An independent directory. Not a crisis service.

Need help now?

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Lisa  McCarton

Lisa McCarton

LCSW · Virginia

Practical, goal-focused therapy with compassion

Continue with Lisa

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

  • Client-centered
  • CBT-based tools
  • Adoption informed

About Lisa

Lisa McCarton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of practice in Virginia. She offers straightforward, practical therapy for parents and individuals facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, mood concerns, grief, and major life changes. Sessions are held in a calm, goal-focused way that aims to help people make small, manageable changes.

Lisa draws on practical, hands-on methods to address thinking patterns and everyday behaviors. She uses client-centered work to listen and shape goals with each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thinking and try new ways of responding. Attachment-based ideas and motivational interviewing are also part of her toolbox when they match a person's needs.

Her background includes a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and early clinical work in a residential treatment setting for children who experienced abuse. That period involved direct therapy and case management for children and their families, which informs her steady, problem-solving approach today.

In sessions Lisa focuses on clear steps people can take between meetings. She will work with clients on coping skills, improving communication, managing anger or impulsivity, and navigating adoption and foster care related concerns when they come up. Her style is steady and practical, with an emphasis on building trust and realistic goals.

Lisa offers services in English and Spanish. She encourages prospective clients to complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a time to discuss whether her approach fits their situation.

Approaches that guide online work and decision making

Lisa commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors; this approach is useful for anxiety, depression, mood shifts, and problems with impulsivity. Client-Centered Therapy is another frequent influence and focuses on listening, building trust, and shaping goals together so sessions feel relevant to daily life. Attachment-Based ideas are used when relational history or early bonds are part of the concern, helping people understand patterns in relationships and parenting, including adoption and foster care related topics.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Lisa will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying things for a few sessions and adjusting when needed, rather than committing to a single method from the start.

Confirm the current session options before booking since specific formats are not listed here. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Some people find video helpful for face-to-face interaction, while others prefer phone sessions for a simpler setup or lower bandwidth. Ask about available formats when you complete the matching questionnaire so you can pick what fits your routine.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseAnger managementADHD

Also works with

Relationship issuesGriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesFamily problemsImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

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

Experience

20+ years

Credentials

Virginia

Languages

English, Spanish

Frequently asked questions

What types of problems does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strain, relationship and communication problems, ADHD, anger, and coping with life changes.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is practical and goal-focused. She combines client-centered listening with methods that target thinking and behavior so clients can try concrete changes between sessions.

What is her professional background?

She has 20 years of clinical experience and began post-master's work in a residential treatment setting for children who experienced abuse, providing therapy and case management.

What credentials and region do her services reflect?

She holds the LCSW credential and practices in Virginia.

What languages are supported and can international clients join?

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Please confirm current session formats before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats.

How are fees and payment handled?

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

How do I begin working with her?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Back to all therapists

Lisa McCartonOnline therapy options on BetterHelp

Continue with Lisa