Sonya Fuller , LISW

Sonya Fuller is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Ohio with 28 years of experience in social work and clinical practice. She earned a Master of Social Work from Cleveland State University in 2014 and completed her undergraduate studies at Bowling Green State University. Over the course of her career she has worked in community settings, shelters, hospital acute care and rehabilitation, and hospice, building a wide-ranging background in crisis intervention, case management, group work, advocacy, and clinical counseling.

Early roles with the Salvation Army included community social work and leadership as director of a women and children’s shelter, where she coordinated services and supported people facing housing instability, involvement with the justice system, and family challenges. Later clinical work in hospital and rehabilitation settings focused on helping people adjust after sudden life-changing events, addressing anxiety, depression, and planning for a new normal. In her current hospice role she provides grief, marital, and family counseling both before and after a patient’s transition.

Her counseling style is warm and engaging, grounded in a client-centered philosophy that emphasizes empathy, respect, and genuine support. She also integrates cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic approaches and tailors conversations and treatment plans to each person’s circumstances and goals. She lives by the motto, "We come into this world full, leave empty," and brings that perspective to the emotional and practical work of supporting people through change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Sonya Fuller draws on client-centered therapy to create a supportive space where individuals feel heard and respected. This approach emphasizes empathy and unconditional positive regard and can help with self-esteem, relationship and family concerns, grief, and coping with life changes.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT can be useful for managing anxiety, depression, addictions, sleep and eating challenges, and developing practical coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and she works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. The therapist will adapt techniques and create a treatment plan that reflects the client’s priorities.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or mobility limitations. These remote options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent support and continuity of care while accommodating different communication styles and practical needs.