- Stress and anxiety
- Relationships
- CBT and DBT
About Claudia
Claudia Richards is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in the District of Columbia with 30 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, self-esteem struggles, and major life changes.
Claudia focuses on straightforward conversation and practical coping strategies. She helps people sort through relationship tensions, career stress, grief, parenting pressures, and concerns related to addiction and ADHD. She also supports LGBT clients and those dealing with attachment or adoption and foster care issues.
Her style draws on several clinical approaches. Claudia uses Client-Centered Therapy to listen and respond to each person's goals. She brings Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to spot and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness methods are used when emotion regulation and stress management are needed.
Claudia’s background includes long experience with family problems, communication difficulties, infidelity, and blended family issues. She has worked with people affected by trauma, first responder stress, and grief following loss. Her practice also addresses HIV/AIDS-related concerns and compassion fatigue in helping professionals.
People who contact Claudia typically want clear steps they can use daily. She frames sessions around problem solving, skill practice, and building routines that reduce overwhelm. To begin, she asks about current struggles and priorities, then works with each person to set practical goals.
How Claudia’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to a person's goals, helping them feel heard and clarifying what they want to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to shift unhelpful thinking. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers specific skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, such as distress tolerance and emotion regulation.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will review the client’s needs, goals, and preferences and then suggest which methods to focus on. This is a collaborative decision made over the first few sessions so treatment reflects what the person wants to achieve.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the current online options before booking. Many people appreciate online sessions because they can fit a meeting into a busy day, reduce travel time, and make it easier to keep regular appointments. Online work also lets people practice skills between sessions in their everyday setting and follow up with shorter check-ins when needed.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, addictions, grief, parenting concerns, career stress, and ADHD among other areas.
What is her general therapy style?
She blends Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness to focus on practical skills and clearer thinking.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of emotional and interpersonal issues.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She is a District of Columbia LICSW, which stands for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, practicing in Washington, D.C.
Can I see her if English is not my first language?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin sessions with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.