Yumi Lemaster, LCSW

Yumi Lemaster is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 13 years of clinical experience who combines practical skills training with empathetic, client-guided care. As a retired Army social worker, she brings experience working with service members on issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, marital concerns, substance use, domestic violence intervention, parenting skills, and life adjustments. She emphasizes forming a trusting therapeutic relationship that supports honest feedback and collaborative progress.

Yumi draws on evidence-based methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Prolonged Exposure and other desensitization techniques, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), and supportive therapy to tailor treatment to each person. She also offers psychoeducation, practical coping skills, self-reflective tools, and hands-on exercises so clients can practice and apply strategies between sessions. Growth is framed as an active process that requires ongoing practice and real-world application.

She welcomes clients who are navigating stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, addictions, family and caregiver stresses, grief, body image and eating issues, sleep problems, low self-esteem, career transitions, and other life changes. Yumi prioritizes unconditional positive regard and begins where the client feels ready to start, letting the client guide the pace and goals of therapy. She aims to help clients reconnect with their inner strength and discover ways to live a life that feels meaningful and alive.

Approaches That Guide Online Care

Yumi often integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Client-Centered Therapy in her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools for anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and difficulties with coping. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, respect, and a nonjudgmental stance, allowing clients to lead the conversation while the therapist supports insight, self-acceptance, and personal growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process, and Yumi works collaboratively with clients to determine what fits best for their needs, goals, and preferences. She begins where the client feels ready, solicits feedback throughout treatment, and adjusts techniques so progress feels relevant and attainable.

Online therapy with Yumi is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving clients flexibility to choose the format that suits their schedule and comfort level. This range of options makes it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods, life transitions, or when in-person visits are not practical, while still receiving structured, skills-based support from a licensed professional.