About Gretchen
Gretchen Raring is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, low self-esteem, depression, and life transitions. She talks with clients about practical steps as well as feelings. Her style is warm and direct, with an emphasis on collaboration and real tools that fit daily life.
Gretchen brings 24 years of experience in mental health and related settings. She has worked in areas that included addiction, homelessness, and support for people after trauma.
Background and approach
That background informs a flexible approach that adapts to each person's situation and strengths. In sessions she blends gentle listening with clear strategies. She uses methods from cognitive behavioral therapy to help change unhelpful thinking.
She also draws on attachment-based ideas to improve how people relate to others and on acceptance and commitment therapy to clarify values and build committed action. Her work focuses on short- and longer-term concerns such as grief, parenting strain, sleep problems, and career stress.
She also addresses complex issues like bipolar disorder, co-morbidity, chronic illness, and addiction with practical coping plans and pacing that fits each person's life. Gretchen offers sessions in English and practices from New Jersey. She aims to help people develop better coping, clearer communication, and steadier emotional balance.
The first steps are simple conversations to set goals and choose strategies that feel right.
Online approaches that match your goals
Gretchen uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to you and then building small, committed actions that align with those values; it is often helpful for stress, avoidance, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches practical techniques to reduce anxiety, lift mood, and improve sleep.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Gretchen will talk with you about your goals and try ways of working that fit your needs and preferences. That collaborative process helps shape which methods are emphasized over time so the plan stays practical and relevant.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions let you see facial cues and have a longer discussion. Phone sessions can be used when bandwidth is limited or when you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat or text messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or times when a shorter format fits better into a busy day. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving, and other responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Arizona
- Languages
- English