Gary Swan, LCSW

Wisconsin · 21 years in practice

Gary Swan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wisconsin with 21 years of experience.

License and registration

LCSW, Wisconsin: 8083 - 123 · expires February 2027
NPI: 1043633159 · 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 Gary

Gary Swan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wisconsin with 21 years of experience. He helps people who are stressed, anxious, struggling with addiction, or facing depression to find steadier ground. Gary also supports those dealing with relationship worries, parenting concerns, grief, trauma, and low self-esteem.

He prefers a straightforward, open style in sessions. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what feels most urgent. He listens for patterns around trust, impulsivity, communication, and coping skills, then works with each person to set clear, manageable goals.

Background and approach

Gary draws on several practical approaches including Emotionally-Focused Therapy, attachment-based ideas, and cognitive strategies. He blends these with client-centered techniques so people can speak freely and shape the work. Skills from dialectical behavior therapy are used when emotions feel overwhelming or when people need clearer emotion regulation tools.

In sessions he helps clients reduce anxiety, address substance use and impulsive behaviors, and rebuild confidence. He also helps people navigate blended family issues, fatherhood concerns, codependency, and problems that come from family of origin dynamics. The focus is on small, real changes that add up over time.

Gary encourages newcomers to take one step at a time. He aims to create a nonjudgmental space where trust can grow at a comfortable pace. If someone is ready to begin, he works with them to plan practical next steps.

Focus areas and approaches

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

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Depression
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
Attachment issues
Blended family issues
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Communication problems
Control issues
Divorce and separation
Drug and alcohol addiction
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Men's issues
Mood disorders
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Workplace issues

Approaches Gary 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

How therapeutic approaches fit with online sessions

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on noticing and labeling emotions in the moment and understanding how those emotions shape patterns in relationships and self-view. This approach can help people who feel stuck by helping them identify what they need and how to ask for it. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds influence present behavior and trust. It helps people understand attachment patterns and build new ways of relating that feel safer and more satisfying. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and following the client’s pace so they can explore what matters most to them.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide whether to focus more on emotions, attachment history, or practical skill building in sessions so the plan fits the person’s needs.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face dialogue for deeper emotional work. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text messaging support quick check-ins, ongoing skill practice, and brief coaching between longer sessions. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and keep momentum between meetings.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does he focus on?

He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and grief, parenting strains, anger, bipolar mood concerns, and coping with life changes.

What is his general therapy style?

His style is open and direct. He listens first, then helps people set practical goals and learn skills to manage feelings and behaviors.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has 21 years of professional experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin, including work with substance use and mood concerns.

What credentials and location are listed?

He is an LCSW licensed in Wisconsin and practices remotely with a Wisconsin location on file.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can anyone from abroad work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a cancellable subscription. To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete the matching questionnaire, and schedule based on availability.

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