Claudia Richards , LICSW

Claudia Richards is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles. She focuses on practical steps that make daily life easier, and she works with people facing parenting challenges, grief, addiction concerns, and LGBT-related issues. Claudia practices in the District of Columbia and holds a DC LICSW.

Her style is warm and straightforward. Sessions typically look at what is causing distress now and what small changes could help. She uses talk and simple skills so people can try new ways of coping between meetings.

Claudia draws from client-centered methods to meet people where they are. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and DBT skills to manage strong emotions. Mindfulness practices and emotionally-focused work help when relationships and attachment are central concerns.

Over three decades she has worked with a wide range of issues, including career strain, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and the effects of adoption or foster care. She also supports people dealing with infidelity, divorce and separation, substance use, and the aftermath of disasters.

In sessions she pays attention to communication patterns, commitment questions, and codependency concerns. Her goal is to help people build clearer boundaries, steadier mood management, and more satisfying day-to-day relationships.

Approaches that fit into your life and schedule

Claudia combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to focus on what matters most to each person. Client-centered therapy means the conversation is guided by the client's goals and experiences, helping build trust and clarity. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thinking patterns and behavior, offering concrete tools to reduce anxiety, lift mood, and change unhelpful habits.

She also uses dialectical behavior therapy skills when emotions feel overwhelming. DBT teaches practical emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills that are useful for strong mood swings, conflict, or impulsive behavior. Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process - Claudia will work with the client to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video is helpful for deeper conversation and visual connection, while phone calls can fit a lunch break or lower bandwidth situations. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or when a quicker touchpoint is needed. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while still working with a licensed professional.