Sharlene Duplessis, LCSW - Therapist in Connecticut

About Sharlene

Sharlene Duplessis is a licensed clinical social worker with 16 years of experience. She uses a trauma-informed, client-centered approach and focuses on practical skills families can use every day. Parents read this on a phone and can expect clear, calm guidance and straightforward tools.

Sharlene works in Connecticut and speaks English. She helps people dealing with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, bipolar symptoms, and post-traumatic stress. Her work also covers parenting and family matters, including blended family issues, divorce and separation, and communication problems within families.

Background and approach

She supports people coping with major life changes, career concerns, and struggles with self-worth. Sharlene blends several evidence-informed methods to match each person’s needs. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy to spot and change unhelpful thinking.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is part of her toolkit for trauma work. Sessions include concrete skill-building and step-by-step practices parents can try between meetings.

She emphasizes small, steady progress and helps clients notice their strengths and perseverance. The focus is on clear goals, manageable steps, and building confidence over time. Sharlene’s style is practical and compassionate.

She works with families and individuals in outpatient settings and supports people who want tools to manage stress, anger, ADHD challenges, guilt, or isolation. Her aim is to help clients move forward, one day at a time.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online family support

Sharlene commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing when working with trauma and mood concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve daily routines. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is used to process traumatic memories and lessen their emotional impact when trauma is a core concern.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person or family about symptoms, goals, and preferences, then suggest methods that fit. Together they track progress and adjust strategies if something isn’t working as hoped.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions around school, work, and caregiving. They also let parents practice new skills at home and check in between meetings when helpful.

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.

EMDR

A structured protocol used with distressing memories, pairing recall with guided attention tasks. Some therapists adapt it for video sessions; whether that fits is worth asking about directly.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

Sharlene focuses on trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, stress, anger, self-esteem, relationship and family issues, parenting, ADHD, and coping with life changes. She also works on related topics like communication problems, forgiveness, and isolation.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style is trauma-informed and client-centered, emphasizing practical skills and steady progress. Sessions focus on building coping tools and realistic steps parents and individuals can use between appointments.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings 16 years of experience in clinical social work, largely in outpatient settings working with families, children, and adults who have experienced trauma.

What credentials and region apply to her practice?

She holds the LCSW credential, listed as CT LCSW 10424, and practices in Connecticut.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is open to working with international clients as part of her practice.

What session formats does she offer?

Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

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

How do I begin the process?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Trauma and abuse
Anger management
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 16 years
Licensed: Connecticut
Languages: English

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