Lawrence Goncalves Jr. , LICSW

Lawrence Goncalves Jr. is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who has spent more than 25 years helping individuals, families, and communities navigate complex life challenges. He began his career after earning a B.A. in Juvenile Counseling from the University of Washington and spent his first decade at a community mental health clinic working as a youth and family counselor. During that time he developed experience across a range of settings, including work with juvenile offenders, domestic violence shelters, community centers, and youth group homes.

After returning to the University of Washington for graduate study, he earned a Master of Social Work and progressed to clinical practice as an LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Over the years he has provided services to people of all ages and diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, supporting individuals, couples, families, groups, and larger community initiatives.

He emphasizes the importance of safety and the therapeutic relationship as central to positive outcomes, and draws on multiple treatment strategies to meet real-life needs. His foundational training includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Multisystemic Therapy, applied in practical ways to help people manage, tolerate, and think differently about the problems they face. He aims to leave those he works with feeling, thinking, or performing better than when they first met him.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Lawrence frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical strategies for managing symptoms like anxiety and depression. He also integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques to build skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially useful for intense mood swings and relationship difficulties. Additionally, he applies Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to support processing of traumatic memories when appropriate, aiming to reduce the emotional charge around distressing experiences and improve day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Lawrence works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. He tailors interventions over time, combining techniques in ways that are realistic and usable for each individual's life circumstances.

Online therapy with him is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These remote options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, reduce travel time, and access support from locations across Washington while working with a licensed professional who adapts clinical tools to virtual formats.