Lawrence Goncalves Jr. , LICSW

Lawrence Goncalves Jr. is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience helping individuals, families, couples, groups, and communities navigate a wide range of mental health and life challenges. He began his career the summer after earning a B.A. in Juvenile Counseling from the University of Washington and spent his first decade working as a youth and family counselor in a community mental health clinic, gaining hands-on experience with young people and their families in diverse settings.

After completing a Master of Social Work at the University of Washington, he became a LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - which authorizes independent clinical practice. Over the years he has provided services in settings that include juvenile offender programs, domestic violence shelters, community centers, and youth group homes, and he has worked with people of many ages and cultural and racial backgrounds.

He emphasizes the importance of safety and the therapeutic relationship as central to positive outcomes, and he draws from multiple evidence-informed approaches to tailor treatment to each person. His training includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Multisystemic Therapy (MST), which he integrates into realistic, usable strategies to help clients manage symptoms, process trauma, improve relationships, and cope with life changes.

Lawrence aims to help people leave therapy thinking, feeling, or performing better than when they first met, using practical tools and collaborative care to address stress, anxiety, trauma, mood concerns, addictions, parenting and family issues, grief, sleep problems, and related challenges.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Licensed Professionals

Lawrence frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mood or coping problems. CBT focuses on practical skills and structured exercises that can reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

He also incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT can be especially helpful for managing intense emotions, impulsivity, and relationship difficulties.

For clients processing traumatic memories, Lawrence draws on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a method that supports reprocessing distressing memories so they feel less disruptive. EMDR is used to address trauma-related symptoms and improve resilience.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Lawrence works with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and he combines techniques as appropriate to create a tailored plan that fits the individual.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: sessions can occur by video call or phone, and shorter check-ins or ongoing support can be provided via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, access care from different locations within Washington, and maintain continuity of treatment when in-person visits are difficult.