Tara Wagner , LCSW

Tara Wagner is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Indiana with 12 years of professional experience. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, medication-assisted treatment programs, and academic environments. Tara focuses on practical support for people dealing with addictions, trauma, mood concerns, and stress. She approaches each person with respect and compassion.

Her work emphasizes listening first and adapting to what each person needs. Sessions are shaped around clear goals and small steps that build toward change. Tara uses conversation and problem-solving to help clients with motivation, self-esteem, coping skills, and relationship questions.

She has experience addressing a wide range of concerns including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and co-occurring substance and behavioral addictions. She also works with issues related to attachment, dissociation, codependency, domestic violence, and intimacy topics such as kink and alternative sex culture. Tara supports people navigating grief, major life changes, and ongoing stress.

Tara draws from several approaches to tailor care to each person. She commonly uses client-centered methods to prioritize the person’s perspective, cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thoughts and habits, and motivational interviewing to strengthen readiness for change. She also uses psychodynamic ideas and solution-focused steps when those fit.

Her practice is direct and practical. Tara helps people set manageable goals and track progress. She encourages honest conversation and works collaboratively to find what helps most.

How Tara’s approaches translate to online therapy

Tara commonly uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral techniques in her online practice. Client-centered work focuses on listening carefully to what matters to the person and shaping sessions around their priorities; it helps with building trust and clarifying goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy targets specific thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools for anxiety, depression, and coping with cravings.

She also uses motivational interviewing to support readiness for change by helping people explore ambivalence and find their own reasons to move forward. Together these approaches bring practical steps and a collaborative tone that fit well in remote sessions and messaging exchanges.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Tara works with each person to decide which methods make sense based on their needs, goals, and comfort. She will adjust techniques over time and check in regularly about what is working and what should change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a short break or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, progress notes, or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, family, and daily life.