Paula Garrard, LCSW

Paula Garrard is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in North Carolina with 20 years of experience supporting people through challenging life moments. She focuses on helping adults manage depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and major life changes, offering steady guidance as clients build new coping skills and emotional resilience.

Her work emphasizes an affirming, client-centered stance, with particular attention to LGBTQ+ individuals and older adults. Paula aims to create a respectful, validating environment where each person’s identity and experience are honored while practical strategies are developed to address immediate concerns and longer-term goals.

Paula combines professional expertise with empathetic listening, helping clients explore strengths, clarify values, and navigate transitions with more confidence. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, partnering with clients to identify realistic steps toward well-being and meaningful change. Those seeking a thoughtful, experienced therapist for stress, anxiety, grief, depression, or coping with life changes will find a calm and supportive ally in Paula Garrard, LCSW.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Paula uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to the problems a person brings to therapy. She employs skills-based strategies that help people manage stress and anxiety by teaching practical tools for regulating emotions, handling worry, and improving daily functioning - approaches that are useful for depression and ongoing stress.

For grief and significant life transitions, Paula offers supportive, problem-focused work that helps individuals process loss, reorganize priorities, and develop adaptive coping plans. Her approach for LGBTQ+ clients is affirming and client-centered, focusing on identity validation, resilience building, and navigating challenges related to relationships and social stressors.

Choosing the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Paula collaborates with each person to identify which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts methods over time so treatment remains relevant and effective for the client’s situation.

Online therapy with Paula is available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and life demands. These options make it easier to maintain continuity during transitions, fit sessions into busy lives, and access consistent support from a licensed professional in North Carolina.