Lori Brinkley
Experienced LCSW blending practical skills and compassion
LCSW North Carolina
- Experience
- 25 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Lori
Lori Brinkley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in North Carolina with 25 years of experience.
Background and approach
She draws on a broad clinical background to help people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, trauma and abuse, parenting and co-parenting challenges, career concerns, and compassion fatigue. Her practice also addresses complex family dynamics such as adoption and foster care questions, blended family struggles, caregiver stress, codependency, and the aftermath of divorce or separation.
Her style blends warmth and directness: she offers supportive validation while also inviting clients to examine patterns and try new skills. Lori uses a range of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, Dialectical Behavior Therapy strategies, client-centered techniques, and solution-focused methods to tailor work to each person’s needs.
She also offers focused coaching-style work and a specialty she calls “couples counseling for one,” meeting with an individual who wants to change relationship dynamics when the partner is not participating. Outside of clinical work she enjoys nature, travel, and reading, and brings a personable sense of humor to sessions.
Lori aims to help clients gain perspective, build practical coping tools, and move toward goals that create more joy and balance in daily life.
Combining practical therapies with online flexibility
Lori often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and develop more effective coping strategies; this approach is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes a collaborative, empathetic relationship and supports clients in exploring their values and goals at their own pace. When intense emotion regulation or interpersonal patterns are a concern, she integrates elements from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach skills for managing strong feelings and improving communication.
Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Lori works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative exploration includes trying different tools, getting feedback, and adjusting the plan so therapy feels useful and aligned with real-life priorities.
Online therapy with Lori is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for those balancing work, family, or geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to attend sessions from home or on the go, support continuity of care, and allow practical, skill-focused work to continue between meetings.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Licensed
North Carolina
Languages
English