Brenda Cloyd

Compassionate clinician guiding practical change

LISW-CP South Carolina

Experience: 20 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Brenda

Brenda Cloyd is a licensed social worker with 20 years of experience who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and a wide range of life changes.

Background and approach

She combines practical coping strategies with a compassionate, client-centered stance to address concerns such as relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, grief, intimacy issues, sleep and eating problems, and career or self-esteem struggles. Her practice also includes work with ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and compassion fatigue.

Brenda draws on several evidence-informed methods to tailor treatment to each person's needs, using cognitive-behavioral tools alongside acceptance-based and emotion-focused techniques when appropriate. She aims to create an affirming therapeutic environment that encourages exploration, skill building, and gradual change.

Located in South Carolina and licensed as LISW-CP, she accepts English-speaking and international clients and offers multiple session formats to fit different schedules. Prospective clients are invited to begin with a short matching questionnaire to find a good fit and then schedule according to availability.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Work

Brenda commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep and eating issues, and addictive behaviors. ACT emphasizes values, present-moment awareness, and accepting difficult thoughts or feelings while taking committed action toward meaningful goals.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to understand their goals, preferences, and challenges, and then select or blend methods that fit those needs rather than applying a single technique uniformly. This partnership helps tailor sessions so they remain relevant and practical for the person seeking support.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to offer flexibility across different schedules and life circumstances. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods or when in-person visits are impractical, while still focusing on skill development, problem-solving, and emotional processing with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Brenda commonly address?

She works with a broad set of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and related life transitions, plus relationship and family challenges.

What is her therapeutic style like?

The approach is client-centered and compassionate, blending practical skill work with empathic listening to support personal meaning and growth.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Brenda brings two decades of clinical practice to her work, drawing on that experience to inform treatment planning and interventions.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She holds the credential SC LISW-CP 4723 and practices from South Carolina as a licensed independent social worker clinical practice.

Can people who live outside the United States work with her?

Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English for those who qualify to work across borders.

Which session formats are offered?

Clients may choose video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their needs and availability.

How are fees and payment handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are involved to begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodHypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

South Carolina

Languages

English