Scott Underwood, LCSW

Licensed in California · 23 years in practice

Scott Underwood is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience.

License and registration

LCSW, California: LCS20226 · expires July 2026
NPI: 1770615395 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 23
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 Scott

Scott Underwood is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience. He began his career in the Army as a Behavioral Science Specialist in 1984 and has worked in community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, independent practice, and with active duty Air Force personnel. Scott practices from California and offers online formats that fit many schedules.

Scott keeps sessions straightforward and practical. He helps people deal with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and anger.

Background and approach

He also supports clients facing grief, career shifts, parenting strain, and intimacy or relationship concerns. He uses proven methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and trauma-focused work to address distressing memories, thought patterns, and reactions. Scott tailors his approach to each person's needs and goals rather than following a single script.

Scott aims to make counseling approachable and sometimes even light when that helps. He can do structured problem solving, coach through specific skills, or offer space to be heard. Clients who know what they hope to get from therapy tend to get the most from his work.

He is used to supporting people across a wide range of difficulties from panic and phobias to mood disorders and life transitions. Scott is comfortable working with highly functional people who hit rough patches as well as those facing very serious conditions. He adapts the pace and focus according to whether someone wants short-term help or longer-term change.

Focus areas and approaches

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

Stress, Anxiety
Trauma and abuse
Parenting issues
Anger management
Depression
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Eating disorders
Sleeping disorders
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Family problems
Midlife crisis
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Mood disorders
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress
Social anxiety and phobia

Approaches Scott 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

Approaches for trauma, thoughts, and daily stress

Scott uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, with practical exercises to try between sessions. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is used to reduce the emotional charge of distressing memories by processing them in a paced way. Trauma-Focused Therapy targets the impact of traumatic events, helping clients build coping skills and reorganize how they understand upsetting experiences.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Scott will talk with each person about symptoms, history, and goals, and together they will decide which methods to try and how fast to move. He adjusts plans if priorities change or if someone wants a shorter or longer focus.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation from different locations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or movement is an issue. Live chat and text messaging work well for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or when typing feels more comfortable than talking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue work even during moves or travel.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does he address?

Scott helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep and eating concerns, self-esteem, career problems, and coping with life changes.

What is his style in sessions?

He keeps sessions practical and down-to-earth, using problem solving, coaching, and listening as needed. He can be direct and occasionally use humor to ease tension.

How much experience does he have?

He brings 23 years of clinical experience dating back to work as a Behavioral Science Specialist in the Army and roles in community mental health, hospitals, independent practice, and military clinics.

What are his credentials and where is he based?

He holds an LCSW credential and practices from California.

Can sessions be held in languages other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

He works via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How does cost work 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 him?

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

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