LCSW, 10 years of experience
I am Dr. Kortney Clinton, PhD, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist dedicated to helping individuals and families create meaningful and sustainable change in their lives. My practice serves both children and adults, with a focus on treating anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and mood disorders. I believe therapy is not just about addressing immediate concerns, but about connecting the dots—understanding how past experiences, current challenges, and future goals intersect—and using that insight to move toward healing. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and rooted in evidence-based care. I use treatment methods such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) which allows me to tailor care to the unique needs of each client while making space for the whole person—their thoughts, emotions, body, and environment. Beyond my professional expertise, I bring authenticity and understanding into the therapy space. I know that seeking therapy can feel overwhelming or uncertain, and I work to create an environment where clients feel safe, supported, and seen. Whether you are an individual seeking to better understand yourself, a parent concerned about your child’s well-being, or someone carrying the weight of trauma, I am committed to walking alongside you in your journey. My goal is not only symptom relief but also empowerment—helping you develop the tools, confidence, and resilience to create lasting change in your life.
The first session is all about building connection, comfort, and clarity. I know that starting therapy can feel intimidating, so I structure our initial meeting in a way that is welcoming, informative, and collaborative. During your first session, I will begin by inviting you to share what brought you to therapy. This might include recent struggles, long-standing concerns, or specific goals you hope to accomplish. You don’t need to have everything figured out—sometimes clients simply know they are “not okay” and want things to feel different. That’s enough to start with. I will ask questions to get a fuller picture of your story, including your history, current challenges, support systems, and strengths. This helps me understand not only what is hard for you right now but also what resources and resilience you already carry. If you are bringing your child to therapy, I will spend part of the session speaking with you as a caregiver and part of it directly with your child to ensure both voices are heard. We will also talk through what therapy will look like moving forward. I’ll explain the approaches I use, such as TF-CBT, DBT, and other modalities, and how they might apply to your situation. Together, we’ll begin setting goals—big or small—that will guide our work. By the end of the first session, my goal is for you to feel heard and understood, to have a sense of what therapy with me will look like, and to feel reassured that you have taken an important step forward. I will also provide you with practical takeaways—whether it’s a grounding strategy, journaling exercise, or small step you can try between sessions—so that you leave with something you can immediately put into practice. Most importantly, the first session is not about judgment or pressure. It’s about starting a relationship where you can feel safe, supported, and empowered to begin your journey of healing.
What stands out about my therapeutic approach is the balance I bring between evidence-based methods and compassionate, person-centered care. What makes me unique is the way I connect these methods to the lived experiences of my clients. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I listen deeply and adapt interventions to fit the client’s needs, culture, and personal goals. My clients often tell me that I am both empathetic and practical—I provide space to process emotions while also equipping them with tools they can use immediately in their daily lives. Another strength is my ability to connect the dots. I help clients see the connections between their past, present, and future, and use those insights to break free from cycles that no longer serve them. Whether working with a child learning to manage big emotions, an adult navigating anxiety and burnout, or a family healing from trauma, I bring patience, skill, and commitment to helping them move forward. I also emphasize creating sustainable change. Therapy with me is not just about short-term symptom relief—it’s about building the foundation for long-term growth, resilience, and healthier relationships. Ultimately, my greatest strength is the combination of clinical expertise, genuine care, and a vision for helping clients transform their challenges into opportunities for healing and growth.
My practice is best suited for children, adolescents, and adults who are navigating challenges related to anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and mood disorders. While these diagnoses often bring people into therapy, I see my clients as whole individuals who are more than their struggles. I specialize in working with those who feel “stuck” in patterns—whether that means overthinking, people-pleasing, experiencing overwhelming emotions, or avoiding parts of their past. I often work with: Children and adolescents who are experiencing difficulties with school, friendships, behavior, or emotional regulation. Many of the young people I serve may be struggling with trauma, anxiety, or depression, and need a safe space to learn coping skills and build resilience. Adults who are managing the pressures of work, relationships, or family life while also trying to navigate stress, burnout, or unresolved trauma. Many of my adult clients come to therapy feeling exhausted, disconnected, or unsure of how to create balance in their lives. Parents and caregivers who want to support their children but may feel uncertain about how to respond to their child’s needs or manage their own emotional well-being in the process. My ideal clients are those who are ready—or at least curious—about change. You may not know exactly what that change looks like, and that’s okay. What matters most is a willingness to show up, explore, and commit to the process. I work best with individuals who want not just quick fixes, but real tools that can help them live differently in the long term. If you are someone who struggles with intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping, frequent worry, or feelings of sadness or emptiness, you will find space in my practice. If you’ve been through a difficult experience—such as loss, trauma, or family conflict—and need help making sense of it, I can help. If you are tired of repeating cycles and are looking for clarity, healing, and healthier ways of coping, I am here to walk with you. My clients often share that what they are looking for is not only relief from their current symptoms but also a sense of self-understanding, empowerment, and growth. They want therapy to feel both supportive and practical, offering insight while also giving them concrete tools to use outside of sessions. These are the individuals I am best positioned to serve.
