Dorothy Pedro, LCSW | Therapist in Arizona

Practical goal setting
Family systems focus
Hospital and community work

About Dorothy

Dorothy Pedro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 25 years in clinical practice. She focuses on helping people facing grief, trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, codependency, parenting strain, and major life changes. Dorothy speaks plainly and aims to create practical steps people can use between sessions.

Her background includes long work in acute care hospitals, where she supported people through life-changing illness, suicide loss, and critical trauma. That work sharpened her ability to help people process sudden change and make plans to care for themselves and their families. She also used motivational interviewing to help people set and reach goals in chaotic situations.

Dorothy has experience coordinating with schools, courts, and child protective services. She spent time in a school-based homeless program providing counseling, home visits, meals, and practical resources for families. That work informed how she links supports to everyday needs and follows through on plans.

Family-focused methods are central to her approach. She often uses systems theory to look for indirect ways to create change - shifting one part of a household to create ripple effects elsewhere. Dorothy sees the family process as a key source of strength and aims to work as a team with caregivers to protect children and improve routines.

Sessions range from brief supportive visits to more intensive work, depending on what a family needs. Dorothy listens for both words and underlying energy in a household and helps people move toward doable goals. If a better referral is needed, she will assist in finding it.

How her approaches guide online therapy choices

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and codependency patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current trust and closeness, and it can help people who struggle with abandonment, intimacy, or relationship patterns.

Dorothy treats approach selection as a team effort. She will talk with clients about goals, daily habits, and what feels most useful, then suggest methods to try. Over time the work can shift if something else would fit better, so clients help shape the plan.

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are set by the practice. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and let people check in from different locations. Some formats are better for short check-ins while others allow more in-depth work; ask about the session lengths and tools offered when you schedule.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Addictions GriefParenting issuesCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCancerChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issuesDissociationDivorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Credentials

California, Arizona

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Dorothy address?

She supports people dealing with grief, addiction, anxiety, depression, codependency, parenting stress, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, and other life changes.

What is her general approach in sessions?

She uses clear, practical methods like motivational interviewing and family systems thinking to set goals and make plans that fit daily life.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 25 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, including many years working in acute care hospital settings.

Where is Dorothy based and what credentials does she hold?

She is based in Arizona and holds Licensed Clinical Social Worker credentials in California and Arizona (CA LCSW, AZ LCSW).

Which languages are used in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How does pricing work for sessions?

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

How do I begin therapy with Dorothy?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.