About
- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma related care
- Parenting support
About Paula
Dr. Paula Alvarez is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 35 years of experience. She holds LCSW credentials in California, Illinois, and Missouri and offers services in English. Her practice focuses on common household strains such as stress, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, relationship issues, and the long shadow of trauma.
Paula works with people who are dealing with anger, addictions, grief, bipolar disorder, and intimacy-related questions. She also supports adults coping with family of origin problems, caregiving stress, life changes, and questions about career and purpose. Her background includes work in locked and outpatient mental health settings and facilitation of group treatment for domestic violence perpetrators in Spanish and English.
Her approach centers on the client and what the person wants to work on. She uses client-centered methods and integrates cognitive behavioral tools when they fit a person's goals. She offers homework and bibliotherapy for people who prefer practical exercises between sessions.
She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the Gottman Method when relevant. Paula describes using brief solution-focused techniques, trauma-informed practices, and motivational interviewing to address motivation and change. This mix aims to help adults make small, manageable changes at home.
People who choose her often want clear options and simple steps to try between visits. To start, readers should confirm current session formats and scheduling details before booking a first appointment.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take actions that align with those values. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying simple behavioral experiments to change how you feel. It is commonly applied for depression, anxiety, and coping skills. The Gottman Method offers concrete communication tools and exercises that can be used to address relationship patterns and improve everyday interactions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula will review your goals and preferences and suggest methods that fit what you want to accomplish. This is a collaborative process and plans can be adjusted as progress is made.
The practical benefits of online sessions include fitting appointments into a busy day and reducing travel time. Online work can make it easier to check in during a work break, use shorter sessions for focused skill practice, or follow through on homework and text or reading suggestions between meetings. Confirm which session formats she currently offers before booking so you know how appointments will be scheduled and delivered.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
California, Missouri, Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family or parenting concerns does she address?
She works with adults on parenting strain, family of origin issues, communication problems, and conflicts that affect home life.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She practices a client-centered style and uses practical tools like CBT exercises, homework, and bibliotherapy when clients want them.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 35 years of experience in locked and outpatient mental health settings and group treatment facilitation.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW with licenses in California, Illinois, and Missouri and is located in Missouri.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients. Sessions are conducted in English.
Which session formats does she offer?
Session formats are not specified in the biography. Confirm current session options before booking a first appointment.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.