Paula Steele, LCSW

Paula Steele is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 15 years of experience based in Maine. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, depression, ADHD, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, sleep problems, and anger. She also supports people dealing with bipolar disorder and life changes.

Her background includes work across clinical settings with individuals who have experienced trauma, domestic violence, homelessness, chronic illness, and criminal justice involvement. Paula has long experience supporting people with ADHD and autism spectrum issues and has worked with parenting and caregiver stress.

In sessions she emphasizes clear, practical skill building. That can mean noticing unhelpful thoughts, testing small behavioral changes, practicing mindfulness, or strengthening communication patterns. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centered and narrative approaches to help people try different responses to recurring problems.

Paula describes her style as collaborative and focused on concrete strategies. She draws on motivational interviewing when people need help weighing options or making changes. Sessions often include short exercises, reflections, and planning for specific next steps between meetings.

Her experience as a parent informs how she talks about juggling responsibilities and accessing supports for children and caregivers. People who want direct tools for managing anxiety, improving sleep, reducing conflict, or organizing life changes may find this approach straightforward and practical.

How Paula uses structured approaches in online sessions