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LG Portrait of Lacey Gaters

Lacey Gaters

Compassionate clinician focused on practical change

MD, LCSW-C Maryland

Experience
11 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Lacey

Lacey Gaters is a licensed clinical social worker who welcomes people looking for practical tools and empathetic support to manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, relationship struggles, grief, parenting challenges, and trauma-related issues.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a collaborative process that begins by exploring a person’s goals and the obstacles that keep them from reaching those goals. Lacey aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where active listening and thoughtful challenge help clients build confidence and develop skills to change unhelpful thinking and behavior.

Drawing on eleven years of clinical experience in hospitals and outpatient settings, Lacey integrates evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, solution-focused work, client-centered care, and trauma-focused techniques. Her training as an MD and as a Maryland-licensed LCSW-C informs a balanced approach that blends practical strategies with empathetic support.

She tailors each course of care to an individual’s needs and encourages openness about what someone is experiencing so treatment can be adjusted as goals evolve.

Using Practical Therapies Online to Support Change

Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting environment where the client’s goals and preferences guide each session; it emphasizes empathetic listening and supports people who need time and space to explore what matters most to them. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches concrete skills to identify and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges. Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on addressing the effects of traumatic experiences with techniques tailored to reduce symptoms and improve coping over time.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic work, and this process is collaborative. The therapist will listen to your concerns, review your goals, and together you will decide which methods to emphasize and when to blend approaches so treatment fits your needs and preferences.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as greater scheduling flexibility and easier access to regular sessions. Video calls allow face-to-face connection, phone sessions provide an audio-only option, and live chat or text messaging can support ongoing check-ins and shorter communications between sessions. These formats make it simpler to maintain continuity of care while adapting therapy to a person’s life responsibilities and location.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting and family challenges, ADHD, addictions, grief, anger, self-esteem, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The approach blends client-centered listening with practical interventions such as cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and solution-focused strategies to help clients change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
What is her professional background?
She has 11 years of clinical experience working in hospitals and outpatient clinics and has supported people with a wide variety of needs across those settings.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She holds MD and LCSW-C credentials with license number MD LCSW-C 16623 and practices in Maryland.
Does she offer services in other languages or accept international clients?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or through text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different needs.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process for beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesGriefAnger managementSelf esteemCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Family problemsMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Licensed

Maryland

Languages

English