Polly Parks , LCSW

Polly Parks is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in California with 14 years of professional therapeutic experience and continuous good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. She works with people facing depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, and issues common to LGBTQ2+ communities, and brings specialized experience supporting those affected by trauma and abuse.

Polly has provided direct support to students and professionals in the aftermath of the 2019 Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, and she maintains active membership in the National Association of Social Workers and the World Association of Transgender Health. She also completed the California-required telehealth training approved by the BBS, which supports her work via remote modalities.

Having been in recovery from alcohol since July 6, 2006, Polly draws on personal and professional insight into addiction and recovery. She is familiar with 12-step fellowships such as AA, NA, EA, OA, and Adult Children of Alcoholics, and she commonly recommends SMART recovery for people working on substance use and other addictions.

Polly sees clients in the afternoons and evenings, with session start times typically at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00, and she offers weekend availability on Saturdays and Sundays. Her days off are Wednesday and Thursday. She follows NASW guidance and will not hold sessions while a client is driving. Polly cultivates an open, nonjudgmental space and encourages those ready to take the first step toward therapy to reach out.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Polly Parks integrates evidence-informed approaches that focus on values, emotion, and healing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify what matters to them and build psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult thoughts and commit to meaningful actions - it can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on identifying and reshaping emotional responses in relationships and toward oneself, which can aid grief, attachment wounds, and patterns of conflict. Trauma-Focused Therapy offers strategies to address the impact of traumatic experiences in a paced, supportive way and is tailored to reduce trauma-related distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Polly works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their goals, preferences, and needs. She draws on assessment and ongoing feedback to adjust the plan as therapy unfolds.

Online therapy with Polly is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which provides flexibility for scheduling around work, caregiving, and other commitments. Her California-approved telehealth training supports remote work, and these options make care more accessible for people who need different formats of communication.