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LCSW

Dr. Paula Alvarez, LCSW

  • Experience35 years
  • LocationMissouri
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Paula

Dr. Paula Alvarez welcomes adults seeking practical, collaborative support for stress, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, mood disorders, relationship concerns, addiction, ADHD, and other life transitions.

Background and approach

With a focus on tailoring care to each person's goals, she emphasizes client strengths and works alongside people who want to regain balance, build coping skills, and pursue meaningful change. Dr.

Alvarez brings 35 years of clinical experience and practices as an LCSW. Her background includes long-term work in locked and outpatient mental health settings and leading group work with domestic violence perpetrators in both English and Spanish.

She combines client-centered listening with evidence-based tools such as cognitive behavioral strategies, acceptance and commitment principles, dialectical skills, and elements of the Gottman Method when addressing relationship issues. Clients can expect a flexible, individualized approach that may include homework, bibliotherapy, or solution-focused techniques when desired.

Licensed in Missouri (and holding California and Illinois licenses documented elsewhere), she accepts international clients and offers multiple online session formats to accommodate different schedules and preferences.

Practical therapy approaches for online care

Dr. Alvarez uses several evidence-informed methods that translate well to remote work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical strategies to change behavior and mood, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and many stress-related concerns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and build psychological flexibility through mindfulness and committed action, supporting those coping with life transitions, chronic stress, or persistent worries. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness, often helping with anger, mood instability, and relationship strain.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will explore a client's goals, preferences, and life context together and may blend techniques from different modalities to create a personalized plan that fits the person's needs.

Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make therapy more flexible around work, caregiving, or geographic constraints. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, ongoing care while adapting homework, exercises, and communication to what works best for each client.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist help with?
She addresses a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, career concerns, grief, self esteem, and ADHD among other life challenges.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her practice is client-centered, emphasizing the client's own expertise about their life while integrating evidence-based techniques like CBT, ACT, DBT, and Gottman methods when appropriate.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience working in both locked and outpatient mental health settings and has led group treatment programs in English and Spanish.
What credentials and location information are on record?
She is credentialed as an LCSW with licenses listed as CA LCSW 19790 and IL LCSW 149.023704, and she practices from Missouri.
Does she work in English or with international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English, and she does accept international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions operate through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseAnger managementBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

California, Missouri, Illinois

Languages

English

What Paula can help with

Dr. Paula Alvarez works with clients on stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger management, bipolar disorder, and depression.

Paula works with trauma-related symptoms, anxiety and depression, anger management, and geriatric well-being.

How Paula approaches therapy

Paula's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gottman Method, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

Experience and training

Paula is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Missouri, with 35 years of clinical experience.