Carlene Messer , LCSW

Carlene Messer is a licensed psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience who brings a practical, compassionate approach to helping people navigate difficult life challenges. As an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she has worked in a variety of settings including a university counseling center, public schools, private practice, community mental health centers, and within the VA system serving veterans. These experiences have given her a broad understanding of how stress, trauma, relationship problems, and other struggles can affect individuals and families.

Carlene works with individuals, couples, students, families, and veterans to clarify goals, identify strengths, and build skills for coping with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger, relationship conflict, abuse, and trauma. Her practice emphasizes practical goal-setting and strength-based work that helps people make sense of who they are, what they do, and what they want from life. She draws on a range of evidence-based interventions rather than relying on a single method, tailoring techniques to each person she sees.

Known for a laid-back, common-sense, and occasionally playful style, Carlene aims to make therapy both enlightening and rewarding. Her focus is on helping clients recognize opportunities for growth and on supporting them as they develop the tools needed to handle everyday stressors and larger life transitions.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Carlene uses a mix of evidence-based techniques tailored to each person's needs. She often employs skills-focused interventions that teach practical coping, stress management, and problem-solving strategies to address anxiety, anger, and daily life challenges. She also utilizes trauma-informed work to help people process difficult experiences and reduce the ways trauma shows up in relationships, mood, and daily functioning. Additionally, her strengths-based, goal-focused work helps clients clarify values and set attainable steps toward improved self-esteem, relationship health, and life purpose.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Carlene collaborates with each person to determine what fits best. She considers the client’s goals, preferences, and current challenges and adjusts methods over time so the work remains practical and relevant.

Online therapy with Carlene is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from a range of locations.