Lisa McCarton, LCSW

Lisa McCarton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of experience based in Virginia. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, relationship challenges, and mood concerns such as bipolar disorder. She also supports those coping with trauma, anger, ADHD, and major life changes.

Her early work began after graduating with a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. She provided therapy and case management in a residential setting for children who had experienced abuse, and those experiences shaped her practical approach to care.

In sessions she keeps things goal oriented and client centered. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thinking patterns and behaviors, and she draws on attachment-based ideas to pay attention to relationship histories. Motivational Interviewing and existential perspectives guide conversations about purpose and change.

Her style is hands-on and problem focused. She works with clients to identify unhelpful patterns and to try manageable steps that can change daily life. Sessions include talking through problems, practicing new ways of responding, and setting realistic goals.

She offers services in English and Spanish and has particular experience with family-related issues, adoption and foster care topics, attachment concerns, and complex trauma. People seeking a practical, steady approach to stress, parenting, relationship concerns, or mood symptoms may find her style helpful.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of connecting and responding. It can help people who notice repeated patterns in relationships or who want to understand how past losses affect present connections. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and for learning concrete coping skills. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-focused approach that helps people resolve mixed feelings and find internal reasons to change.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences. Treatment plans are adjusted over time based on what is working and what feels realistic for everyday life.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy schedule and making regular check-ins easier to keep. Because specific session formats are not listed in the biography, confirm current session options before booking. Many people appreciate that remote work can make it simpler to attend during a lunch break, reduce travel time, or allow for shorter check-ins on difficult days. Licensed professionals tailor session length and focus to fit each person's needs and daily routine.