Janice Ricks , LISW

Janice Ricks is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with 11 years of therapy experience in Ohio. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life transitions. Janice also works with clients coping with trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, and issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. She emphasizes practical steps people can take to move forward.

Janice draws on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to shape sessions around clear goals. She prefers straightforward conversation and collaborative planning. Sessions often focus on skills to reduce symptoms, problem solving for daily life, and values-based choices.

Her background includes long work in social work and higher education, including classroom teaching and workshops. That experience informs a calm, patient style and an ability to explain ideas simply. She describes therapy as a partnership where the client’s strengths guide the work.

Janice has a history of providing education and workshops for public agencies and community groups on LGBTQ topics and related concerns. She brings that familiarity to conversations about identity, coming out, and relationship dynamics when clients raise those topics.

In sessions she encourages small, steady steps and realistic plans. Clients can expect an emphasis on coping strategies, communication skills, and ways to rebuild confidence after setbacks. Janice invites people who are ready for change to begin with one short step toward their goals.

How Janice’s Approaches Translate to Online Care

Janice uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors to reduce symptoms such as anxiety or depression. CBT helps people notice patterns, test small changes, and build practical coping skills for everyday life.

She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take committed action even when feelings are difficult. ACT can be useful for life transitions, grief, and issues tied to identity and values.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Janice collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and comfort level. Together they review what’s helping, adjust techniques, and plan simple next steps that match the client’s schedule and needs.

Online therapy offers flexibility for different routines and situations. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be a lower-bandwidth option, and live chat or text messaging support quick check-ins or ongoing reflection between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and to practice skills in real time.