Carolyn Hollingshead, LCSW, LISW-CP

Carolyn Hollingshead is a seasoned social worker with 22 years of clinical experience supporting people through major life transitions, relationship challenges, grief, chronic health concerns, and struggles with mood and eating. She combines a long history in health and nutrition with social work practice to offer a holistic perspective that attends to both medical and emotional aspects of wellbeing. Carolyn has specialized training and experience addressing chronic pain, complicated grief, eating disorders and weight management, and she works with individuals across the lifespan including older adults and families facing blended family or end-of-life issues.

Her background includes work as a Registered Dietitian and advanced academic training in nutrition, along with graduate preparation in social work and health education. She has taught university-level courses on body image and eating disorders and brings that educational experience into clinical work, using insight-oriented and process-focused methods when helpful. Carolyn integrates evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy along with psychodynamic and solution-focused approaches, Socratic questioning, and somatic-informed options to help clients gain new perspective and practical coping skills.

Comfortable addressing family of origin topics, marriage and divorce concerns, trauma, and medical or hospice-related matters, she draws on a broad toolbox to meet each person where they are. As a clinician who has navigated widowhood and single parenting herself, Carolyn offers empathy for the complexities of singlehood and blended family life while supporting clients toward more satisfying functioning and improved quality of life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Carolyn frequently uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify core values and build psychological flexibility. ACT blends acceptance strategies with commitment-based behavior change and can be useful for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and life transitions.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship that helps people explore their goals and feelings at their own pace. This approach can be helpful for building self-esteem, improving communication, and navigating relationship and family challenges.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another core tool in her practice, offering structured techniques to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is commonly applied for anxiety, depression, grief reactions, and coping with chronic health concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Carolyn works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and personal preferences. She tailors interventions over time, combining approaches when appropriate to support meaningful progress.

Online therapy with Carolyn is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit therapy into busy schedules and varied circumstances. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from different locations and to continue consistent care during life changes or when in-person visits are not practical.