Becky Ness
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 12 years of experience supporting adults through cancer, survivorship, caregiving, and other major life and medical transitions. My work often focuses on the emotional and relational impact of these experiences—including anxiety, grief, changes in identity and body image, relationship concerns, and shifts in intimacy and sexual health. I also work with adults who want to better understand themselves and the patterns that show up in their relationships, especially during times of change, uncertainty, or stress. I also specialize in sexual health and intimacy, supporting individuals who are navigating desire differences, sexual shame, body image concerns, or changes related to illness, stress, aging, or past experiences. These can be difficult topics to talk about, but they are an important part of emotional and relational well-being—and they deserve thoughtful, non-judgmental care.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 12 years of experience, and I specialize in cancer, survivorship, caregiving, and other major life and medical transitions.
My approach to therapy is collaborative, relational, and tailored to your unique needs. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you—it’s about helping you better understand what you’re carrying, reconnect with your strengths, and move forward with more clarity, self-compassion, and intention.
First session
Starting therapy can feel both hopeful and nerve-wracking. Our first session is a relaxed conversation focused on getting to know you, understanding what brought you to therapy, and what you’re hoping might be different. We’ll talk about what feels most important right now and explore some of the experiences that may be contributing to it. I’ll also ask questions to better understand you and your history, and we’ll begin identifying what you’d like to focus on together. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you come in—or even know exactly what your goals are yet. Part of our work can be figuring that out together. By the end of our first session, my hope is that you feel heard, have a clearer sense of where we might begin, and feel comfortable deciding whether I’m the right therapist for you.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is helping people navigate situations that don’t necessarily have an easy answer or a quick fix. Whether you’re adjusting to a health change, moving through a major life transition, or simply feeling overwhelmed by everything you’re carrying, I can help you slow things down and figure out what you need. I’m warm and supportive, but I’m also an active therapist. I’ll ask questions, help you connect patterns, offer different perspectives, and gently challenge you when there may be something worth looking at more closely. I’m especially good at helping clients take something that feels big and overwhelming and break it down into something more manageable. I also believe coping skills should actually fit your life. Together, we can find practical tools that work for you while still making room to understand and process what’s underneath what you’re experiencing.
Ideal clients
I work best with adults who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward, especially during times of illness, loss, uncertainty, or major change. You may be someone who is used to being the strong one, taking care of everyone else, or trying to hold everything together while quietly struggling yourself. I especially enjoy working with people navigating cancer, survivorship, caregiving, chronic illness, or significant health changes. These experiences can affect so much more than your physical health—they can change how you see yourself, your body, your relationships, your sexuality, and the future you imagined for yourself. I also work with adults experiencing anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, grief, or difficulty adjusting to change, as well as those who want to better understand patterns in their relationships. You may find yourself overthinking interactions, struggling with boundaries, fearing rejection, people-pleasing, or wondering why you keep falling into the same patterns even when you know they aren’t working for you. Sexual health and intimacy are also important areas of my practice. I welcome clients who want support with desire changes, body image, sexual confidence, intimacy, or understanding their own sexual needs and experiences. These concerns may be connected to illness or medical treatment, a relationship, a life transition—or simply something you’re ready to understand better. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming and welcoming of diverse identities, sexual orientations, and relationship structures. You don’t need to fit into a particular box to feel welcome here.
Treatment methods
Compassion-Focused
I help clients recognize patterns of self-criticism, shame, and the pressure to always have everything figured out. Together, we explore where those expectations come from and work toward developing a kinder, more understanding relationship with yourself. This doesn't mean ignoring difficult emotions or avoiding accountability. It means learning to respond to yourself with the same compassion you might offer someone you care about, especially during times of stress, illness, or change.
Attachment-based
Our early relationships and experiences can shape how we connect with others, respond to conflict, and experience emotional safety. I help clients explore how these patterns may be showing up in their relationships today, including fears of rejection, difficulty trusting others, people-pleasing, or pulling away when things feel uncomfortable. Together, we work toward understanding these responses, communicating needs more effectively, and building healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Sex Therapy
I provide sex-positive, affirming support for individuals navigating concerns related to desire, arousal, orgasm, body image, sexual confidence, and intimacy. Whether these concerns are connected to medical treatment, relationship experiences, stress, or changes throughout life, I offer a comfortable, judgment-free space to talk openly about sexuality. Together, we can explore what may be contributing to your concerns, better understand your needs, and work toward a more satisfying relationship with your body, sexuality, and intimate life.
Strength-Based
When life feels overwhelming, it can be difficult to recognize your own strengths or remember what's helped you through challenges before. I help clients reconnect with their abilities, values, and existing coping skills while identifying opportunities for growth. Rather than focusing only on what's going wrong, we'll also look at what's working and how we can build on it. My goal is to help you feel more confident in your ability to navigate challenges and make choices that feel right for you.
Grief Therapy
Grief can show up in many ways, whether you're mourning the loss of someone you love, anticipating a loss, or adjusting to changes in your health, relationships, or the life you imagined for yourself. I provide space to explore the full range of emotions that come with grief, without pressure to move on or find a silver lining. Together, we can work toward finding ways to carry your grief while continuing to make room for connection, meaning, and the parts of life that still matter to you.
Location
Virtual sessions