Licensed clinical social worker recordCalifornia

Sonya Drottar, LCSW

California

Licensed clinical social worker - stress and parenting

Credentials check

Credentials: LCSW
Licensed in California: LCSW, licence 22536
NPI: 1134975170
Experience: 25 years
Languages: English
Location: California

These details come from information Sonya 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.

More surnames under D Social workers in California

AAbout

Stress and anxiety
Parenting support
ACT and CBT

About Sonya

Sonya Drottar is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California with 25 years of professional experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, parenting concerns, and the practical effects of big life changes. She also addresses relationship strain, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and issues that affect daily functioning.

Over her career she has worked with many common struggles that come from caregiving and intense jobs, including compassion fatigue and first responder stress. She also focuses on blended family issues, attachment concerns, chronic illness and pain, and the challenges that follow divorce or separation. Sonya lists addiction-related concerns and domestic violence among the topics she supports people through.

Her approach mixes practical strategies with attention to values and present-moment awareness. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters and take action, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking patterns. Motivational Interviewing and solution-focused techniques are used when people want short-term direction or to change specific behaviors.

Sessions are conversational and aim to make problems easier to describe and manage. People can expect to talk through day-to-day barriers, practice small experiments, and set realistic next steps. Sonya emphasizes clear, actionable tools rather than abstract ideas.

She works in English and accepts international clients. If you want to explore whether her style fits your needs, the recommended first step is to complete the brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session.

BHow sessions work

Approaches used in remote sessions and how they help

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small committed steps toward them. It can be useful for people who feel stuck by worry or avoidance and want a values-guided way forward.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches practical skills to change them. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and adjusting patterns that cause recurring conflict or low mood.

Motivational Interviewing is a short-term, conversational approach to boost readiness for change. It can help with addictions, behavior change, and moving from thinking about change to actually trying new actions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sonya will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals and preferences. That may mean combining elements of ACT, CBT, and motivational interviewing across sessions rather than sticking to a single method.

Confirm the available session formats before booking so you know what specific online options are offered. Online care can make appointments easier to fit into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Many people find remote sessions helpful for keeping therapy consistent around work, caregiving, and medical appointments.

CAreas of focus

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief Self esteemCareer difficulties

Additional focus areas

Attachment issues Blended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disability CodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problems Divorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgiveness Guilt and shame Midlife crisis Money and financial issues Panic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Listed in

California

Languages

English

DQuestions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She helps with stress, anxiety, parenting concerns, relationship issues, addiction, trauma and grief, among other life challenges listed in her profile.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is practical and conversational, using tools from ACT, CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and solution-focused work to set clear steps and experiments.

How much experience does she have?

She has 25 years of professional experience working with a range of behavioral health and family concerns.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California and lists California as her location.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the U.S. work with her?

She accepts international clients; confirm any time zone or local licensing questions when you book.

How are fees handled?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete the 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

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