Dr. Vaughn DeCoster , LCSW

Dr. Vaughn DeCoster, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), brings 31 years of clinical experience to his work supporting people through stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, intimacy-related concerns, and a wide range of life transitions. He approaches each person as an individual, recognizing unique strengths, circumstances, and goals, and treats therapy as a collaborative, creative process in which the client is the expert on their own life.

Over decades as a clinician and university professor, he has developed a broad set of evidence-informed tools that address feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and he sometimes incorporates creative methods such as photography into the therapeutic process. He focuses on building resilience, fostering healing, and helping clients develop practical strategies for coping with grief, career challenges, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and issues related to identity and relationships.

Known for an engaged and compassionate style, Dr. DeCoster adapts sessions and treatment plans to meet each person’s needs, experimenting with different strategies until a good fit is found. He emphasizes practical, evidence-based approaches while honoring each client’s pace and preferences, supporting meaningful change and improved well-being over time.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Dr. Vaughn DeCoster integrates Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early and current relational patterns shape feelings of safety, connection, and intimacy; this approach can be helpful for relationship difficulties, abandonment concerns, and rebuilding trust. He also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathic listening and collaboration so clients can access their own strengths and move toward goals at a comfortable pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another key tool he employs to help identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety, manage stress, and improve coping with depression and life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Dr. DeCoster works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. He tailors strategies over time, combining elements of different approaches when that best serves the client.

Online therapy with Dr. DeCoster offers practical flexibility - sessions may take place by video call or phone, and there are options for live chat or text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to schedule appointments around work, caregiving, and daily life, and to access licensed professionals from different locations when appropriate.