Aen Brauer , LICSW

Aen Brauer is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 15 years of experience practicing in Washington. She focuses on everyday struggles such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and self-esteem. She also supports people facing addictions, LGBT concerns, eating issues, parenting stress, career questions, and ADHD-related challenges.

Her approach centers on creating an open, nonjudgmental space where people can share thoughts and feelings. She aims to help people find practical ways to cope and to take small steps toward change. Sessions are conversational and focused on the client's priorities.

Brauer draws on several evidence-informed methods to match the work to each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and move toward meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.

She also uses Client-Centered techniques to listen deeply and follow the client's lead in session. For strong emotions or impulsive reactions, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are offered to build emotional regulation and distress tolerance.

People who want a practical, steady guide through big life transitions often find this style helpful. The therapist focuses on clear steps, coping tools, and realistic goals. She supports people who want to feel more capable and make progress in everyday life.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Aen commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people name their values and take action toward them even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings appear. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist listens to your goals and preferences and suggests methods that fit those needs. Over the first sessions she will check in and adjust techniques so the work feels useful and realistic.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. Video calls allow a longer, face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can work when video is difficult or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, tracking progress, or when writing feels more comfortable. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep contact between appointments.