Claire McDonough , LCSW

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 21 years of experience in New Jersey. She uses practical, evidence-based approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and the effects of trauma and loss. Claire emphasizes clear communication and a respectful, steady presence in sessions so people feel heard from the start.

She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with emotionally focused and mindfulness work. That combination lets her address thoughts and behaviors, build stronger emotional awareness, and teach calming skills people can use day to day. She also uses motivational interviewing to support people who want to make important life changes.

Claire has worked across a range of mental health settings over two decades. That background means she is familiar with addiction recovery, caregiver stress, first responder concerns, and complicated family of origin issues. She also supports people navigating gender dysphoria, LGBT concerns, intimacy problems, and struggles with self-esteem and impulsivity.

In sessions she listens first, then helps set small, achievable goals. She will offer practical tools such as mindfulness practices, behavioral experiments, and emotion regulation strategies. Progress is measured in changes people notice at home, work, and in relationships.

Therapy is a collaborative process with Claire guiding and challenging clients when needed. She works with individuals on parenting stress, communication problems, grief, forgiveness, and coping with life changes, helping each person find what best fits their situation.

How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

Claire commonly combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with mindfulness practices to help people handle distress and change unhelpful patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with practical exercises and homework. Dialectical Behavior Therapy adds skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness.

Finding the right approach is a joint process. Claire will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and daily life, then suggest which methods to try first. She adjusts the plan over time based on what is most useful and what the person finds workable.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different days and needs. Video lets people practice emotional and communication work in real time. Phone sessions can fit a quick check-in or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text can support brief skill coaching, scheduling, or supplemental contact between longer sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while matching the format to each person's routine and comfort.