Charmaine Dees, LCSW

Charmaine Dees is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, compassion fatigue, and family concerns. She speaks plainly and aims to make the first step feel manageable for anyone thinking about therapy.

She uses practical tools drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people change unhelpful thinking and take steps that match their values. Sessions also include client-centered listening and mindfulness practices to slow down racing thoughts and notice patterns.

Charmaine brings 18 years of professional experience working with a range of mood and life challenges. She focuses on real-life problems like caregiving stress, communication struggles, fatherhood issues, isolation, and midlife concerns. Her work often addresses guilt, shame, and finding purpose during life transitions.

In sessions she encourages clear, small steps so progress feels doable. People can expect to talk through thoughts and behaviors, set short-term goals, and practice simple exercises between sessions. She emphasizes collaboration and practical skill-building rather than vague advice.

Charmaine is licensed in North Carolina as an LCSW. She offers sessions in English and works with people across locations, including international clients. Her goal is to help people build steady routines and kinder self-talk that support daily life.

Approaches that translate well to online care

Charmaine commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going, then practicing concrete skills to change those patterns. It helps with anxiety, low mood, and stress. ACT emphasizes values and committed action - noticing thoughts without getting stuck in them and taking steps that fit what matters most.

She also draws on client-centered listening and mindfulness practices to help people feel heard and to develop simple habits for daily life. Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will check in about what feels useful and adjust methods to match a person's goals and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy lives or caregiving roles. Video calls let sessions feel similar to in-person visits, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be used for shorter check-ins, and text-based messaging supports ongoing reflection between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work breaks, caregiving schedules, or different time zones while keeping the focus on practical skills and steady progress.