Therapist profile
Claire McDonough, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Family and parenting focus
Continue with ClaireAbout
- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Claire
Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in New Jersey with 21 years of experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, relationship and family concerns, and a range of other issues including ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Her background includes a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work and two decades in varied mental health settings. She has used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy along with other approaches while supporting people with mood, attention, and coping challenges.
In sessions she focuses on building trust from the start. She listens and treats people with respect. At the same time she offers challenges and practical steps to help reach clearer goals.
She helps adults talk through parenting stress, family-of-origin problems, communication issues, and the emotional effects of trauma, grief, or substance use. She also supports people dealing with intimacy, infidelity, commitment doubts, and questions about gender and identity.
Her work includes attention to caregiver stress, first responder concerns, and the long-term strains of compassion fatigue. She uses mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and emotionally-focused ideas alongside CBT and DBT techniques.
People who want a straightforward, steady approach will find sessions that blend talking, skills practice, and focused goal work. To begin, clients follow the site process to match and schedule a first appointment.
How sessions work
Approaches used in online sessions
Claire uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments to reduce anxiety and lift mood. DBT teaches skills for managing strong emotions and improving relationships through practical strategies like distress tolerance and emotion regulation.She also draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy and mindfulness ideas when appropriate. EFT helps people understand patterns in close relationships and the emotions behind them. Mindfulness practice supports noticing thoughts and feelings without getting swept up in them. Together these approaches are chosen to match what each person needs in the moment.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify goals and try methods that fit the client's preferences and circumstances. That may mean mixing CBT skills, DBT techniques, and mindfulness exercises across sessions.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into daily life, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises to video or phone meetings and focus on skills practice that transfers into everyday routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, parenting and family-related problems, plus ADHD, bipolar, trauma, grief, and relationship issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She listens and builds trust, then offers practical steps and gentle challenge using talk therapy and skills practice.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 21 years of experience in a variety of mental health settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in New Jersey.
Can she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
Which session formats does she offer?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; confirm the current session options before booking.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.