Tara Wagner, LCSW

Tara Wagner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Indiana with 12 years of clinical experience. As an LCSW, she holds a professional social work credential that authorizes her to provide psychotherapy and case management services. Over the course of her career she has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, medication-assisted treatment programs, and academic environments, bringing a broad perspective to client care.

Tara specializes in supporting adults with addictions, trauma and abuse, anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring conditions. She also works with questions of self-esteem, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting challenges, intimacy-related issues, and a range of personality and attachment difficulties. Her practice includes treatment for both chemical and behavioral addictions and experience with disorders related to short- and long-term trauma.

Her approach centers on treating people with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while recognizing each person’s inherent worth. Tara individualizes dialogue and treatment plans to meet specific client needs, drawing from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and client-centered methods. She typically works with adults aged 18 and over and has experience addressing co-morbidity and complex presentations.

Tara encourages and supports those taking the first step toward therapy, offering practical, tailored care aimed at helping clients build motivation, improve coping, and move toward their personal goals.

Approaches That Guide Online Care and Collaboration

Tara commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathy, active listening, and building a respectful therapeutic relationship so clients can explore their values and goals. This approach supports work on self-esteem, identity, and relational concerns.

She also applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT can be effective for anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and many daily coping challenges by providing practical skills and structured strategies.

Motivational Interviewing is another method Tara uses to strengthen motivation for change, particularly useful in addressing addictions, ambivalence about treatment, and behavior change goals. It focuses on helping clients find their own reasons for moving forward.

Tara approaches treatment collaboratively, recognizing that finding the best therapeutic method is part of the process. She works with clients to match approaches to their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and choose communication styles that feel most comfortable while working with licensed professionals and therapists.