Laura Hennessy , LCSW

Laura Hennessy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New Jersey. She brings 13 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use concerns. She often focuses on issues that commonly affect women, including intimacy-related concerns, self-esteem, and recovery from sexual assault and abuse.

Her background includes work at a nonprofit community mental health center where she supported adults and adolescents facing mental health and addiction challenges. That hands-on experience shaped a straightforward style: clear, empathetic, and focused on what people want to change in their lives.

In sessions she centers engagement, building insight, and boosting motivation. She uses talk-based methods and practical tools to help clients identify patterns, try new responses, and practice different ways of coping. Sessions aim to be collaborative and goal-oriented so progress is measurable.

Clients often come with relationship strain, mood disorders, or struggles with substance use. She also addresses attachment concerns, codependency, commitment and communication problems, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. Her work includes support for people managing bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress.

Laura describes emotions and lived experience as valid and worth expressing without judgment. She helps people take small, manageable steps toward change and build skills they can use outside sessions. Her approach is practical, patient, and centered on each person's priorities.

Approaches that guide online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the client's lead. The therapist creates space for people to express feelings and decide what matters most, which helps with low self-esteem, relationship concerns, and emotional recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks down how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. It offers concrete tools to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, useful for anxiety, depression, and problem drinking.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, helps people identify and shift emotional responses that get in the way of close relationships. It is often used when intimacy, attachment, or recurring relationship conflicts are central concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to a client's goals, comfort, and preferences. That can mean trying a few tactics and adjusting over time until a good fit emerges.

Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is helpful for longer appointments and face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can be lower bandwidth and easier during a commute or a short break. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework guidance, or when writing helps clarify thoughts. These options make scheduling more flexible and can help therapy fit into a busy life.