Yonna Swingholm, LCSW, LICSW

Yonna Swingholm is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of practice. She holds the LCSW and LICSW credentials and works from California. Her writing and approach aim to make therapy understandable and useful for everyday life.

She takes an integrative approach that values the relationship with each person. Yonna uses cognitive behavioral methods alongside client-centered and mindfulness ideas. Sessions begin with clear goals so techniques match what the person wants to change.

Yonna has substantial experience with military and special operations communities and has spent extended time living and working with Native Tribes across North America. She also brings skills from yoga and meditation teaching into sessions when that fits a person's preferences.

Her work addresses a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, sexual issues, and parenting strain. She helps people facing life changes, career questions, questions about sexuality, and struggles with self-esteem and anger.

In session she focuses on practical steps and clear conversation. Clients can expect to talk about specific problems, try small experiments between meetings, and notice what helps over time. The aim is steady progress toward the goals a person sets.

Yonna offers therapy in English and practices from California. She combines evidence-informed techniques like cognitive behavioral methods with a person-centered style to tailor work to each individual's needs.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Yonna commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, or sleep problems. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, listening stance so people feel heard and can set their own goals.

She also draws on mindfulness techniques that teach simple attention and breathing practices to reduce overwhelm and improve emotion regulation. Together these approaches give practical tools and space for reflection, and she helps people choose which methods make the most sense for their situation and goals through collaborative conversation.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video works well for deeper conversations and seeing nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in fits better. Live chat and text messaging allow brief touchpoints and written reflections between longer sessions. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into work, caregiving, or busy schedules while keeping the same therapeutic focus.