Julie Barzal , LICSW, LISW

Julie Barzal is a licensed social worker with seven years of clinical experience who has supported adolescents and adults through a wide range of life challenges. She holds the credentials LICSW and LISW - LICSW denotes a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and LISW denotes a Licensed Independent Social Worker - and maintains a supervisory designation in Ohio as well as licensure in Massachusetts. Julie has worked with issues such as LGBTQ-IA concerns, stress, anxiety, depression, anger management, low self-esteem, grief, blended family dynamics, substance use disorders, and family responses to addiction. She brings experience in diagnosis, direct counseling, telehealth delivery, crisis intervention, and case management across adolescent and adult populations.

Her therapeutic approach draws on multiple evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioral strategies, solution-focused and strengths-based techniques, motivational interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and client-centered work. She emphasizes cultural humility, gender and identity inclusion, active listening, and a strengths-based, client-centered stance that meets people where they are. Julie aims to advocate for clients while fostering engagement, critical thinking, and practical problem solving so therapy can be both challenging and empowering.

Julie values the courage it takes to begin therapy and views each person’s story as unique. Personal life experiences have shaped her perspective - she is ambidextrous, became a parent as a teenager, and returned to higher education later in life to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree - and she draws on that empathy and perseverance in her work with others.

Helping Clients Through Collaborative Approaches and Online Care

Julie integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into her online practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings, clarify personal values, and take committed action toward a meaningful life - it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and challenges around motivation. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and nonjudgmental listening, giving clients space to explore their experience and build self-acceptance - this approach supports issues like self-esteem, identity, and relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anger, and to develop practical coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Julie collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Therapists work together with clients to adjust strategies over time so the work stays relevant and effective.

Online therapy with Julie can be delivered by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient settings while maintaining continuity of care and responsiveness to changing life demands.