Claire McDonough, LCSW

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey with Masters and Bachelors degrees in Social Work. Over two decades of professional experience have taken her through a range of mental health settings where she has supported people facing depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, addictions, trauma, grief, relationship struggles and many other concerns. Claire has formal training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, along with experience in several other therapeutic modalities that inform her work with individuals and families.

She approaches therapy with an emphasis on establishing trust from the first session, recognizing how difficult it can be to open up to someone new. Claire listens carefully, treats each person with respect, and combines empathic support with constructive challenge to help clients move toward their goals. Her experience includes helping clients navigate parenting and family issues, intimacy and relationship concerns, career stress, and coping with major life changes.

Claire values collaboration and practical progress. She aims to create a welcoming atmosphere while using evidence-informed techniques to help people build skills, process difficult experiences, and find clearer paths forward. She finds professional fulfillment in helping others and is committed to supporting clients through change and healing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Claire McDonough draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to guide online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical coping skills for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills, which can be especially useful for intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and impulsive behaviors.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Claire treats it as a collaborative effort. She will work with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences, then tailor methods and exercises to fit the individual situation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Online sessions offer flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility constraints. Claire provides therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing clients to choose the format that best fits their life. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access consistent therapeutic support from licensed professionals regardless of daily demands.