Claire McDonough, LCSW

Licensed in New Jersey · 21 years in practice

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life changes.

License and registration

LCSW, New Jersey: 44SC05489900 · expires August 2026
NPI: 1023439783 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 21
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Claire

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life changes. She works in New Jersey and brings a calm, patient style to sessions. Claire focuses on building trust quickly so people feel safe to talk about difficult things.

She uses a blend of practical approaches that match each person’s needs. That can mean using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thoughts, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to manage emotions, or Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address relationship distress.

Background and approach

Mindfulness and motivational techniques also appear in her work when they fit a client's goals. Claire has supported people facing grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and compassion fatigue. She also helps with intimacy, self-esteem, career stress, and parenting challenges.

Additional focus areas include attachment and family-of-origin issues, communication and commitment struggles, and first responder stress. In sessions she listens first, then offers clear suggestions and gentle challenges to help people move forward. She aims for straightforward, usable strategies rather than jargon.

Over two decades in varied mental health settings inform her practical approach. People who choose Claire often want steady support through big transitions or recurring problems. She combines experience with simple tools so clients can make gradual, sustainable changes in daily life.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Claire lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Parenting issues
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Caregiver issues and stress
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Pregnancy and childbirth
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Claire names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How chosen approaches work in online therapy

Claire commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in online sessions. CBT focuses on recognizing and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can ease anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills to help with intense emotions and relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will ask about current struggles, goals, and daily life, then suggest methods to try. Clients and the therapist check in and adjust the plan so it fits personal needs and preferences in a collaborative way.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use face-to-face conversation for deeper emotional work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or when a shorter touchpoint fits into a busy day. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, or caregiving schedules while keeping continuity of care.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does Claire address?

She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, ADHD, bipolar concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, and career stress.

What is her therapy style like?

Her style is calm and direct. She listens first, then offers practical suggestions and gentle challenges to help clients reach their goals.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Claire has 21 years of experience working in a variety of mental health settings and has used multiple therapeutic approaches during that time.

Where is Claire licensed and based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey and provides services to people in that state.

What languages are offered for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How is cost handled for sessions?

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

How do I begin working with Claire?

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

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