- Client-centered care
- Trauma-informed skills
- Focus on coping
About Lawrence
Lawrence Goncalves Jr. is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) with 25 years in mental health practice. He aims to leave people feeling, thinking, or performing better than when they first met him. Lawrence draws on many therapy approaches to meet people where they are and move toward clearer coping and calmer days.
He began his career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Juvenile Counseling from the University of Washington. Early work in community mental health introduced him to youth services, group homes, domestic violence shelters, and programs for juvenile offenders. That decade shaped a practical, hands-on style he still uses today.
After completing a Master of Social Work at the University of Washington, he became an LICSW and continued providing mental health therapy. Over the years he has worked with individuals, couples, and groups from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. His focus covers common struggles such as anxiety, depression, stress, grief, addictions, and challenges related to parenting and family conflict.
Lawrence uses a blend of approaches to tailor care. He combines client-centered work with skills from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, existential ideas, and EMDR to address trauma, codependency, attachment concerns, and emotional regulation. Sessions emphasize practical skills, clearer thinking, and safer ways to manage strong feelings.
He frames the therapist-client relationship as the most important part of the work. Lawrence aims to make therapy a straightforward process, helping people build tools for coping, communication, and healthier patterns over time.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and meeting people without judgment. It helps when someone needs a steady, understanding presence to talk through everyday struggles and relationship concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skill-building to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often useful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and managing impulses by breaking problems into small, actionable steps.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds concrete skills for regulating emotion, tolerating distress, and improving communication. Those tools can help with anger, relationship patterns like codependency, and impulsive behaviors.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick or combine methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That choice is revisited as therapy progresses to make sure it continues to fit.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make fitting appointments into a busy day easier and reduce travel time. It can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight or let people use audio-only when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Ask about available formats when you schedule to find what fits your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, grief, addictions, sleep problems, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, and life transitions. Additional focuses include codependency, attachment and abandonment concerns, infidelity, and family problems.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His approach is practical and collaborative. Sessions combine client-centered listening with skills from CBT and DBT, and may use EMDR for trauma-related work.
How much experience does he have?
He has 25 years of experience in mental health, including work in community clinics, youth programs, shelters, and group settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
He holds a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential (LICSW) in Washington and practices in that state.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients supported?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's 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.