Rachel McGowan , LICSW

Rachel McGowan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Massachusetts with 11 years of experience as a clinician and school social worker. She has worked across settings including four years in a residential program supporting people who have experienced physical, sexual, and emotional trauma. Over her career she has supported individuals facing depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, social skills difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorders, OCD, and ADHD.

Rachel has a particular interest in working with children and adolescents, helping them identify triggers, develop practical coping strategies, and integrate mindfulness into daily routines. She also works on building self-esteem, confidence, and communication skills with young people and their families. Her approach emphasizes a collaborative treatment plan tailored to each person’s needs and goals, drawing from a mix of therapeutic methods to match the presenting concerns.

Her counseling style is warm and interactive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion without relying on stigmatizing labels. Rachel believes the relationship between therapist and client is central to progress and works to create a comfortable, nonjudgmental environment. She often includes her certified therapy dog, Bauer, a 2 year old Goldendoodle, who supports engagement and helps clients feel more at ease during sessions.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Rachel McGowan draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a supportive, empathetic relationship and helping clients explore their own goals and values; it is especially helpful for improving self-esteem, communication, and relational concerns. CBT is a practical, skills-based approach that helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, and can be useful for intense mood swings, anger, and persistent relationship difficulties.

Finding the best therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to assess needs, try strategies, and adapt techniques so the plan fits the client’s goals and preferences. This collaborative stance helps ensure care feels relevant and useful.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and maintain continuity of care. Licensed professionals can use these formats to teach coping skills, practice mindfulness, review homework, and support progress between sessions, helping clients move toward their goals from wherever they are located.