Profile / United States
John Caruso, LCSW-C, LCSW
Maryland
LCSW-C clinician - Trauma and mood concerns
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- First responder issues
About John
John Caruso is a Licensed Certified Social Worker in Maryland with 20 years of clinical experience. He focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and related life changes including divorce and end-of-life concerns.
He draws on practical methods to help people manage symptoms and take small steps forward. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns, practicing workable skills, and trying concrete strategies between meetings. John uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to guide that work.
Before becoming a clinician he worked as a firefighter in the Baltimore area. That background shaped his work with post-traumatic stress, first responder issues, traumatic brain injury, and veteran and armed forces concerns. He also addresses mood disorders, addiction, and compassion fatigue related to caregiving roles.
John helps people manage parenting and fatherhood challenges and the stresses that come with career changes. He offers direct coaching around career, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life transitions. He also supports those navigating hospice, bereavement, and separation after divorce.
Sessions aim to be straightforward and practical. Clients can expect clear goals, skill practice, and regular review of what is and isn’t working. He sees work on immediate problems alongside planning for longer-term mood and stress management.
How CBT and Solution-Focused Work in Remote Sessions
John uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thought patterns that feed anxiety or low mood, then to test new ways of thinking and behaving. CBT sessions focus on clearly defined goals, practical exercises, and homework assignments that build skills between meetings.Solution-Focused Therapy is used to identify immediate strengths and small changes that make day-to-day life easier. This approach looks for what is already working and expands those strategies into manageable steps.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. He will collaborate with each person to decide which methods to emphasize based on goals, symptoms, and preferences. That planning happens together and can change as progress is made.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are supported. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Discussing logistics up front helps shape a plan that fits everyday life while focusing on clear, skills-based progress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Maryland, Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, and related life changes such as divorce and end-of-life concerns.
How does he typically approach therapy?
He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical alternative responses. Sessions emphasize skills people can use between meetings.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 20 years of experience, including prior work as a firefighter that informs his focus on first responder and veteran issues.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds LCSW-C in Maryland and LCSW in Pennsylvania and practices as a clinician based in Maryland.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with him?
He accepts international clients; confirm any licensing or regional considerations before scheduling.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.