Lisa McCarton

Lisa McCarton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with 20 years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and other life changes. Her approach aims to be practical and focused on real goals clients bring to sessions.

Many clients come to Lisa for help after painful or disruptive events. She draws on her long clinical experience to steady the conversation and identify small, doable steps forward. Sessions focus on changing unhelpful thinking, improving coping skills, and working through relationship and family concerns that affect daily life.

Lisa trained at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning a Master of Social Work in 2000. Early in her career she worked in a residential setting with children who had experienced abuse and neglect, providing therapy and case management. That background shaped a hands-on, problem-solving orientation she still uses today.

In sessions she blends client-centered listening with goal-focused methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a frequent part of the work, used to spot thinking patterns that get in the way and to try different behaviors. Attachment-based ideas and motivational interviewing also inform how she helps people build stronger relationships and stay motivated for change.

Her style is practical and straightforward. She prioritizes a respectful, emotionally supportive relationship while helping people make concrete changes. Those seeking help for coping with life changes, parenting strain, mood concerns, or trauma-related issues may find this approach useful.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Lisa commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to improve day-to-day functioning, which can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship so people feel heard and can set their own goals.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they will try methods that match those needs and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Confirm the session formats available before booking, since the biography does not specify formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing appointments during work breaks or from another convenient location. Some formats let people check in with a shorter meeting or without video to accommodate low bandwidth or a quieter setup. Ask about the current options when scheduling so sessions match practical needs.