Gary Zarchy, LPC

Gary Zarchy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 25 years of clinical experience. He centers sessions on the person in front of him and helps people find their own answers. Gary aims to guide, educate, cheerlead, and advocate so clients can reach their goals and step forward with more confidence.

He has a long history working with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, trauma and abuse, and issues related to intimacy and relationships. He also supports people dealing with grief, career concerns, self-esteem, anger, and major life changes. His practice includes helping those facing HIV/AIDS, end-of-life concerns, gender dysphoria, and challenges tied to family of origin or caregiving roles.

Gary taught and continues to teach in the counseling department at the University of Phoenix for eighteen years, offering both in-person and online instruction. His classroom work informs how he explains ideas and tools in simple, concrete terms during sessions. He prefers language that clients can use in day-to-day life.

He uses a mix of approaches tailored to each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered methods, mindfulness, existential questions, and EMDR are among the approaches he brings into sessions when they fit a person's needs. He also draws on motivational interviewing to help people find motivation for change.

Gary describes the best outcome as when a person meets their goals and no longer needs counseling. He focuses on practical steps, skill-building, and clear planning so clients can feel steadier and more able to handle what comes next.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and problems that respond to skill practice and structured techniques.

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting so the person feels heard and can discover their own solutions. This approach supports people who want a collaborative, respectful space to clarify values and goals.

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, works with memories and the way troubling events are stored in the brain. It can be helpful for trauma-related symptoms when a person and therapist agree it is appropriate to address specific memories.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will review concerns, goals, and preferences and suggest methods that fit. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to match a format to daily life. Video is useful for full conversations and demonstrations, phone calls are a simpler option with less bandwidth, live chat lets someone check in quickly, and messaging supports ongoing tracking between sessions. These choices give flexibility for different schedules and needs.