Cassie McCarthy, LICSW

03/13/2026

Next week is World Social Work Day, and it always makes me think about one of the hardest parts of our work that almost no one talks about: the intake.

Graduate programs spend a lot of time teaching diagnosis, theory, and treatment models.

But many clinicians were never actually taught how to conduct a trauma-informed intake session.

What questions to ask.
How deep to go.
How to assess trauma exposure without overwhelming the client.
How to document what you find in a way that’s clinically clear and defensible.

Instead, many clinicians end up figuring it out as they go, which can make intake sessions feel draining and uncertain.

Next week, in recognition of World Social Work Day, I’ll be sharing something for clinicians who want a clearer structure for trauma-informed intakes.

03/12/2026

You want connection—but dating brings up anxiety, panic, and fear.
You may feel like you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

That’s what trauma does: It teaches your nervous system to stay in defense mode.
With CPT, we can address the beliefs that keep you stuck and help you feel safe in love again.

📍Available for online therapy in MA, VT, VA, IL, and FL
📞 Reach out to start healing

03/09/2026

If religion was used to control, silence, or shame you, it can leave deep scars.
You might feel guilty for questioning it—or struggle to reclaim your own values now.

CPT helps you unpack these experiences without judgment and rebuild a belief system that’s truly your own.

📍Offering trauma therapy in MA, VT, VA, IL, and FL
💬 Reach out when you're ready

03/05/2026

If you grew up in chaos or survived betrayal, trusting others may feel unsafe.
Even in safe relationships now, part of you stays guarded.

I help women navigate trust, boundaries, and connection after trauma—using CPT to shift beliefs like:
❌ “People will always leave.”
❌ “I can’t need anyone.”
❌ “Love isn’t safe.”

📍Online therapy for women in MA, VT, VA, IL, and FL
💬 Send a message to begin

03/04/2026

People think that cognitive behavioral therapy is about forcing positive thinking, and it's not. If you have a CBT therapist who's just like. What's the right way of thinking about it? What's the positive spin? Fire them. That's not cbt. CBT and CPT is about realistic, balanced thoughts that are flexible and can take on new information in the case of efforts to assimilate either altering their memory of the event.

03/03/2026

One thing I see often in trauma work is intake uncertainty.

Not because clinicians are unskilled — but because trauma exposure is frequently misclassified, under-asked about, or documented in ways that don’t hold up over time.

Especially when trauma is interpersonal, chronic, or not overtly violent.

I put together a brief clinical decision-making guide called:

“Does This Count as Trauma? A Clinical Guide to Interpersonal Trauma Exposure.”

It walks through:

How to differentiate stressors from trauma exposure

Where DSM criteria are commonly misunderstood

How threat processing shows up in relational contexts

What to clarify during intake so treatment planning is more accurate

It’s free. No tricks.

If it would be helpful in your practice, you can download it here:

Free clinician guide to assess trauma exposure thresholds with clarity. Reduce guesswork, improve pacing, and align treatment planning.

03/03/2026

Why do predators seem to target those with pre-existing vulnerabilities? Dive into the chilling reality that 'Predators are Lazy.' Explore how PTSD is a key predictor of abusive relationships.

Unveiling a harsh truth: pre-existing trauma often leads to abusive relationships. Find out how predators exploit these vulnerabilities in 'Predators are Lazy.' Let's break the cycle and shine a light on mental health.

Did you know that pre-existing PTSD could be a predictor of abusive relationships? Discover how predators exploit these scars in 'Predators are Lazy.' Join the dialogue and help raise awareness.

03/02/2026

How do our experiences as infants shape the way we navigate the world as adults? Discover the power of schemas and how they impact our perception of safety, trust, and more.

Ever wonder why people react differently to the same situation? It might trace back to their earliest experiences. Learn how schemas formed in infancy guide our adult lives.

From bassinet to adulthood, our early experiences mold our view of the world. Explore how formative schemas influence everything from seeking help to handling trauma.

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03/02/2026

After trauma, your brain works overtime to protect you. That might mean panic over a tone of voice, a text left on read, or even a smell.

That doesn’t mean you’re “crazy.” It means your body is remembering something you never got to process.

CPT helps reduce trauma triggers by changing how your brain stores the trauma memory.
It’s real healing. And it’s possible.

📍Licensed in MA, VT, VA, IL, and FL
📞 Reach out for a consultation

03/01/2026

Understand how trauma reshapes the mind and the importance of balanced thinking. Dive into the journey of meaning-making in my latest discussion.

Is your worldview flexible or rigid? Explore how trauma influences our perceptions in 'Humans Are Meaning Making Creatures.'

Discover the psychology of trauma processing and the path to healthier thought patterns. Join the conversation on mental resilience.

02/28/2026

I am really adamant that it's important to use therapies that have been researched and proven effective with clients. Yeah, there's gonna be a time for clinical trials, but you use clinical trials when there isn't other evidence-based research that has been effective with you or your loved one.
That's when you go to a clinical trial. We start with the evidence-based practice, and I think therapists have a duty to use evidence-based care. And their practice.

02/26/2026

Cognitive processing therapy is a therapy because it's been proven effective. And it is a protocol based approach because we know what works and the research shows if you deviate from the protocol, you're going to actually reduce its efficacy.

So you wanna follow the protocol. It doesn't mean there isn't a natural, like each therapist brings it into the room and that it's not independently and individually tailored to the client. Of course it is. Of course it is. But the steps, the techniques, the interventions, we know what works and so we use them.