Paula Odom, LCSW

Paula Odom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who uses practical therapies to help people cope with stress and anxiety. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to tackle unhelpful thoughts and patterns. Her style is warm and respectful and she aims to make conversations feel direct and useful.

Paula focuses on a wide range of concerns including trauma and abuse, parenting and family stress, grief, depression, and challenges with relationships and intimacy. She also addresses addictions, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and mood issues such as bipolar disorder. Additional interests include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, blended family concerns, caregiver strain, and communication problems.

In sessions she blends CBT with client-centered techniques, dialectical behavior therapy skills, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. That looks like talking through specific thoughts and behaviors, practicing emotion regulation skills, and using short exercises to clarify goals and next steps. She keeps the work practical and focused on what the person wants to change.

Paula has six years of professional experience as an LCSW in New York. She works in English and accepts international clients. Sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.

People who choose Paula can expect collaborative planning and straightforward tools to manage daily stressors. She helps people set clear goals and track small changes that add up over time.

How CBT and Skills Work Online

Paula uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. In plain terms this means noticing thought patterns, testing them, and practicing different responses to reduce anxiety or low mood. CBT is often helpful for stress, depression, and relationship concerns.

She also incorporates client-centered work and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills. Client-centered work focuses on listening, empathy, and collaboration so the person sets the pace. DBT skills include emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help manage intense feelings and improve communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Paula works with each person to decide which mix of CBT, client-centered methods, or DBT skills fits best. This is a collaborative conversation that considers goals, preferences, and what feels most useful in day-to-day life.

Online therapy offers flexibility that many people need. Video calls let sessions feel most like in-person meetings. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, homework prompts, and ongoing coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to practice skills where they apply.