Andrea Plate , LCSW

Andrea Plate is a California-licensed clinician with 20 years of professional experience. As an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she spent nearly 15 years running a residential substance abuse treatment program within the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs, supporting people experiencing homelessness and chronic mental illness. Her background in that intensive clinical setting informs her steady, practical approach to care.

Now working with individuals from the general population, Andrea helps clients manage stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, relationship and family conflicts, career concerns, grief, anger, and self-esteem challenges. She also brings experience addressing caregiver and aging issues, codependency, communication problems, mood disorders, and veteran and armed forces concerns. In addition to direct practice, Andrea refines her clinical skills through teaching social welfare and addiction at a major West Los Angeles university. She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she tailors conversations and treatment plans to fit each client’s specific needs and goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Andrea Plate

Andrea Plate integrates several evidence-informed approaches into her online practice to meet a range of needs. Client-Centered Therapy centers the individual’s experience and priorities - the therapist listens deeply and helps clients build insight, self-worth, and coping skills for life changes, relationship challenges, and caregiving stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, and mood-related concerns, and it offers practical tools to test and change those patterns. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that supports people facing addiction or readiness-for-change issues by strengthening motivation and commitment to recovery.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Andrea works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine techniques to tailor care to the individual.

Online therapy with Andrea is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which makes it easier to schedule sessions around work, caregiving, or mobility needs. These options increase flexibility and accessibility, enabling consistent support during transitions and recovery while allowing clients to choose the communication style that works best for them.