Licensed clinical social worker recordMissouri
Credentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in California
- LCSW, licence 19790
- Licensed in Missouri
- LCSW, licence 2016036974
- Licensed in Illinois
- LCSW, licence 149.023704
- NPI
- 1710020227
- Experience
- 35 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Missouri
These details come from information Paula supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- Client-centered approach
- CBT and ACT methods
- Gottman informed work
About Paula
Dr. Paula Alvarez is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) licensed in California, Illinois, and Missouri with 35 years of experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting questions, career stress, and ADHD. Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
She draws on a client-centered stance that treats the person as the expert on their life. She adapts sessions to what each person wants to work on and uses practical tools when they fit the client's goals. That can mean talk-based problem solving, skill-building exercises, or homework such as readings and brief assignments.
Her background includes long experience in both locked and outpatient mental health settings. She has led group work with people who have used domestic violence and has focused on trauma-related symptoms, geriatric well-being, cultural diversity, and recovery-oriented care. Her training history also includes a doctorate in Organizational Psychology, awarded in 2021.
In session she may draw on cognitive behavioral ideas to address thinking and behavior patterns, dialectical behavior techniques for emotion regulation, and acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values and action. She also uses the Gottman Method for relationship work when appropriate and offers motivational techniques to support change.
People who choose her often want clear tools and straightforward discussion about life stressors. She asks about immediate concerns and practical goals during early sessions so subsequent work stays focused and useful.
BHow sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and take small actions toward those values. It is often used for anxiety, low mood, and life changes where someone wants clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and trying concrete experiments to shift them; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and problem-solving. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with anger and emotional instability.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to decide which methods to use based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences. That means early sessions include discussion and small trials of techniques to see what fits best.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In practice, online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Clients who prefer reading or homework can receive bibliotherapy assignments to work on between sessions, and skill rehearsals work well in a remote setting. Licensed professionals can adapt tools from ACT, CBT, and DBT to online sessions to address stress, trauma-related symptoms, relationship concerns, and coping with life changes.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
California, Missouri, Illinois
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, career concerns, ADHD, and many related topics.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered approach and adapts sessions to each person's needs. She combines talk-based work with practical exercises, homework, and readings when useful.
How much experience does she have?
She has 35 years of clinical experience, including work in locked and outpatient mental health settings and years facilitating group treatment.
Which credentials and states are listed?
She is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - with licenses in California, Illinois, and Missouri.
Are sessions available in other languages or countries?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers