Natalie Evans
Hi, I’m Natalie! I’m a Northern California-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works individually with adults. I believes therapy is most effective when it feels like a genuine, supportive relationship. Real progress happens when you feel comfortable, understood, and connected—and that’s always where I begin. My clinical background includes school-based mental health, hospice, community-mental health and private practice, which allows me to meet a wide range of experiences. My style is warm, relaxed, and non-judgmental. I focus on building authentic connections and letting you take the lead at a pace that feels right. At the same time, I’m not afraid to ask thoughtful questions, offer supportive challenges, and use humor to lighten the process when it fits. I view you as the expert of your own life, and my role is to help you recognize and build on your strengths. While I prefer an unstructured, conversational approach, I also draw on evidence-based practices for skill-building and support when helpful. Together, we’ll work to identify tools and strategies that support your well-being and help you feel more confident navigating life’s challenges.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is a chance to get to know one another, and determine if this feels like a good fit for your needs. This might look like me asking questions to identify your areas of concern and what brings you in, reviewing intake paperwork, information gathering, and doing a lot of listening on my end. Together we will also identify your goals for therapy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my strengths as a therapist is my ability to incorporate humor in a thoughtful and appropriate way, which helps clients feel more comfortable, relaxed, and at ease in session. Clients have shared that this makes therapy feel more approachable and less intimidating. I also take what I consider a more modern, relational approach to therapy. I don’t act as a “blank wall”—instead, I show up as a real person in the room. When appropriate, I use self-disclosure to help build connection and normalize experiences. This often creates a space where clients feel safe to be themselves, ask questions, and engage more openly in the process. My goal is to create an environment that feels genuine, collaborative, and supportive, while still helping clients grow and move forward.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
► YOUNG ADULTS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, MILLENNIALS AND COLLEGE/GRAD STUDENTS: - Navigating life transitions (graduation, moving, career decisions, work-life balance) - Academic stress, burnout, or loss of motivation ► CLIENTS GOING THROUGH LIFE TRANSITIONS: - Breakups, career changes, identity shifts, or adjusting to new role or family changes ► CLIENTS EXPERIENCING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION OR ADHD: - Feeling overwhelmed, anxious and worried, experiencing low mood, or unsure how to move forward - Struggling with focus, task initiation, time management, overwhelm, and feeling mentally "stuck" ► CLIENTS PROCESSING GRIEF, LOSS OR COMPASSION FATIGUE: - Loss of a loved one - human or animal, including pet loss and complex grief tied to the human-animal bond - Veterinary staff and animal care workers seeking support - (I am a certified Veterinary Social Worker) ► CLIENTS EXPLORING RELATIONSHIP AND ATTACHMENT PATTERNS: - Difficulty with trust, vulnerability, boundaries, or communication in relationships (not couples or family therapy) ► CLIENTS WHO FEEL DISCONNECTED OR UNSURE OF THEMSELVES: - Low self-worth, identity confusion, or feeling like they “don’t fit in” ** While I work with a wide range of concerns, there are certain situations that may be better supported by a provider with more specialized or intensive services. This includes couples or family therapy, high-conflict divorce or custody-related concerns, and court-mandated treatment. I also may not be the best fit for clients requiring a higher level of care, such as those experiencing very active suicidal ideation, those recently discharged from inpatient or intensive treatment programs, or individuals needing specialized treatment for eating disorders, psychosis or substance use. In these cases, I’m happy to help guide clients toward appropriate resources or providers who can best meet their needs.
Anxiety
Grief
Life Transitions
Coping Skills
Depression
Peer Relationships
Hispanic / Latinx
Person of Color (POC)
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
California
Aetna
Location
VirtualMy treatment methods
Strength-Based
I use this as the foundation of my work. Clients often come in focused on what’s “wrong,” but I intentionally highlight skills, values, and resilience they already have. I integrate this by reflecting back strengths I notice in session, helping clients identify past successes, and using those to fuel confidence in addressing current challenges.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I draw from CBT when clients are struggling with unhelpful thought patterns or anxiety. In practice, I use Socratic questioning and Behavioral Activation techniques to help clients test and shift their thinking. For example, if a client is overthinking worst-case scenarios, we challenge the thought together and build alternative perspectives. I adapt CBT to the client’s comfort level. I may also encourage clients to schedule and engage in meaningful, rewarding, or mastery-oriented activities, even if they don’t “feel like it" because doing this can improve mood and help "get the ball rolling".
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use SFBT strategies to create momentum and keep sessions client-driven, especially when someone feels stuck or overwhelmed. I may ask future-oriented questions, or scaling questions to measure progress. It helps keeps our work practical and attainable. I also help clients set small, actionable steps so they leave sessions with a sense of direction and hope.
Psychoeducation
I use psychoeducation regularly across sessions because I believe that when clients understand what they’re experiencing and why, it helps reduce shame, increases insight, and makes interventions feel more doable. I tailor psychoeducation to the client’s needs and learning style. With anxious clients, I might explain the fight-or-flight system and how physical symptoms (like racing heart or shortness of breath) are linked to their body’s alarm system. With grief and loss, I normalize the non-linear process and common reactions people might have. With ADHD or depression, I explain how executive functioning, energy, and motivation can be impacted, and then connect that back to coping strategies. I keep explanations conversational and interactive. I often use visuals, metaphors, or everyday examples.