Athena McCaman

Trauma-informed CBT with practical coping skills

LISW Ohio

Experience: 12 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Athena

Athena McCaman is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in Ohio who blends client-centered care with skills-based methods to help people navigate stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and life transitions.

Background and approach

With 12 years of hands-on experience in both individual and group settings, she draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside motivational engagement to support practical coping strategies and healthier patterns of thinking and behavior.

Her background includes work with those facing depression, PTSD, substance use challenges, parenting concerns, and relationship difficulties, and she emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and empathy in every clinical interaction. Athena also incorporates elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness practices when appropriate, tailoring interventions to each person’s needs.

She has experience addressing issues such as abandonment, codependency, family of origin dynamics, anger, and isolation, and offers approaches aimed at skill building, emotional regulation, and processing past hurts. Clients ready to begin can expect a collaborative process focused on empowerment, practical tools, and steady support to move toward clearer goals and improved day-to-day functioning.

Practical therapeutic methods for online care

CBT focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, then practicing alternative responses; it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and developing concrete coping strategies. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, respect, and collaboration, creating space for clients to set their own goals while the therapist offers support and validation. Dialectical Behavior Therapy combines acceptance and change skills to help with emotional regulation, impulsivity, and improving interpersonal effectiveness.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. Athena will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past, adjusting methods over time so the work fits the individual’s needs and rhythm. This shared decision-making helps match techniques to the problems someone wants to address and makes space for practical skill-building alongside emotional processing.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing sessions to fit into busy schedules and different comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care when life is unpredictable and to practice new skills between sessions with ongoing support from a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Athena commonly address?

She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with life changes, as well as relationship and family challenges.

What is Athena's therapeutic style like?

Her practice emphasizes a client-centered approach combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and motivational techniques to develop coping skills and practical behavior changes.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Athena brings 12 years of experience working with individuals and groups across mental health and substance use concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is an LISW licensed in Ohio with licence details OH LISW I.2102916-SUPV and maintains her clinical practice in that state.

Does she offer services in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Athena offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What should someone do to begin working with her?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteem ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSex addictionWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

12+ years

Licensed

Ohio

Languages

English