Nancy Lefler-Panela , LCSW

Nancy Lefler-Panela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Tennessee and California, holding licenses TN LCSW 8747 and CA LCSW 74610. With three years of direct clinical experience, she focuses on supporting individuals and families through stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and life transitions. Her work also addresses challenges such as addiction, parenting struggles, anger, self-esteem, and career concerns, along with related issues like attachment, codependency, and family-of-origin dynamics.

Nancy approaches therapy from an evidence-based perspective while honoring each person as the expert on their own life. She emphasizes clients' existing strengths and collaborates to build practical skills for coping and growth. Nancy encourages courageous first steps toward a more fulfilling life and offers steady support as clients pursue change.

Working primarily in English and available to international clients, Nancy aims to create a respectful, empowering therapeutic relationship that helps people navigate loss, relationship difficulties, post-traumatic stress, and the many transitions that shape life. Her practice centers on clear goals, compassionate guidance, and practical tools to help clients move forward.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Nancy uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that emphasize practical skills and healing. One common approach focuses on skills-based coping strategies that teach concrete ways to manage stress, anxiety, and everyday triggers, helping clients develop tools for emotional regulation and problem solving. Another area of focus is trauma-informed care, which attends to the impact of traumatic experiences while pacing work to match each person's readiness and resilience. A family-focused perspective helps address relationship patterns, parenting challenges, and communication problems to improve interactions and shared coping.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Nancy works with clients to identify goals, explore what methods fit their needs and preferences, and adjust the plan as progress is made. The therapeutic relationship evolves based on the client’s feedback and changing priorities.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy schedules or geographic constraints. Video calls and phone sessions allow real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide flexible, shorter-format check-ins and support between sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access licensed professionals from varied locations.