Cheryl Velasquez, LCSW

Cheryl Velasquez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 5 years of experience providing mental health care across the lifespan. As an LCSW she holds a clinical social work license that authorizes her to deliver therapeutic services and clinical interventions. Throughout her career she has worked in acute psychiatric hospitals, outpatient therapy programs, school-based mental health services, and community mental health organizations, and she has served in leadership roles while continuing to provide direct care to clients.

She specializes in supporting people facing mental health and substance use challenges, offering care to clients from early childhood through older adulthood - ages 5 to 90. Cheryl focuses on helping people build resilience, strengthen self-esteem, manage depression, navigate life transitions, and develop healthier coping strategies. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and person-centered, grounded in respect and cultural awareness, with an emphasis on meeting each person where they are.

Cheryl uses a range of evidence-based techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), strengths-based interventions, psychoeducation, stress management, coping skills training, self-care practices, mindfulness-based strategies, and concepts from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when appropriate. She has experience supporting adults of diverse backgrounds and often works with women addressing anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma response, and personal growth. Outside of her clinical work she enjoys nature walks, learning about different cultures, and spending time with animals, especially cats. Cheryl welcomes the opportunity to support clients as they pursue healing, growth, and greater well-being.

Evidence-Based Techniques and Online Therapy Options

Cheryl commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is a practical, skills-focused approach that can be effective for issues like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and problem-solving around life changes.

She also integrates mindfulness-based strategies to help people build present-moment awareness and reduce stress. Mindfulness techniques support emotional regulation and can complement other therapeutic work by improving focus and coping during times of upheaval.

When appropriate, Cheryl incorporates concepts from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. These tools are useful for managing intense emotions, relationship challenges, and stress related to caregiving or burnout.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Cheryl works with clients to explore goals, preferences, and responses to different techniques, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds so the therapy fits each person’s needs.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as flexible scheduling and the ability to meet by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care from home, work, or while managing caregiving responsibilities, and they allow licensed professionals like Cheryl to deliver consistent, evidence-based support across a range of life circumstances.