Courtney Nelson, LICSW

Courtney Nelson is a Rhode Island licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) with 22 years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and the effects of trauma. She also supports those working on self-esteem, motivation, and finding direction during life changes.

She meets each person where they are and adapts conversations to fit individual needs. Sessions aim to be practical and down-to-earth, with clear steps to try between meetings. That might include simple skills for coping with strong emotions or small experiments to test new ways of thinking and behaving.

Courtney draws on cognitive behavioral approaches alongside client-centered and narrative ideas. That mix helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns, identify personal strengths, and change the stories they tell about themselves. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques are used when people need help building momentum or setting concrete short-term goals.

She has worked across many concerns including caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, hospice and end-of-life issues, and relationship and communication problems. Courtney also helps people facing abandonment, divorce, financial strain, isolation, and questions about life purpose.

Her style is respectful and compassionate, with an emphasis on practical tools. People who prefer straightforward conversations and clear strategies tend to find this approach useful.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior that increase distress and testing practical changes. It helps people who struggle with anxiety, mood shifts, or overwhelming stress by teaching thinking and coping skills to use between sessions.

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship. That approach is useful when someone needs a calm space to sort emotions, rebuild confidence, and decide on next steps at their own pace.

Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, then use CBT tools, motivational interviewing strategies, or narrative techniques as appropriate. This is a collaborative process so adjustments are made over time to match what helps most.

Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different days and needs. Video is good for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat fits brief check-ins, and text messaging supports quick reflections or ongoing reminders. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives while keeping the focus on practical progress.