Dominique Decoster , LICSW

Dominique Decoster earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Springfield College in 2005 and brings a background shaped by diverse training and practice settings. Her graduate education included internships in a correctional facility and at a cancer center, experiences that informed her understanding of trauma, medical stress, and systems-level challenges.

Following her internships, she worked as a therapist at a clinic for three years, providing direct clinical care. For the past 15 years she has served as a social worker in the public defender's office, offering support and services to indigent individuals facing criminal charges. Dominique holds the LICSW credential - a license that designates a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, qualified to provide clinical social work services independently. Her career reflects sustained work with clients confronting legal, medical, and psychosocial stressors, and a practice informed by both clinical and community-based experience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Remote Care Options

Dominique Decoster integrates Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to tailor care to each person's needs. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a respectful, empathetic relationship that helps people explore their feelings and goals in a nonjudgmental way - it is useful for issues like grief, self-esteem, and navigating life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, making it a practical approach for stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating concerns.

The choice of approach is collaborative. Dominique works with clients to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferred pace, adjusting strategies over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules or to access support from different locations within the therapist's service area. These options allow licensed professionals to maintain regular contact, apply therapeutic techniques between sessions, and adapt communication styles to what best supports each individual.