Dorothy Russell, LISW, LCSW

Dorothy Russell is a licensed social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and life changes. She offers straightforward support for common struggles like feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure about purpose. Her approach aims to make the first step toward change feel manageable and clear.

Dorothy creates a calm space where people can talk about their thoughts and feelings without judgment. She listens closely and works to understand each person's priorities before suggesting practical steps. Sessions focus on skills that can be used between appointments as well as on what comes up in the moment.

She uses techniques rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and client-centered methods to help people shift unhelpful patterns. That can mean changing difficult thoughts, practicing acceptance of painful feelings, or trying small experiments to test new behaviors. She also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused strategies when people want to set concrete goals and move forward quickly.

Dorothy holds the Licensed Independent Social Worker credential and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential. She brings seven years of professional experience working with a range of concerns including postpartum depression, caregiver stress, family of origin issues, and multicultural concerns. Her style is practical, warm, and goal-oriented.

Sessions are offered in English and are provided through online formats. Dorothy supports people who want to take action on their concerns and prefer a collaborative, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

How Dorothy’s approaches translate to online care

CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. It often involves short exercises, homework, and skill practice that translate well to video or messaging sessions and can be reviewed together during appointments.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and take committed action, even when difficult feelings are present. ACT techniques include mindfulness exercises and values-based goal setting that can be guided during a call or practiced between sessions.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship so clients feel heard and understood. That supportive stance underpins other strategies and helps people stay motivated to try new skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Dorothy will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match goals, preferences, and the types of challenges they bring. She checks in and adjusts the focus as needed so the plan stays practical and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and teaching skills, phone can be a good option when bandwidth is low, and messaging or live chat can fit quick check-ins or shorter sessions during a busy day. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work or family schedules while keeping consistent momentum.