Robert Peterson , LICSW

Robert Peterson is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) based in Washington who brings three decades of experience to his practice. He has spent much of his career working in international settings with children and adolescents, where challenges such as cultural displacement, adjustment shock, separation from family and friends, and isolation are common. Those early experiences helped shape his approach to helping young people and families navigate crisis, loss, and major life transitions.

He applies practical, skills-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients manage anxiety, depression, panic attacks, anger, and stress. A focus on resilience guides his work - building the thinking patterns and coping skills that support adaptation after trauma, divorce, bereavement, or other events that overwhelm usual coping responses. Robert also brings experience addressing parenting and family issues, relationship and intimacy concerns, addictions, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and challenges related to adoption and foster care.

Robert works with a wide range of issues including grief, trauma and abuse, career and academic problems, social adjustment, and concerns related to aging, autism spectrum conditions, and personality and impulse-related difficulties. He combines evidence-informed techniques with a client-centered stance to support personal growth, conflict resolution, and stronger interpersonal functioning. As a LICSW he draws on a long history of clinical work to tailor interventions to each person s needs and circumstances.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Robert draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is practical and problem-focused, and it is often helpful for anxiety, depression, panic, and stress-related challenges. He also uses Solution-Focused Therapy, which concentrates on building on strengths and finding small, achievable steps toward the changes a client wants to see; this approach can be especially useful for clients seeking clear short-term goals and quicker momentum. In addition, his client-centered stance emphasizes empathy and active listening, creating space for clients to explore values, relationships, and meaning at their own pace.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Robert works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and then tailors techniques accordingly. Clients and the therapist review progress together and adjust the plan so the work stays relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions are delivered - by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit care into busy schedules or to connect from different locations. These options let therapists and licensed professionals maintain continuity of care, adapt pacing, and use a mix of real-time and between-session communication to support lasting progress.