Theresa Gachuna , LICSW

Theresa Gachuna helps people who are navigating loss, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and patterns of addictive or unhealthy behavior. She recognizes that loss is not always the death of a loved one - it can be loss of identity, changes in roles, shifts in relationships, chronic illness, or other experiences that leave someone questioning who they are and how they want to move forward. Her work focuses on understanding those losses and the ways they affect mood, coping, and relationships.

Theresa has been in the helping field since 1996 and earned her LICSW in 2008. LICSW stands for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a credential that denotes advanced clinical training and independent practice in social work. Over the years she has worked in a variety of settings and with people from different backgrounds, which contributes to a flexible perspective on care.

Theresa adapts her therapeutic approach to each person she meets, selecting evidence-based techniques that fit the client’s needs and goals. She supports people in identifying priorities, gaining insight, changing unwanted behaviors, and improving how they relate to others, with the aim of helping them restore a sense of purpose and well-being.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Support

Theresa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and emotional processing. One approach emphasizes skills-based work to reduce anxiety and improve mood by teaching coping strategies, stress management, and ways to change unhelpful thinking patterns. This kind of work can help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and daily stressors.

Another area of focus is grief and loss work that helps people explore the many kinds of loss - including changes in roles, relationships, and identity. That work centers on understanding the impact of those losses, processing difficult feelings, and finding ways to rebuild a sense of purpose and self-compassion.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Theresa collaborates with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and she tailors techniques accordingly so the plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single method.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people with busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or limited local options. These formats make it easier to access a licensed professional from home, allow for consistent follow-up, and can be adapted to what works best for the client and therapist.