Richard Sumner, LCSW

Licensed in Virginia · 25 years in practice

Richard Sumner is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 25 years of practice.

License and registration

LCSW, Virginia: 0904006675 · expires June 2026
NPI: 1457588097 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 25
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 Richard

Richard Sumner is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with 25 years of practice. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. He writes plainly and aims to make the first steps toward change feel doable and less overwhelming.

He frames clients as the experts in their own stories. He looks for strengths the person can use when facing hard situations.

Background and approach

Sessions are collaborative and geared toward practical next steps rather than abstract theory. Richard draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address mood problems and coping skills. He supports people dealing with aging and geriatric issues, substance use and recovery concerns, men’s issues, midlife transitions, and self-harm thoughts.

His work often centers on building motivation and confidence. In sessions he helps people sort through immediate problems and plan small, concrete changes. He pays attention to how stress and anxiety show up in daily life.

He also helps with longer-term goals like improving mood and rebuilding self-worth. Richard’s style is steady and straightforward. He encourages honest conversation and practical action.

His aim is to empower people so they can move toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Focus areas and approaches

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

Online support

Evidence-based approaches and online therapy options

Richard uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and problem solving. One common approach emphasizes identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them against real-life evidence to reduce anxiety and low mood. This method helps people notice thought habits and try new, healthier ways of responding.

Another approach centers on building coping skills and behavioral activation. It involves scheduling manageable activities, improving daily routines, and increasing small successes to lift mood and motivation. This is useful for depression, low energy, and when life changes make it hard to get moving.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. He will help clients decide which techniques fit their goals and preferences and adjust plans as progress is made. The therapist frames this as a collaborative process focused on what the client wants to change.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video lets people work face-to-face and use visual cues. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat or messaging is useful for brief check-ins, ongoing support between meetings, or people who prefer written communication. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting different schedules and needs.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does he help people with?

He assists with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. He also works with aging and geriatric issues, drug and alcohol addiction, men's issues, midlife crisis, mood disorders, and self-harm.

What is his therapeutic approach and style?

He uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and a strengths-focused, collaborative style. Sessions emphasize practical steps, building motivation, and helping people use their own resources.

How much experience does he have?

He has 25 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That background informs his practical approach to stress, mood, and life transitions.

Where is he licensed and based?

He is licensed as an LCSW in Virginia and practices with that credential in mind. His location for licensing purposes is Virginia.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the U.S. work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted. He works with people who are within the applicable jurisdiction.

What session formats are available?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options allow for different rhythms of contact and shorter or longer check-ins.

How do costs and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on those factors.

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