- ACT and CBT
- Client-centered care
- Spanish and English
About Graciela
Graciela "Gracie" Wangsnes is a California-licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 10 years of experience. She works with people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and related concerns such as body image and guilt and shame. She offers services in English and Spanish and draws on several evidence-informed approaches to guide sessions.
Gracie uses clear, interactive conversations to help people untangle difficult feelings and find practical next steps. She leans on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new patterns. She also uses client-centered principles to keep the focus on each person’s goals and values.
Many clients bring struggles rooted in relationships and past hurts. Gracie listens for how family patterns and trauma shape current reactions. She works through emotion regulation skills and problem-solving strategies so clients can manage stress and daily demands more reliably.
For issues around body image, self-love, and persistent shame, she combines behavioral work with direct attention to values and self-compassion. Sessions often include exercises to notice automatic thoughts, try small behavioral experiments, and practice alternative responses to old patterns.
Gracie aims to adapt each conversation to the person in front of her. She asks questions, offers practical tools, and reviews what is working. To start, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
How Gracie uses ACT and CBT online
Gracie often draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting ruled by them. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small committed actions that align with those values, which can help when guilt or shame keeps someone stuck. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and test unhelpful thoughts. CBT involves practical exercises such as tracking triggers, trying brief behavioral experiments, and practicing alternative self-statements to shift routine reactions to stress and anxiety. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Gracie will talk with each person about goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps. The process is collaborative and paced to fit individual needs and preferences. Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Many people find remote sessions easier to fit into busy schedules because they require less travel and can be scheduled around work or caregiving. Remote meetings also make it simpler to do homework between sessions, check in briefly on tough days, and practice skills in real time where life happens.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and related areas such as body image, guilt and shame, post-traumatic stress, self-love, social anxiety and phobia.
How does she approach guilt and shame in sessions?
She combines cognitive behavioral strategies with client-centered and acceptance-based techniques to help people notice patterns and try new responses to shame and guilt.
What is her background and experience?
She is a California LCSW with 10 years of professional experience working in clinical settings and with individual clients.
What credential and location information is provided?
She holds the LCSW credential and is licensed in California.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can out-of-country clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a 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.