Janet Hughes
Compassionate, practical support for life transitions
- Credentials
- MD, LCSW-C, LICSW
- Experience
- 21 years
- Licensed in
- District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Janet
Janet Hughes is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people who are stressed, anxious, grieving, or dealing with addiction. She speaks plainly and offers steady support for those facing life changes or hard emotions. She brings a calm, practical presence to sessions and works with clients to set clear goals they can act on.
Janet trained in social work and holds an MD as well as two social work licenses: LCSW-C and LICSW.
Background and approach
She has practiced for 21 years across the Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia region. Her background includes ongoing work with depression, trauma, substance use, and mood conditions such as bipolar disorder. In sessions she emphasizes collaboration.
She treats the person as the expert in their own life and helps them identify specific areas that need attention. Janet draws on tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and motivational interviewing to support real changes. Her approach is straightforward and skill-based.
Clients learn to notice unhelpful thoughts, try small behavior changes, and use mindfulness to reduce intense reactions. She also addresses relationship and intimacy concerns and has a focus on polyamory and non-monogamous relationship dynamics. Janet offers several ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging.
She accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English. To begin, clients follow a short matching questionnaire and schedule appointments based on availability.
Practical therapy approaches for online care
Janet uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT focuses on changing patterns that keep problems going and can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness practices to reduce reactivity and bring attention back to the present moment. These practices can ease intense emotions and improve daily coping skills. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify their own reasons for change and build motivation before taking action; it is useful when someone feels unsure about making a change.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with the client about their concerns, goals, and preferences and then recommend techniques to try. Over time those strategies are adjusted based on what helps most, so the plan evolves together rather than being fixed from the start.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. These formats allow for regular check-ins, homework between meetings, and flexible ways to practice skills. For many people, online care offers a practical route to consistent support and gradual progress.
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.
Mindfulness Therapy
Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.
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
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 21 years
- Licensed
- District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Janet
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