Rita Mahon , LICSW

Rita Mahon is a licensed social worker in Rhode Island with 18 years of professional experience supporting individuals through stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, and grief and loss. She brings specialized training as a certified practitioner in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, a treatment approach often used to address traumatic memories. Rita holds the LICSW credential - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - which reflects advanced clinical training and experience in mental health care.

Rita’s practice centers on the belief that each person is the expert of their own story and carries strengths that can be used to move through challenges. She works collaboratively to recognize those strengths, build coping strategies, and create meaningful change. Taking the first step toward greater well-being often requires courage, and Rita offers steady support and practical guidance throughout that process.

Her background includes helping people navigate a wide range of concerns, from day-to-day stress and relationship strains to deeper wounds from trauma and periods of bereavement. Rita aims to create a respectful, empathic therapeutic space where goals are clarified and progress is approached at a pace that fits each individual.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Rita Mahon integrates practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people navigate difficult emotions and life transitions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages mindful awareness of thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values - it is useful for stress, anxiety, and making meaningful changes in life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and problem-focused difficulties. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines skills training in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to support people coping with intense emotions and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Rita works with each person to explore what fits best for their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time so care remains relevant and effective. The aim is to tailor a plan that feels manageable and aligned with the client’s priorities.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions take place - whether by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit support into a busy life or reach help from different locations. These options allow licensed professionals and therapists to maintain continuity of care, accommodate scheduling needs, and provide timely support when life gets complicated.