Carleen Gates , LICSW

Carleen Gates is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She has delivered a range of services including case management, group therapy, individual sessions, school-based counseling, tele-health, and in-home therapy, bringing flexibility and practical experience to diverse care settings.

Over her career she has worked with people facing trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, relationship conflicts, challenging family dynamics, communication difficulties, and emotional abuse. Her work also extends to concerns such as grief, compassion fatigue, bipolar disorder, and attention-related challenges when they affect daily functioning.

Her therapeutic approach is warm and client-centered, combining encouragement with straightforward feedback. She balances candor with sensitivity, aiming to be compassionate and thoughtful while honoring each person with respect and dignity. Carleen values the courage it takes to seek help and to make change, and she aims to partner with clients to build more rewarding, self-empowered lives. She welcomes the opportunity to guide people through the next steps of their healing and growth journey.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Carleen Gates draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy to tailor care to each person. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them while identifying personal values to guide meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, depression, and finding life direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and works to shift unhelpful thinking patterns and coping strategies, which is often effective for stress, anxiety, and mood concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and a nonjudgmental stance to build trust and self-understanding, supporting work on self-esteem, relationships, grief, and family issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Carleen collaborates with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so therapy remains relevant and responsive.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to fit care into busy lives and maintain continuity when schedules or circumstances change. Licensed professionals can provide meaningful, effective support through these formats, helping clients engage in consistent work toward their goals.