Dara Charlton

Dara Charlton is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience helping people manage strong emotions and life transitions. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth support for issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, relationship struggles, grief, and stress. Dara aims to make the therapy room a calm place to sort through what feels overwhelming and find steady ways forward.

Her work is person-centered and tailored to the person in front of her. She uses approaches that help people notice patterns, shift unhelpful thoughts, and build new skills for coping. Sessions often include problem-solving, skill practice, and checking how change feels in day-to-day life.

Dara brings two decades of clinical experience across many concerns, including addictions, sleep problems, self-esteem, and parenting stress. She also supports people dealing with chronic illness, caregiver strain, and identity or intimacy-related questions. Her background includes helping clients facing trauma, attachment wounds, and the effects of major life changes.

In sessions she focuses on clear communication and emotional awareness. She helps clients improve how they express needs, set boundaries, and repair painful interactions. Mindfulness and emotion-focused work are woven into practical tools so people can manage urges, intense feelings, and old patterns.

People who reach out will find a steady, nonjudgmental clinician who emphasizes collaboration. Dara works in Oregon and holds the credential LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. If a parent is reading on a phone, she aims to keep language simple and the first steps straightforward.

Therapies and how they fit into online work

Dara often uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in her practice. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the client's priorities so they feel heard and understood. CBT looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions link together and teaches practical ways to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. DBT offers skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dara will talk with a person about goals, preferences, and what has and hasn't helped before. Together they try methods and adjust the plan so therapy fits the person’s needs and pace rather than forcing a single technique.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also help people work consistently during major life changes or when mobility or caregiving responsibilities make in-person visits difficult. Licensed professionals, including therapists, can adapt the approaches above to work in remote settings while focusing on skill practice, emotional awareness, and communication strategies.