Claire McDonough, LCSW

New Jersey · 21 years in practice

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey with 21 years of experience.

License and registration

LCSW, New Jersey: 44SC05489900 · expires August 2026
NPI: 1023439783 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 21
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Claire

Claire McDonough is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey with 21 years of experience. She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside practical, evidence-based techniques to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. Claire aims to make the first steps feel manageable and respectful for anyone nervous about starting therapy.

She has worked in a variety of mental health settings over two decades. That experience includes supporting people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, addictions, trauma, grief, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem.

Background and approach

Claire also focuses on caregiver stress, attachment difficulties, and communication problems that show up in close relationships. Her approach blends Emotionally-Focused Therapy with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior strategies. She uses mindfulness and motivational interviewing to help people notice patterns, build new skills, and stay motivated through change.

Sessions are practical and goal-oriented, with room for emotion and reflection. Claire listens first, then offers gentle challenge and structure. She aims to build trust quickly so clients can try new ways of coping.

She values straightforward conversation and clear goals during therapy. Sessions may include skill practice, step-by-step behavior changes, and exploring emotions that underlie repeated patterns. The work often focuses on small, doable changes that add up to better day-to-day functioning.

Claire hopes to help people feel more confident in handling life’s demands and transitions.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Claire lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Parenting issues
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Caregiver issues and stress
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Pregnancy and childbirth
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Claire names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approach-Based Care Online: Emotion and Skills Together

Claire uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people identify and work with strong feelings that drive repeated patterns. EFT focuses on the emotional experience in the moment and helps people understand how feelings shape responses and relationships.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to map thoughts and actions that keep problems going, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach concrete skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. CBT is helpful for changing unhelpful thinking and behavior. DBT offers step-by-step tools to manage intense emotions and reduce impulsive reactions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Claire will collaborate with each person to match methods to their goals and daily life. She listens to what is working and adjusts techniques so sessions feel relevant and doable.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets you use visual cues and deeper conversation, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can fit short check-ins or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options help people fit therapy into busy schedules and life demands.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Claire often address?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, parenting strain, addictions, trauma and grief. Additional focuses include ADHD, bipolar symptoms, self-esteem, and career-related stress.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Claire blends Emotionally-Focused Therapy with cognitive and behavioral tools, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. The style is collaborative, practical, and emotion-aware.

How much experience does she have?

She has 21 years of experience working in a range of mental health settings. That background informs a variety of approaches and practical skills she uses in sessions.

What credentials does she hold and where is she based?

Claire is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in New Jersey and practices from that state.

In which languages can sessions be conducted?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

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

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