John Caruso, MD, LCSW-C, LCSW

John Caruso is a licensed clinician in Maryland who uses clear, practical methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, and trauma. He brings 20 years of experience and a straightforward approach focused on what helps day to day.

He listens for the problem that matters most right now, then works with each person to set simple, achievable goals. Sessions center on skills people can use between meetings, such as coping strategies, mood monitoring, and changing unhelpful thinking patterns.

John draws on experience working with first responders and veterans, and he knows how sudden events and repeated exposure to stress affect life and work. He also helps people facing divorce, grief, end-of-life issues, and other big transitions that leave them feeling stuck or emptied out.

In therapy people can expect a mix of short-term problem solving and deeper work on long-term patterns. That balance is useful for issues like addiction, anger, parenting stress, career strain, and relationship difficulties. He explains options in plain language and checks in on what is and isn’t working.

John holds an MD and two social work credentials: LCSW-C and LCSW. He offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging and speaks English. International clients are accepted.

CBT and solution-focused care offered online

John commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps people identify and change patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT focuses on practical tools like thought records, behavioral experiments, and activity scheduling to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

He also uses Solution-Focused Therapy, a short-term approach that emphasizes strengths and small steps toward clear goals. This method works well for people who want targeted change quickly, such as improving coping after trauma, managing workplace stress, or navigating a life transition.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has worked or not worked in the past, then suggest a path that fits the client’s needs. Adjustments are made along the way so sessions stay focused and useful.

Online therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video helps recreate a face-to-face conversation, phone calls can fit a busy schedule or lower bandwidth situations, live chat and texting make short check-ins and skill coaching easy between appointments. These options let people keep regular sessions around work, caregiving, or travel while still working on concrete skills and goals.