Carolyn Hollingshead , LCSW, LISW-CP

Carolyn Hollingshead is a licensed social worker in Utah with 22 years of clinical experience, offering care for people facing a wide range of emotional, relational, and life-transition challenges. She holds LCSW and LISW-CP credentials - LCSW meaning Licensed Clinical Social Worker and LISW-CP indicating Licensed Independent Social Worker for clinical practice - and brings a depth of practice across areas such as depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family concerns, chronic pain and illness, eating and food-related issues, and addiction.

Her work emphasizes process and insight, guiding people through the kinds of reflections that often produce meaningful shifts and moments of new understanding. She integrates evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside client-centered and mindfulness-based techniques, and draws on relational approaches such as Gottman-informed work for couples and family dynamics. That blend supports treatment of mood disorders, parenting and blended-family issues, bereavement, anger and self-esteem struggles, and adjustments related to career or life-stage transitions.

Carolyn values a holistic perspective and is open to incorporating somatic-informed strategies when they complement talk-based work. She frames therapy as collaborative learning, offering a practical toolbox of approaches to help people move toward greater functioning and quality of life.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. It is often used for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and life transitions by teaching practical skills to increase psychological flexibility.

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where the person leading the conversation is the client. This approach is useful for people seeking a compassionate space to explore identity, relationships, grief, or self-esteem concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that identifies and shifts unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It is commonly applied to anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with day-to-day challenges by offering concrete skills and homework to reinforce progress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and a licensed professional will collaborate with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. The therapist will adapt techniques over time to support what works best for the individual.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, manage transportation or mobility limitations, and maintain continuity of care across locations. For many people, remote sessions provide accessible ways to engage consistently with therapists and apply skills between meetings.