Denise Mason , LICSW, LCSW

Denise Mason is a licensed social worker who brings warmth, directness, and a practical focus to clinical work. She holds the credentials LICSW and LCSW, professional social work licenses that reflect advanced clinical training and state licensure. Denise earned a Master of Social Work from Norfolk State University in 2000 with a concentration in Family Systems Practice and completed a Bachelor of Arts at Hampton University in 1995.

With more than a decade of experience as a therapist, she specializes in mood and adjustment concerns such as depression and anxiety, as well as trauma-related disorders. Her practice also addresses addictions, grief, relationship and family issues, parenting, career concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Denise works with adults, children, and families, tailoring support to the needs of each person and household.

Denise describes her therapeutic stance as honest and open while remaining warm and encouraging. She often brings a sense of humor to sessions when appropriate and offers consistent support from the first meeting through the ongoing counseling process. She emphasizes collaborative goal-setting for mental health, personal growth, and professional development. Her work is client-centered and draws on cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and stages of change to help people make meaningful progress toward the life they want.

Approaches that guide online care

Denise integrates client-centered principles and evidence-based skills to support change in an online format. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating an accepting, nonjudgmental atmosphere in which the person’s own goals and values guide the work - it helps when someone needs empathy, validation, and a collaborative space to explore their priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts and patterns and is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for high-intensity emotions and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process; Denise works together with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process may blend elements from different approaches over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Denise is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, fit sessions into a busy life, and access licensed professionals from varied locations while working toward meaningful change.