Rachel McGowan
Supportive LICSW using CBT and mindfulness
LICSW Massachusetts
- Experience
- 11 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Rachel
Rachel McGowan is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts who brings 11 years of clinical experience to her work. Her practice integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered and mindfulness-informed approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and trauma-related concerns.
Background and approach
She has also supported individuals navigating ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating concerns, relationship and family difficulties, and other complex emotional challenges. Her background includes clinical and school social work roles as well as several years in residential care, where she worked with people affected by physical, sexual, and emotional trauma.
Rachel emphasizes a warm, interactive style that prioritizes respect and compassion and avoids stigmatizing labels. She collaborates with clients to identify triggers, develop coping skills, and apply mindfulness and practical strategies in daily life.
Sessions are tailored to each person’s needs and goals, and Rachel stresses the importance of a trusting therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change. Rachel also incorporates skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and motivational interviewing when relevant, working alongside clients to create achievable treatment plans and steady progress toward their goals.
How CBT, Client-Centered Care, and DBT Skills Translate to Online Therapy
Rachel commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and practice concrete behavioral changes; this approach is often used to address anxiety, depression, panic, and social fears. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist listens and reflects to help clients clarify their goals and feel understood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy contributes practical emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that can be useful for managing intense emotions and improving communication.Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Rachel will work with each person to explore which methods fit their needs and goals, adapting techniques based on what resonates and produces progress. The plan is guided by the client’s preferences and a shared understanding of realistic steps forward.
Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to offer flexibility and ongoing support between meetings. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity when travel or location changes occur, and access care from wherever a client is located within the therapist’s service area. Licensed professionals can tailor exercises, worksheets, and skills practice to work effectively through these remote formats.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Licensed
Massachusetts
Languages
English