Chelsea Staine
Hi ! My name is Chelsea Staine, and I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am a warm, authentic, and supportive therapist who believes in creating a space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. I understand how uncomfortable it can feel to open up to someone you’ve never met, and I consider it an honor to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and at ease. Over the past six years, I have worked across a wide range of settings, including schools, home-based services, hospitals, psychiatric urgent care, homeless services, and substance use groups. This experience has given me a broad understanding of how mental health is impacted by environment, systems, and access to support across different stages of life.My approach is rooted in humanistic values, recognizing each person's capacity for growth, healing, and self-discovery. As a social worker, I take a holistic approach to mental health, exploring how relationships, family systems, environments, and unmet needs may impact your mental health. Together, we will work to better understand your challenges, build on your strengths, and create meaningful, lasting change.
First session
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin building a comfortable, trusting therapeutic relationship. We'll discuss what brought you to therapy, the challenges you're currently facing, and what you hope to gain from our work together. I'll also take time to learn about your background, relationships, support systems, and any factors that may be impacting your well-being. My approach is conversational, warm, and collaborative. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly where to start. By the end of our session, we'll identify initial goals and begin creating a plan tailored to your unique needs and strengths.
Strengths
I bring a strong ability to read emotional tone and understand what clients need in the moment, whether that’s gentle support, thoughtful reflection, or space to process. I know when to offer challenge and when to slow down and hold space with presence and care. My approach is grounded in clinical training/experience and a personal understanding of mental health challenges, which allows me to show up with authenticity, empathy, and real connection.
Ideal clients
Due to my clinical experience across a range of settings, I am comfortable working with a wide variety of presentations and needs. This has strengthened my ability to adapt treatment to each client and meet people where they are, regardless of complexity or background. I work especially well with clients who want a supportive, honest space, where they feel both understood and challenged. My approach fits individuals who are open to reflection, building insight, and practicing new coping skills, even when the process feels uncomfortable.
Treatment methods
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach in treatment, which means I focus on understanding how early relationships and attachment experiences shape current emotional patterns, coping strategies, and relationships. Together, we explore how attachment needs show up in anxiety, trust, emotional regulation, and connection with others. This helps clients gain insight into recurring relational patterns while also building more secure ways of relating to themselves and the people in their lives.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge cognitive distortions, and develop more balanced and realistic ways of thinking. We also focus on how thoughts influence feelings and actions, and build practical coping strategies that can be used in daily life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. This approach is especially helpful for individuals who experience intense emotions, impulsivity, or difficulties in relationships. Together, we work on increasing awareness of emotional triggers, reducing harmful coping patterns, and developing healthier ways to manage stress and communicate needs. DBT emphasizes both acceptance and change, helping clients learn to validate their emotions while also building practical tools for creating stability and balance in their lives.
Humanistic
I use a humanistic approach, which is grounded in the belief that every person has inherent worth, capacity for growth, and the ability to heal when given a supportive and genuine environment. In sessions, I focus on creating a warm, nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences at their own pace. This approach emphasizes self-understanding, authenticity, and personal empowerment, helping clients connect more deeply with themselves and move toward meaningful change in a way that feels aligned with who they are.
Trauma-Informed Care
I incorporate a trauma-informed approach, meaning I prioritize safety, trust, and emotional pacing while being mindful of how past experiences and environments shape current functioning. I work collaboratively with clients to ensure they feel grounded and supported as we explore difficult experiences without becoming overwhelmed.
Location
Virtual sessions