Lacey Gaters, MD, LCSW-C

Lacey Gaters recognizes the courage it takes to seek support and honors each person’s commitment to change. She understands that life can feel overwhelming for many reasons or for no clear reason at all, and she asks thoughtful questions about clients’ goals and the obstacles that stand in the way. Lacey often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and make practical changes that affect day-to-day behavior. She does not tell clients what to do or push a personal agenda; instead she offers gentle challenges to existing beliefs and supports clients in building confidence and tools to manage their lives more effectively. Therapy with her is tailored to each individual’s needs, with respect, active listening, and a nonjudgmental stance forming the foundation of the relationship.

Lacey is a licensed clinical social worker in Maryland and holds the credential LCSW-C, which indicates a clinical social work license. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from James Madison University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland. With over 11 years of experience working in hospitals and outpatient clinics, she has supported clients with a wide range of concerns. She specializes in work with children, adolescents, parents, and young adults, and frequently addresses depression, mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety, stress management, behavioral concerns, family issues, trauma, and grief. Lacey wishes clients success as they work toward becoming the best versions of themselves.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients lead the conversation and the therapist offers empathy and active listening. This approach is helpful for people who need a safe space to explore feelings, values, and personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify patterns of thinking that contribute to distress and teaches practical skills to change those thoughts and related behaviors. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Mindfulness Therapy introduces present-moment awareness and simple attention practices to reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation, which can be useful for stress, anxiety, and mood management.

Lacey approaches treatment as a collaborative process - finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work together. She will help assess each client’s needs, goals, and preferences and tailor techniques from different approaches to find the best fit. Clients are involved in choosing what feels most helpful.

Online therapy with Lacey is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which allows for flexible scheduling around work, school, and family life. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations, and they allow therapy to continue even when in-person visits are difficult. The variety of communication methods supports different comfort levels and makes consistent care more achievable.