Claudia Richards, LICSW

Claudia Richards, LICSW, helps people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or at a turning point in midlife. She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life changes. Her style is straightforward and empathetic, aimed at helping people find practical ways forward.

Claudia brings 30 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker in the District of Columbia. She focuses on what a person can do now to feel steadier and more in control. Sessions often center on identifying unhelpful patterns, building coping skills, and testing small changes that can improve day-to-day life.

Her work covers a wide range of concerns, including self-esteem, grief, parenting strains, addiction issues, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She also helps people facing specific relational stresses like communication problems, infidelity, commitment concerns, and blended family dynamics.

Claudia draws on several practical approaches. She uses client-centered techniques to follow what matters most to each person. Cognitive behavioral strategies help people reframe thinking and try new behaviors. Mindfulness and emotion-focused tools support managing strong feelings and improving connection.

Her practice emphasizes respect for identity and life context, including LGBT and multicultural concerns. People can expect a collaborative process that aims to strengthen resilience and create clearer steps toward change.

How Claudia Uses Therapy Approaches Online

Claudia commonly blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to help people recognize patterns and try practical changes. Client-centered therapy means the conversation follows what matters most to the person, helping them feel heard and understood. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on simple strategies to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and lift mood.

She also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance when feelings become intense. DBT skills help people manage strong emotions, improve decision making, and reduce reactive behaviors that harm relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Claudia helps clients choose methods that match their goals, needs, and pace. She checks in about what feels useful and adjusts methods over time so the plan stays practical and realistic.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can use these methods effectively over distance, and Claudia will help tailor the process to what fits each person best.