- CBT focus
- Mindfulness practice
- Trauma-informed
About Lacey
Lacey Gaters is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW-C) licensed in Maryland with 11 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, ADHD, parenting challenges, grief, and young adult issues. She also addresses addictions, anger, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, and caregiver stress.
Lacey uses straightforward conversation and practical tools to help people clarify goals and make changes. She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice and shift unhelpful thinking that contributes to distress. She also uses client-centered methods and trauma-focused strategies when trauma is part of the picture.
Her background includes a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from James Madison University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland. She has provided care in hospitals and outpatient clinics over the past decade, gaining experience with a wide range of concerns and life stages. That clinical history informs how she assesses immediate needs and next steps with each client.
In sessions she listens actively and avoids pushing any agenda. She will challenge beliefs and thoughts that get in the way of progress and offer practical tools people can use between meetings. People who want clear feedback and an action-oriented approach often find this style useful.
She works with individuals who bring complex personal and family concerns, including adoption and foster care issues, autism spectrum concerns, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, multicultural issues, and post-traumatic stress. She invites people to be open about what they are experiencing so they can set realistic goals together.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what a person says. It helps people feel understood and figure out their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and manage anxiety and stress.Choosing an approach is often a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to identify goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust plans as progress is reviewed. That means techniques can be combined or shifted based on what feels most useful to the person.
Confirm session formats before booking since the original biography does not list specific online options. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy schedule, shorten commutes, and allow for sessions during breaks from school or work. Some formats are better for focused skill practice or brief check-ins, while others support deeper trauma work; the therapist can talk through which option will best match a client's needs and daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and parenting concerns, ADHD, grief, addictions, anger, self-esteem, and young adult issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a client-centered approach with practical techniques. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trauma-focused work are commonly used to change thinking and address traumatic experiences.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 11 years of clinical experience in hospitals and outpatient clinics, and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW-C licensed in Maryland.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking as the original profile does not specify formats.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work 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.