About Katherine
Dr. Katherine Qubain Ernst helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or life changes. She also supports parents, young adults, and those navigating ADHD or identity concerns.
Katherine presents a calm, direct style that aims to make therapy feel manageable and useful from the first conversation. She trained in clinical psychology and holds the NC Psychologist 6461 credential. She practiced in the Philadelphia area while completing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies, then returned to North Carolina in 2020.
Background and approach
Her work history includes public schools, a community mental health center for youth and families, and an inpatient substance use rehabilitation setting. In sessions she uses approaches drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside compassion-focused and family systems ideas. That means clients learn practical skills for handling intense emotions, staying connected to personal values, and improving day-to-day functioning.
Katherine emphasizes an intersectional, trauma-informed, gender-affirming stance. She aims to create a respectful space for people who identify as LGBT and for those facing multicultural or caregiving stresses. Her lived experience as a queer Arab-American woman informs her perspective.
Her style combines warmth with clear guidance. Parents can expect practical coaching around caregiving stress and communication. Young adults and individuals with attention or mood concerns can work on routines, emotion regulation, and coping strategies tailored to their lives.
How ACT and DBT translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and reconnect with what matters to them. In practical terms clients practice small actions tied to their values and learn simple exercises to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful activity.Dialectical Behavior Therapy focuses on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. Online work often includes learning coping skills, practicing them between sessions, and reviewing what helped or didn’t in day-to-day situations.
Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what’s been tried before, then tailor ACT, DBT, or a mix to match those needs. That shared planning helps make online sessions feel purposeful and relevant.
Online formats offer flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let people meet face-to-face when a longer conversation is needed. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when being off camera feels easier. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, daily coaching, or practicing skills in real time without scheduling a full session.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 9 years
- Licensed
- North Carolina
- Languages
- English
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