Caitlin Eshelman, LICSW

Caitlin Eshelman is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in the District of Columbia with 16 years of experience. She focuses on creating an affirming, compassionate space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, and life changes. Her work aims to help people feel heard and to build practical steps forward.

She often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns. She also draws on client-centered methods that prioritize the person's own pace and goals. Solution-focused tools are used to set clear, achievable steps when clients want quicker, goal-oriented work.

Caitlin pays close attention to relationship and intimacy issues, including communication problems, attachment and abandonment concerns, and non-monogamous relationship dynamics like polyamory. She also supports people facing trauma, grief, postpartum mood changes, and challenges tied to pregnancy and childbirth.

Her practice includes work with sexual diversity and alternative sex cultures, including kink and BDSM, approached without judgment and with attention to safety and consent. Caitlin helps people manage panic attacks, mood disorders, and the emotional fallout from separation or domestic violence.

Sessions are offered in English and are available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Costs vary with location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a person selects the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire, and schedules according to therapist availability.

How her approaches work in online sessions

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new responses in everyday situations. It is often used for anxiety, panic, mood concerns, and stress by breaking problems into manageable steps.

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s own goals and pace, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting what matters most to the client. This approach is useful for identity questions, relationship concerns, and building self-esteem.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist and client will talk about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then adjust methods as progress is made. That way the plan evolves to match the person’s needs.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls allow fuller conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can fit into a short break or need less bandwidth, live chat works for focused back-and-forth, and text messaging supports brief updates or ongoing check-ins. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, childcare, and daily life.