Julie Barzal, LICSW, LISW

Julie Barzal is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory designation in Ohio and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She brings seven years of clinical experience and a calm, down-to-earth style to sessions. Julie aims to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting pressures, addiction concerns, and midlife transitions.

She uses straightforward talk and active listening to help people sort through what matters most. Sessions are focused on practical steps, skills to manage emotions, and clearer decision making. Julie emphasizes respect for identity and life story, including LGBT concerns and blended family challenges.

Julie blends several approaches to match a person’s needs rather than sticking to one model. She often draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to spot unhelpful thinking and on client-centered work to follow the person’s pace. Emotion-focused methods are used when relationship patterns or intimacy issues are a core concern.

Her background includes work with adolescents and adults on substance use, grief, trauma, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and other complex situations. She has provided direct counseling, crisis support, case management, and telehealth services over her career.

Julie values cultural humility, gender and identity inclusion, and a strength-based outlook. She describes her role as engaged and practical - helping people set goals, try new behaviors, and evaluate what is and isn’t working in daily life.

She encourages anyone taking the first step toward help to recognize that change is possible and that the work can be both challenging and empowering.

How her approaches translate to online care

Julie commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in ways that fit remote work. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed steps toward them, which can help with life changes and midlife concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety and depressive patterns.

She also draws on client-centered principles, which means sessions focus on what matters to the person and move at their pace. Finding the right approach is part of the process, and the therapist will work with clients to test methods and adjust based on goals and preferences in a collaborative way.

If you are considering online therapy, check the current session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Many people find virtual work helpful for fitting therapy into busy routines, keeping appointments across distances, or having shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and relationship work to an online setting while helping clients practice new skills between sessions.