Julie Barzal , LICSW, LISW

Julie Barzal is a licensed social worker with seven years of clinical experience who supports adolescents and adults through a wide range of life challenges. She holds LICSW and LISW credentials - LICSW refers to Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and LISW refers to Licensed Independent Social Worker - and maintains licensure in Ohio with a supervisory designation as well as licensure in Massachusetts. Julie has worked extensively with concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem, grief, blended family dynamics, substance use disorders, and relationship and intimacy challenges.

Her therapeutic practice draws on evidence-informed approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method to tailor care to each person’s needs. She also brings experience in telehealth counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and in diagnosing mental health disorders using standard clinical criteria. Julie uses motivational interviewing, problem-solving strategies, and a strengths-based orientation to help clients identify practical steps forward.

Known for empathy, active listening, cultural humility, and advocacy, she emphasizes meeting people where they are and honoring diverse identities and experiences. Her work is guided by a client-centered focus that seeks to empower insight, build skills, and support meaningful change. Julie also shares personal experience that informs her practice - she is ambidextrous, became a mother as a teenager, and pursued her college degrees later in life, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after age 40.

Practical Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Julie integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify their values and develop flexible ways to respond to difficult thoughts and feelings - this approach can be useful for chronic anxiety, stress, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another core approach she uses to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical skills for managing mood, anxiety, and behavioral concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients feel heard and supported while exploring personal goals and challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Julie works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time as progress unfolds. The therapist-client partnership guides which tools and strategies are prioritized.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Those options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and connect from home or other convenient locations while working with licensed professionals and therapists committed to client-centered care.