Lakesha Stidum , LCSW

Lakesha Stidum is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with eight years of experience providing individual therapy. She combines practical, evidence-informed techniques with a client-centered attitude to help people set and reach personal goals. Lakesha commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a method that links thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to create change - and Motivational Interviewing - a collaborative, goal-focused way to strengthen a person's own motivation for change - to support clients working through depression and anxiety.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Lakesha holds social work licenses in Arkansas, California, and Texas and brings experience addressing a wide range of concerns including mood disorders, stress, relationship and family issues, and coping with life transitions. Her approach emphasizes practical skills, clear goals, and empathetic listening to help clients move toward healthier patterns.

Lakesha integrates structured therapeutic tools with a respectful, person-focused style to tailor work to each individual’s needs. She draws on her training in multiple modalities to offer strategies that fit a client’s situation and supports step-by-step progress toward the outcomes they value.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Lakesha commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing, and she may draw on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills when helpful. CBT focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior that maintain distress and teaching practical techniques to shift those patterns, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, nonjudgmental way to explore a person’s own reasons for change and to build motivation, which can be especially useful for habit change and managing addictions. DBT offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and increasing tolerance for distress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Lakesha works collaboratively with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts methods over time so the treatment fits the client rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video call or phone, plus options for live chat and text-based messaging - so people can access licensed professionals without rearranging their whole schedule. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, try brief focused sessions when needed, and fit therapy into busy lives while working toward meaningful change.