what helps most.

Practical benefits of online therapy often include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into a busy week. Online work can make it simpler to have shorter check-ins or to join sessions when travel or work hours are a barrier. Session format details are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking to make sure they match your needs.