Welcome to BetterHelp. Whether this is your first time in therapy or you are returning to therapy, I welcome you and look forward to offering you a space for growth and healing. It’s not always easy to take that first step.
My therapeutic practice is based in psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment oriented interventions. My approach is to consider the whole person, in their environment, and having walked their whole life in their own shoes. I have ten years of experience as a social worker serving clients from many backgrounds, often different from my own, and including LGBTQ+ persons and their families. I have special expertise in foster care and adoption, parenting children with special needs, and coping with parenting stress. Every individual needs support and acceptance, and every individual deserves an individual approach - in our time together, I will work to identify interventions and approaches that work best for you. We will identify your goals together, and make the treatment plan to meet those goals together.
Creating a welcoming, safe space to explore is vital to me, and it is my job to create a non-judgmental and supportive space for you. My goal is to help you be open and self-reflective, and also to allow you space to be your own advocate and the expert in your own lived experience - I welcome and encourage conversation and exchange. My primary available hours are mornings, evenings, and weekends, though I will check messages at least twice during each weekday.
My commitment is to work with you to address the concerns that brought you to therapy, and help you reduce the symptoms that are impacting your life. I commit that I will practice kindness and non-judgment. I am here to support you.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Depression, Coping with life changes, Adoption and Foster Care, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Commitment Issues, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Money and financial issues, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
CA LCSW 91119
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Chelsea McGowan. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I have grown and become a better person due to Chelsea’s counseling and expertise. She is the absolute best and most kind-hearted, genuine person.
Written on May 29, 2021 after therapy with Chelsea for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Chelsea is a warm and caring person I feel comfortable sharing my most vulnerable self with. She’s given me a space to speak freely, and tools to help myself between sessions. My year with her support has helped me grow into a better more confident person and I look forward to my continued growth and our continued progress :-) She makes an effort to research any of my experiences she isnt familiar with personally, and generally shows that her compassion and dedication runs much deeper than simply doing a job. My life is fuller because of her and Im glad I kept looking for the right counselor for me, because Ive certainly found her!
Written on Apr 25, 2021 after therapy with Chelsea for 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
Chelsea is great. I feel deeply understood and appreciate her insightful feedback. I highly recommend her!
Written on Oct 10, 2020 after therapy with Chelsea for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes
Chelsea is a supportive, proactive, and amazing theripast. She has helped me improve so much and she knows the BetterHelp platform very well compared to other professionals on this site. She is awesome and I am so lucky to have her as my counselor
Written on Sep 20, 2020 after therapy with Chelsea for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, and adhd