PuttingFamilyFirst

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CH Portrait of Carolyn Hollingshead
Online therapist

Carolyn Hollingshead

Compassionate social worker for family and parenting

Credentials
LCSW, LISW-CP
Experience
22 years
Licensed in
Utah, South Carolina, North Carolina
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Carolyn

Carolyn Hollingshead is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on family and parenting concerns along with a wide range of related issues. She brings 22 years of social work experience to sessions and speaks English. Her practice addresses stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, parenting, eating issues, chronic pain, trauma and other life transitions.

She uses straightforward, practical conversation to help families and individuals find clearer ways forward. Sessions often include techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to shift unhelpful patterns.

Background and approach

Mindfulness and client-centered styles are woven in to support greater self-awareness and calm. Carolyn trained first as a Registered Dietitian and holds a PhD in Nutrition, which informs her work with eating issues and medical concerns. She also maintains social work licensure as an LCSW and an LISW-CP.

That clinical and health background shapes a holistic view of clients’ needs. Her approach balances insight and skills. She helps people notice what gets in the way, try new ways of responding, and practice small changes at home.

She is comfortable addressing family of origin patterns, blended family dynamics, end-of-life matters, and caregiving stress. Carolyn integrates practical tools and reflective work. Parents and caregivers can expect clear strategies for communication, coping, and managing emotions.

The style is calm, direct, and collaborative, with attention to each person’s goals.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and making values-based choices. It helps people move toward what matters most even when hard feelings remain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. A client-centered approach emphasizes listening deeply and shaping goals around the person’s priorities, which can help build trust and clearer direction.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person or family about needs and goals and then choose methods together. Sessions can combine approaches so that tools match what the client wants to change and what feels comfortable.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy families. Video calls provide face-to-face connection from home, phone sessions work when video isn’t possible, and live chat or text-based messaging help maintain momentum between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life and to practice new skills in real-world moments.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Carolyn address?
Carolyn works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, eating issues, parenting and many family problems. She also supports people coping with chronic pain, trauma, life changes, and caregiving topics.
What is her style in sessions?
Her sessions are direct and practical while remaining compassionate. She mixes reflective conversation with concrete skills to help people change patterns and manage daily challenges.
What experience does she bring?
She has 22 years of social work experience and earlier training as a Registered Dietitian. That background informs work with eating issues and health-related concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
She holds LCSW and LISW-CP credentials: NC LCSW C016211 and SC LISW-CP 15501, and she practices from Utah.
Which languages and international options are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as session formats to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a time based on the therapist’s availability.

Next step

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