Garland Nichols, LICSW

Garland Nichols is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) based in the District of Columbia. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and the everyday strains that come with major life changes. Garland aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through what’s hard and build practical ways to feel better.

He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy to shape sessions that are straightforward and goal-oriented. That means sessions usually include clear steps, homework ideas, and simple tools to try between meetings. Garland likes to help people notice thinking patterns, strengthen coping skills, and break problems into manageable parts.

Before becoming a clinician he spent four years working in child welfare and social services, and he has three years practicing as a clinical social worker. This background informs his focus on parenting, adoption and foster care, blended family issues, and communication problems. He also supports people facing trauma, mood disorders, panic attacks, and issues around identity and relationships.

Sessions are offered in English and are available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Garland works with concerns such as ADHD, sleeping difficulties, compassion fatigue, guilt and shame, and isolation. He prioritizes helping people build skills they can use outside session time.

If someone wants to begin, they can complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule based on the therapist’s availability. Garland emphasizes collaboration and practical steps toward clearer thinking and steadier days.

How Garland’s Approaches Work Online

Garland uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to guide online sessions in clear, practical ways. CBT focuses on noticing and adjusting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify what they want to change and find the motivation to take small, doable steps toward those goals.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Garland will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. He aims to tailor techniques so they fit the person’s daily life and progress is measured in concrete steps and small wins.

Online therapy offers flexibility across several formats: video calls for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions when video isn’t possible, live chat for shorter check-ins, and text-based messaging for ongoing support between appointments. These options help people fit sessions around work, school, or caregiving, allow shorter focused check-ins, and make it easier to continue progress when schedules are tight.