Theresa Ridley, LCSW-C

Theresa Ridley is a licensed clinical social worker in Maryland with 25 years of experience. She draws on Client-Centered Therapy and cognitive behavioral approaches to help people handle stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, trauma, and depression. Theresa aims to make beginning therapy feel manageable and respectful of each person's story.

She believes clients know their lives best and brings a listening, practical style to sessions. Theresa helps people identify patterns that get in the way and tries small, doable changes that feel relevant to daily life. Conversations focus on strengths, real problems, and steps people can use between meetings.

Theresa has worked across many concerns related to emotional pain and coping. Her background includes supporting people through grief, substance use struggles, abandonment and codependency issues, and the effects of trauma. She also addresses caregiver stress, feelings of isolation, and questions about life purpose.

In session she combines empathetic listening with clear, goal-oriented tools. That might mean looking at thoughts and behaviors together and testing new ways of responding. The aim is to reduce distress and build skills that help people feel steadier in everyday situations.

Theresa conducts therapy in English and practices in Maryland. She encourages anyone considering help to take the small step of reaching out and starting a conversation about what they need.

How Theresa Uses Client-Centered and CBT Online

Theresa combines Client-Centered Therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in ways that focus on the person first. Client-Centered Therapy means she listens closely, reflects what matters to you, and supports you in making choices that fit your life. This approach helps when someone wants a respectful space to tell their story and be heard.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors connect. Theresa uses CBT tools to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try small behavioral changes. That approach is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and addiction-related behaviors.

Theresa treats finding the right approach as a joint process. She will work with each person to decide which combination of listening and practical skill-building feels best. Goals, preferences, and everyday demands guide those choices so the work fits into real life.

The original biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm available session options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Therapists can also blend listening with homework-like exercises between sessions to support steady progress.