PuttingFamilyFirst

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DC Portrait of Dara Charlton
Online therapist

Dara Charlton

Compassionate, practical support for everyday struggles

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
20 years
Licensed in
California, Oregon
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Dara

Dara Charlton is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of practice supporting adults through emotional challenges. She uses a practical, person-focused style to help people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and parenting concerns.

Sessions aim to be straightforward and compassionate so clients can talk through what feels hard right now and learn tools to manage daily life. She draws on several approaches to shape therapy, choosing methods that fit each person rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

Background and approach

That can mean learning skills to manage strong emotions, identifying thoughts that get in the way, or practicing new ways to connect in important relationships. Therapy often includes short, concrete exercises and moments of reflection to build steady progress.

Dara has worked with a wide range of issues across her career, including trauma and abuse, addictions, body image, chronic illness, caregiver stress, and complex grief. Her background gives her familiarity with both immediate struggles and long-term patterns that keep people stuck. She aims to meet people where they are and set realistic goals for change.

In sessions she uses clear communication and practical strategies drawn from evidence-based methods. Clients can expect honest feedback, supportive guidance, and focused practice of skills between meetings. The overall aim is improved coping, better communication, and greater emotional balance.

Based in Oregon, Dara holds an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She offers sessions in English and uses a collaborative approach when deciding how to move forward.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following what matters to the person in front of the therapist. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to sort through feelings and decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts affect feelings and actions and teaches practical skills to change patterns that cause distress. That approach is useful for worry, low mood, and habits getting in the way. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills in clear, step-by-step ways. It can help when emotions feel overwhelming or relationships are very intense.

Dara treats finding the right approach as a collaborative process. Early sessions are a chance to review goals, try techniques, and adjust plans based on what helps most. She works with each person to blend methods as needed so the work matches their needs and preferences.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for busy schedules. These formats make it easier to meet regularly, practice skills between sessions, and use tools that fit a person's daily life. Many people find this combination of approachable methods and flexible formats makes it simpler to keep making steady progress.

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.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Dara help with?
Dara works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, parenting, sleep problems, addictions, and trauma and abuse. She also addresses related areas like body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and compassion fatigue.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a person-focused, practical approach. Sessions mix listening with concrete skills and strategies drawn from evidence-based methods to help people handle emotions and improve communication.
How much experience does she have?
Dara has practiced for 20 years as a licensed clinician. That experience includes work with long-term patterns and immediate crises across many common life challenges.
Where is she licensed and located?
She is licensed as an LCSW with credentials listed as OR LCSW L3826 and CA LCSW 20389. Dara is based in Oregon.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
20 years
Licensed
California, Oregon
Languages
English

Next step

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