Cilicia Gooden

Compassionate, trauma-informed clinical social worker

LCSW Arizona

Experience: 8 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Languages: English

About Cilicia

Cilicia Gooden is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, relationship challenges, and the effects of trauma and abuse.

Background and approach

With eight years of clinical experience, she draws on evidence-informed methods to guide clients toward clearer thinking, safer coping, and improved emotional balance. Her work emphasizes compassion and cultural awareness while addressing issues such as postpartum depression, communication problems, guilt and shame, and identity-related stressors.

Cilicia supports clients through transitions like pregnancy and childbirth and attends to particular concerns including domestic violence, personality and mood disorders, and experiences of prejudice and discrimination. In sessions she combines practical skill-building with trauma-sensitive interventions, helping people strengthen self-love, clarify life purpose, and repair relationship patterns.

Cilicia holds an LCSW and practices in Arizona, offering a collaborative approach that tailors strategies to each person’s goals and circumstances.

Integrating evidence-informed approaches in online care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. It often involves practical exercises, homework, and skill building to promote clearer thinking and healthier coping. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that helps reduce the intensity of distressing memories through structured processing; it is frequently used when past events continue to cause strong emotional or physiological reactions.

Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to explore which approach or combination of approaches best matches their goals, history, and preferences, adjusting strategies over time as needs evolve. This shared decision-making helps tailor sessions to what actually helps the individual make progress.

Offering video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, online therapy provides flexibility for scheduling and accessibility across daily life. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care during transitions, allowing clients to practice new skills between sessions and stay connected with a licensed professional from varied locations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist address?

Cilicia supports people working with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood issues, relationship difficulties, and trauma and abuse. She also focuses on topics like postpartum depression, communication problems, and discrimination-related stress.

What therapeutic style does she use?

The approach blends practical, skills-based techniques with trauma-focused work and somatic awareness. Sessions often emphasize collaborative problem solving and emotional regulation strategies.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has eight years of experience working in clinical settings and brings that background to individualized treatment planning and intervention selection.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She is an LCSW licensed in Arizona with licence number AZ LCSW LCSW-22930 and practices from that state.

Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?

Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

Clients can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on needs and scheduling.

How are fees and payments handled?

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

What steps are involved in getting started?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCommunication problemsDomestic violenceGuilt and shameLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Arizona

Languages

English