Aen Brauer, LICSW

Aen Brauer is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 15 years of experience working in Washington. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. Aen also supports those dealing with addiction, eating concerns, self-esteem struggles, and LGBT-related issues.

She aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can say what they are feeling and thinking. Sessions emphasize practical steps and clear goals. Conversations are straightforward and focused on what matters most to each person.

Aen uses approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside client-centered work and skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. That mix lets her tailor sessions to everyday problems like worry, sadness, or difficult decisions.

She draws on a range of experience, including work with people facing caregiver stress, chronic illness, adoption and foster care concerns, and challenges after divorce or other major losses. Her background includes supporting people affected by trauma, domestic violence, and first responder stress.

Aen works with practical issues such as career strain, parenting challenges, fertility concerns, body image, and recovery from substance use. She helps people build coping skills, set manageable goals, and practice new habits that fit their life.

People who want clear structure and steady support may find her approach a good fit. She encourages small, consistent steps and helps clients track progress along the way.

Approaches that translate to online care

Aen commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical tools for changing unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on clarifying values and taking committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. ACT can help people facing grief, life transitions, or chronic health challenges.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and the problem at hand, then try methods that fit. Sessions can shift over time as needs change, and Aen will collaborate on what feels most useful.

Online therapy makes regular work easier to maintain. Video sessions support face-to-face conversation and skills practice. Phone sessions are an option when bandwidth is low or a camera is not convenient. Live chat and text-based messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, coping tools between sessions, or when someone prefers typed communication. These formats offer flexibility to fit therapy into a busy life.