Darlene Clark, LCSW - Therapist in Virginia

About Darlene

Darlene Clark is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices in Virginia and brings nine years of experience in mental health to her work. She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Darlene aims to make therapy straightforward and approachable for people who feel overwhelmed by change or parenting demands.

Her style is down-to-earth and respectful. She creates a calm space where clients can talk through hard things without judgment.

Background and approach

Sessions emphasize practical skills and clear steps that people can use between meetings. Darlene uses a mix of approaches to meet each person where they are. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thinking, Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach emotion regulation skills, and Trauma-Focused Therapy when past harm affects daily life.

She also brings elements of Motivational Interviewing and Psychodynamic Therapy as needed. In sessions she encourages collaboration. Clients set priorities and Darlene helps map concrete goals and next steps.

That collaborative process helps people build confidence, improve communication, and strengthen relationships at home. Outside of work she enjoys time with family, the beach, gardening, camping, and trying new vegan recipes. Her practical approach is aimed at parents and caregivers who want clear tools and steady support while navigating life changes.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

CBT helps people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and routines. Online sessions use conversation and simple exercises to practice new ways of thinking and behaving, which can reduce stress and anxiety over time.

DBT teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. In remote sessions clients learn concrete techniques like grounding, distress tolerance, and communication skills they can try between meetings.

Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on understanding how past harm shows up now and on building strategies to feel steadier day to day. Online work allows for paced, intentional processing with grounding and safety planning built into each session.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, symptoms, and preferences and then recommend one or more methods to try. That decision is collaborative and can change as needs evolve.

Online therapy with this clinician is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Those options make it easier to fit therapy into busy family schedules, allow follow-up between sessions, and provide flexible ways to practice new skills. For many people the variety of formats helps maintain consistency while working toward clearer goals.

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.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, communication problems, isolation and loneliness, self-love, and social anxiety or phobia.

What is her general therapy style?

Her approach is practical and collaborative with a down-to-earth tone. Sessions focus on clear steps and skills that clients can use between meetings.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has nine years of experience in the mental health field. That background informs her work with trauma, anxiety, and parenting challenges.

What credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as VA LCSW 0904018466, and practices in Virginia.

In which language are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What do I do to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 9 years
Licensed: Virginia
Languages: English

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