Julie Barzal , LICSW, LISW

Julie Barzal is a licensed social worker with experience supporting adolescents and adults through a wide range of life challenges. She holds licensure in both Ohio and Massachusetts - a Licensed Independent Social Worker with supervisory designation in Ohio (LISW) and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts (LICSW). Over seven years in practice have shaped her work with concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, substance use and addiction, grief, parenting, and LGBTQ-affirming care.

Julie draws from evidence-informed methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered approaches, cognitive behavioral techniques, and emotionally focused strategies to tailor treatment to each person. She brings strengths-based practice, motivational interviewing, and problem-solving tools into sessions while emphasizing cultural humility, gender and identity inclusion, and active listening. Her clinical background includes assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions, direct counseling, telehealth work, crisis intervention, and case management with teens and adults.

Known for an engaged and advocacy-oriented stance, Julie aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore difficult feelings and practical solutions. She approaches therapy collaboratively, helping people identify values, build coping skills, and make meaningful changes. Julie also shares some personal perspectives that inform her practice - she is left-handed but ambidextrous, became a mother as a teenager, and returned to higher education later in life, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after age 40.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Julie Barzal uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients clarify personal values and commit to actions that align with what matters to them - this approach is useful for managing anxiety, depression, and life transitions by building psychological flexibility. Client-centered therapy is another cornerstone of her practice, offering an empathic, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client’s lead to support self-exploration, confidence, and healing from relational or identity-related concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also employed to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills for coping with stress, mood concerns, and behavior change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work itself. Julie collaborates with each person to tailor methods based on their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring - she reviews options together and adjusts strategies as progress unfolds to ensure the best therapeutic fit.

Online therapy modalities - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexibility for busy schedules, reduced travel time, and consistent access to support from licensed professionals. These options can make ongoing care more manageable for people balancing work, family, caregiving, or medical needs, while preserving the therapeutic focus and continuity of care.