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VD Portrait of Dr. Vaughn DeCoster

Dr. Vaughn DeCoster

Compassionate, evidence-informed social worker

LCSW Arkansas

Experience
31 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages
English

About Vaughn

Dr. Vaughn DeCoster offers support to people navigating stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma, and other life challenges.

Background and approach

He emphasizes that seeking help is a courageous step and approaches each client as the expert on their own life, partnering to explore practical strategies that fit individual needs and circumstances. With an emphasis on collaboration, he helps clients experiment with different tools until they find what works best for them.

Dr. DeCoster brings more than three decades of clinical experience as a licensed social worker to his practice in Arkansas.

His background includes work as a therapist and university professor, and he draws from a range of evidence-informed methods that address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - including cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness-based practices. He also incorporates creative elements, such as photography, when helpful, and adapts sessions to respect clients' time and goals.

His style is engaged and compassionate, focused on strengthening resilience and fostering meaningful change.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Dr. Vaughn DeCoster draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; this practical, skills-focused method is commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. He also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early relational patterns shape current connections and emotional responses, which can be useful for tackling intimacy-related concerns and relationship distress.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. He partners with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences, then tailors interventions and experiments with strategies until a good fit emerges. The therapist’s client-centered stance supports active adjustment of plans based on how well techniques are working for each person.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for people with busy or shifting schedules. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across life changes, and allow work on skills, reflection, and problem-solving from home or another convenient setting.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does this therapist commonly address?
He works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy-related issues, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, self-esteem, career challenges, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.
What is the therapist's general approach in sessions?
The approach is collaborative and client-centered, using evidence-informed methods to target thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while adapting strategies to each person's needs and preferences.
How much clinical experience does he have?
The therapist has 31 years of clinical experience, including roles as a practicing clinician and a university professor.
What credentials and location are listed for this clinician?
He holds the credential AR LCSW 3738-C and practices in Arkansas as a licensed clinical social worker.
Which languages are available and can international clients be seen?
Sessions are offered in English only, and he is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered for online work?
He provides multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How are costs and payment handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are accessed via a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesCompassion fatigue

Also works with

LGBTGriefAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCoping with natural or human-caused disasterEmptinessFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesSelf-harmSexuality

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

31+ years

Licensed

Arkansas

Languages

English