Julie Barzal, LICSW, LISW

Julie Barzal is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with seven years of professional experience. She works with adults and adolescents on stress, anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem, grief, substance use concerns, and LGBTQ-IA issues. Julie also supports people navigating blended family challenges, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy issues, and life changes such as career shifts or caregiving demands.

Julie uses straightforward methods in sessions. She helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, try new responses, and practice small changes between meetings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the approaches she uses alongside client-centered and acceptance-based work. Sessions focus on practical skills, problem solving, and breaking down overwhelming problems into workable steps.

Her background includes experience with assessment, direct counseling, telehealth work, crisis response, and case management for adolescents and adults. She has worked with people affected by substance use disorders and with family members managing those concerns. Julie aims to bring active listening, clear feedback, and a strengths-oriented focus to each appointment.

In session she often combines thought-focused strategies with behavioral experiments and values-based goals to build momentum. She encourages short exercises and real-world practice so change can be noticed between sessions. Practical planning and tracking progress are common parts of her approach.

Outside of clinical work she mentions being ambidextrous and becoming a parent as a teen, and she completed her college degrees later in life. Those experiences inform a straightforward, persistent approach to problem solving and life changes.

How her approaches translate to online work