Ethel Dickerson , LCSW

Ethel Dickerson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Connecticut with 22 years of clinical experience supporting people through trauma, anxiety, parenting challenges, ADHD, autism, racism, depression, grief and the emotional effects of the pandemic. She has worked in outpatient clinics, provided services to people experiencing homelessness, supported school-aged children, coordinated a trauma first responders team, and assisted adults and families facing grief and loss. Her background spans individual, family, and community-focused work, bringing a broad perspective to each case.

Known for a professional yet warm style, Ethel prioritizes honesty and her undivided attention during sessions. She emphasizes respect and nonjudgmental care and believes everyone who seeks help deserves a compassionate and professionally motivated response. Ethel may offer direct observations that challenge unhelpful patterns, always aiming to help clients move toward healthier outcomes.

Drawing on her professional training and life experience, she helps clients restructure harmful thought patterns through methods such as cognitive approaches and client-centered strategies. Ethel partners with people to make gradual changes in thinking and behavior that improve daily functioning and emotional wellbeing. She welcomes those ready to begin the process and offers her experience and guidance to support progress toward clearer, more constructive ways of coping.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a respectful, empathetic space where the client leads the conversation and the therapist offers support, listening, and validation to help people explore their goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, teaching practical skills to identify and adjust thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and everyday stress. Trauma-focused therapy attends specifically to the effects of traumatic experiences, using structured approaches to reduce symptoms and help clients process difficult memories and reactions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Ethel works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they adapt strategies over time so therapy remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, or through live chat and text-based messaging - making it easier to fit care into busy schedules, manage ongoing support between sessions, and access therapy from different locations. Licensed professionals can provide meaningful, goal-oriented work through these formats, helping clients make steady progress without sacrificing convenience.