Holly Goodman , LCSW

Holly Goodman is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in North Carolina with 30 years of counseling experience. She uses a straightforward, compassionate style to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, and other life challenges. Holly also brings coaching skills to conversations about work-life balance and career concerns.

Her sessions focus on practical steps people can use right away. She blends client-centered listening with cognitive-behavioral techniques and solution-focused planning. That means she listens closely, helps identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns, and works with clients to set realistic goals and small changes.

Holly has worked across a wide range of concerns including trauma and abuse, addictions, intimacy-related issues, eating and sleep problems, family and blended-family difficulties, and caregiver and end-of-life stress. She also supports people dealing with fertility questions, body image, guilt and shame, and career transitions.

Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. Clients can expect clear communication, education about coping skills, and motivational techniques when helpful. Holly aims to create a warm environment where people can make sense of their feelings and try practical strategies between sessions.

Over three decades in practice have given her experience with both short-term problem solving and longer work on patterns that repeat over time. She frames therapy as a partnership and helps people chart small, achievable steps toward better daily functioning and improved perspective.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Holly commonly uses client-centered therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening without judgment and helping people name their priorities; it is useful for building self-awareness and emotional clarity. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns, which helps with anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating problems.

She also draws on motivational interviewing when people need help finding internal reasons to change. That approach uses respectful questions to uncover motivation and set small, achievable steps. Choosing an approach is a collaborative process - the therapist will talk with each person about their goals, try methods that seem to fit, and adjust based on what helps most.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full conversations and visual cues, while phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text let people send shorter updates, try quick coping strategies between sessions, or work at times that fit a busy schedule. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.