In my practice, I integrate Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to support both children and adults who are working through experiences of trauma, stress, or mood-related challenges. I have training in TF-CBT and use it as a structured, evidence-based model that combines psychoeducation, coping skills, gradual exposure, and cognitive restructuring. When working with clients, I start by building a strong therapeutic alliance and providing education about how trauma can impact thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I guide clients in learning concrete skills such as relaxation techniques, affect regulation, and thought-challenging strategies. For children, I also incorporate caregiver involvement to help them build supportive communication, which reinforces safety and stability at home. A key part of TF-CBT that I apply is helping clients create trauma narratives in a way that feels safe, paced, and empowering. This process allows individuals to process their experiences, shift unhelpful beliefs, and begin to integrate their story without being overwhelmed by it. I find TF-CBT effective because it connects the dots between past experiences and current symptoms, while giving clients sustainable tools to manage their emotions and behaviors. In my office, I use TF-CBT not just to reduce trauma symptoms but also to help clients build resilience and long-term change across areas of anxiety, depression, and mood regulation.
I use psychoeducation as a cornerstone of my practice because knowledge helps reduce fear and uncertainty. By teaching clients how the brain and body respond to stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression, I help them make sense of their experiences. I explain how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, and how the nervous system often reacts automatically to overwhelming events. Clients learn that their symptoms are not weaknesses, but understandable responses to life’s challenges. This education empowers them to actively engage in therapy, recognize patterns, and practice new coping strategies with clarity and confidence.
I also integrate mind-body interventions, recognizing that trauma, stress, and anxiety are often carried in the body. Through mindfulness, grounding, breathwork, and somatic awareness, I help clients tune into their physical sensations and notice where they may be holding tension or distress. These techniques teach clients how to calm their nervous system, regulate overwhelming emotions, and restore a sense of balance. By combining awareness of the body with practical tools, clients are able to release what is “stored” physically and build a stronger connection to their sense of safety and well-being.
I utilize DBT skills in my practice to help clients better manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and navigate stress in healthier ways. DBT is highly effective for individuals who feel easily overwhelmed, struggle with black-and-white thinking, or find it difficult to regulate emotions. In my work, I integrate the four core areas of DBT: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness allows clients to slow down, notice their thoughts and emotions without judgment, and become more present. Emotion regulation gives practical strategies to identify, understand, and manage difficult feelings. Distress tolerance equips clients with coping tools for getting through crises or overwhelming moments without harmful behaviors. Interpersonal effectiveness teaches skills for setting boundaries, asking for needs, and maintaining healthy relationships. In sessions, I break these concepts down into accessible, real-life tools clients can practice immediately. Whether it’s using grounding techniques during panic, role-playing healthier communication, or learning new coping skills for high-stress situations, DBT provides both structure and flexibility. I find DBT particularly helpful because it balances acceptance and change—allowing clients to honor their current struggles while also working toward growth. By integrating DBT with other methods in my practice, clients develop a toolkit that supports resilience, self-control, and more satisfying connections with others.
7 ratings with written reviews
August 13, 2025
I was searching through all of the providers selected for me from my filtering and for whatever reason (at that time) I kept coming back to Dr. Kortney. I came back to her 4 times. Scheduled my first session and I don’t regret it one bit! I’m beyond happy I chose her. She is warm, she is welcoming, she is direct, she is comforting, she has awesome ideas and makes me connect dots I never even knew would connect. After each session I feel relieved, I feel empowered and ready for what I need to do.
May 2, 2025
I’ve never felt more aligned with a therapist, and I’m so grateful for the care and clarity Dr. Clinton brings to every session. What sets her apart is how intentional and empowering her approach is. She provides thoughtful exercises and tools that help me continue the work between sessions, which has made a real difference in my growth. She asks the kinds of questions that make you pause and truly reflect, helping you discover insights that stick—not just in the moment, but long after.
April 24, 2025
Kortney is very passionate about her job and she has helped me during difficult times.