Derrell Tidwell, LCSW, LICSW

Derrell Tidwell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California LCSW and Washington LICSW, with 42 years of professional experience. He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, and issues related to LGBT identity. He also addresses trauma and abuse, eating concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.

He approaches work from the view that clients know their own stories and bring strengths to solve problems. Sessions focus on clarifying what matters and using practical skills clients already have. He draws on client-centered approaches and tools from cognitive behavioral and solution-focused work when helpful.

Tidwell has long experience with multicultural concerns and with people of color. He pays attention to how cultural background, caregiving roles, and life stage shape stress and choices. He also helps people facing betrayal, abandonment, codependency, and control issues.

In practice he addresses both immediate problems and longer patterns. That can mean working on panic or depression symptoms, or looking at interpersonal patterns that maintain conflict. He uses trauma-focused and psychodynamic ideas when trauma history or recurring relationship themes are important.

His approach stresses clear goals and small, manageable steps. He supports people dealing with divorce, midlife shifts, isolation, and questions about life purpose. Sessions are designed to produce understandable options and to help clients test what changes feel useful in daily life.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work