Penny Gifford
Practical therapy focused on skill-building and growth
LPC, LCPC California
- Experience
- 30 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Penny
Penny Gifford is a licensed counselor with three decades of professional experience helping adults navigate emotional and life transitions.
Background and approach
She holds LPC and LCPC credentials and draws on a range of evidence-informed methods to support clients working through stress, anxiety, mood concerns, substance-related struggles, relationship and family issues, trauma, grief, and challenges like ADHD and bipolar mood patterns. Her practice emphasizes building practical skills and fostering self-empowerment so clients can make meaningful, sustainable changes.
Her work is collaborative and nonjudgmental, inviting clients to explore goals and develop tools suited to their situation. Penny integrates client-centered principles with cognitive behavioral strategies, dialectical skills, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to tailor sessions toward problem-solving, emotional regulation, and improved daily functioning.
She aims to create an affirming space for growth for people facing a wide range of concerns including eating or sleeping difficulties, anger or substance use, caregiver stress, and relationship conflicts. Based in California, Penny offers flexible session formats to accommodate different needs and preferences.
Her approach centers on listening carefully, identifying practical steps, and guiding clients through a directive yet supportive process that emphasizes skills, insight, and achievable progress.
Therapeutic approaches for online change and skill-building
Many clients benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and building practical skills to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, or problematic habits. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathetic, non-directive stance where the therapist listens closely and supports clients in finding their own solutions and strengths. Dialectical behavior therapy brings attention to emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be useful for intense emotions and relationship difficulties.Determining the right approach is collaborative rather than predetermined. Penny will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and the fit of different methods, adjusting the plan over time to match what helps most in practice.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options allow clients to access sessions from varied locations, maintain momentum between meetings, and choose the communication style that best fits their routine and needs. The combination of practical, skills-based methods with flexible session formats supports progress even when in-person visits are not feasible.
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Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Licensed
Colorado, Montana, California
Languages
English