Bruce Richards, LICSW

Bruce Richards is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Massachusetts. He has 15 years of experience helping people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns. He also works with issues such as anger, low self-esteem, grief, sleep problems, and career strain.

He has supported people living with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and mood disorders, and has experience addressing substance use and domestic violence impacts. He opposes discrimination and abuse in any setting and has long advocated for people with mental health challenges.

Bruce emphasizes a collaborative style. He helps people set clear, practical goals and works alongside them to reach those goals. Sessions are conversational but focused on steps people can try between meetings.

He commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact, and Solution-Focused Therapy, which concentrates on immediate steps toward change. These approaches are used to tackle specific problems like anxiety, sleep difficulties, relationship friction, and coping with life transitions.

Bruce is straightforward about effort: different people need different amounts of work. He commits to being a steady partner through the process and to helping people find the direction that fits their lives.

How Bruce Uses CBT and Solution-Focused Methods Online

Bruce commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT can help with anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, and many day-to-day difficulties. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small, achievable steps and on building solutions that fit a person's life rather than digging into every problem's history. It often works well for people who want clear goals and quick, practical progress.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Bruce will talk with each person about their needs and goals, and together they will choose techniques that feel workable. That plan can change over time as progress and priorities become clearer.

Online therapy offers flexibility and easier access to regular sessions. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when video is difficult or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging make short check-ins and quick problem-solving possible between longer sessions. These formats help people fit therapy into busy schedules and maintain continuity of care from different locations.