Diana Johnstone , LCSW

Diana Johnstone is a licensed clinical social worker with 19 years of experience. She focuses on trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, self-esteem, and stress. Diana works with people who want practical skills and clearer ways to manage intense emotions.

She uses a client-centered approach that starts with listening. Sessions begin with the person's immediate concerns and strengths. Diana helps people build skills for coping, emotion regulation, and relaxation so they can feel steadier day to day.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is part of her practice. She helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors that reduce anxiety and low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are taught when emotions feel overwhelming and when self-harm or intense reactivity are present.

Diana has a long background treating trauma, including survivors of sexual abuse and assault. She also supports people through pregnancy and childbirth stress, caregiver strain, and recovery from natural or human-caused disasters. Work may address family of origin issues, communication problems, guilt, shame, and loneliness.

Sessions are tailored to the person’s needs and paced to their comfort. Diana aims to create a nonjudgmental space where people can talk through painful memories and build practical tools. She invites people to take the first step toward more manageable days and a clearer sense of purpose.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, validation, and building on a person’s strengths to guide the work. In practice that means the therapist follows the person’s concerns and helps choose goals and techniques that feel right.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people notice patterns of thought that increase anxiety or depression. Sessions often include simple exercises and homework to try new behaviors between appointments.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication. It is useful when strong emotions, self-harm, or relationship conflict make daily life harder.

Finding the right approach is something the therapist will do together with the person. Diana will talk through options, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. That collaborative process guides whether more skills work, trauma-focused methods, or a mix is used.

Online formats available include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and skills practice. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or a camera isn’t wanted. Live chat and text messaging can fit quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing support between full sessions. These options offer flexibility to fit therapy into busy schedules and different daily routines.