- Attachment focus
- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
About Claudia
Claudia Stephens is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 27 years of experience practicing in Virginia and Texas. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, relationship and family problems, grief, career transitions, and issues like guilt and shame. Claudia also addresses ADHD, compassion fatigue, and intimacy-related concerns.
Her background includes work as a clinical social work therapist and a middle school counselor. That experience shaped how she talks with people at different life stages. She uses practical, evidence-based methods rather than jargon.
In sessions she draws on Attachment-Based approaches to look at how early relationships affect current feelings. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and Mindfulness techniques to ground people in the present. EMDR is part of her toolkit for processing trauma.
Claudia focuses on clear conversation and concrete steps. She helps people improve communication, cope with loss, and work through family of origin issues. She addresses perfectionism, control issues, codependency, and the painful self-judgment that comes with guilt and shame.
People can expect a collaborative stance. Claudia aims to help clients notice patterns, try small changes, and track what helps. Sessions also include practical coaching for career stress and parenting strain.
Her practice maintains professional standards for clinical social work in Virginia and Texas. Sessions are conducted in English. Prospective clients are asked to use the matching and scheduling tools to begin the intake process.
Approaches used in online sessions and how they help
Claudia commonly uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationship patterns shape current emotions and reactions, which can be useful for working through guilt, shame, and attachment issues. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors, a practical way to reduce recurring self-blame. Mindfulness Therapy is used to build present-moment noticing skills that reduce rumination and help with anxiety and stress.Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and personal preferences. That might mean starting with CBT for thought patterns, adding mindfulness for stress, or using attachment-focused work to deepen relational insight.
Session formats were not specified in the biography, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into weekday routines, shorten commute time, allow for a quicker check-in during a lunch break, or avoid having to be on camera for the whole appointment. Licensed professionals and therapists often adapt activities like grounding exercises, cognitive restructuring, and EMDR-informed protocols to work in virtual appointments when appropriate.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Listed in
Texas, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, relationship and family problems, grief, career changes, ADHD, and guilt and shame.
How does she approach feelings of guilt and shame?
She uses attachment-informed conversations alongside CBT and mindfulness to explore how past relationships and current thoughts keep those feelings active.
How much experience does she have?
She has 27 years of experience as a clinician, including work as a clinical social work therapist and a middle school counselor.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Virginia and Texas and practices from Virginia.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking as formats were not specified in the biography.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.