Marcia Howard , LCSW

Marcia Howard is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California with two decades of practice. She focuses on practical, goal-minded therapy. Her work centers on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career concerns, depression, relationships, family issues, eating concerns, anger, and coping with life changes.

Marcia believes people bring strengths and knowledge about their own lives. She helps clients use those strengths to make concrete changes. Sessions aim to identify small steps that build toward clearer thinking and steadier mood.

Her approach mixes structured techniques and mindfulness. Clients can expect tools to reframe thoughts, manage strong emotions, and practice calmer responses to stress. She also draws on brief, solution-focused strategies to set and reach practical goals.

Marcia has experience addressing a wide range of related concerns such as codependency, divorce and separation, domestic violence, grief and hospice issues, immigration stress, veteran and armed forces issues, and multicultural matters. She also supports people facing aging and geriatric concerns, HIV/AIDS related stress, and questions of life purpose.

Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Marcia works with each person to tailor methods and pacing to their needs and circumstances.

Online approaches that focus on skills and calm

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, helps people notice patterns in thoughts and behaviors that keep stress or depression going. It teaches practical exercises to test unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more balanced thinking. DBT, dialectical behavior therapy, emphasizes emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills that help when feelings feel overwhelming; it often includes concrete practices for managing strong reactions.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked in the past, then recommend techniques to try. Clients and the therapist check in regularly and adjust methods based on progress and comfort level.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video is useful for deeper conversations and learning skills with visual cues. Phone sessions are an option when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in fits a work break. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, skill reminders, or ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while still working on clear coping tools and goals.