Patricia Searels , LPC, LCMHC

Patricia Searels is a licensed counselor with 28 years of experience supporting people through life transitions, relationship challenges, mood concerns, and trauma. She has practiced in universities, private practice, and nonprofit centers, working with college students, athletes, young professionals, and adults across the lifespan to address adjustment issues such as moving, becoming new parents, job changes, and divorce as well as depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship strain.

Her therapeutic style centers on building a genuine, caring, direct, and cooperative relationship that honors each person s experience. She believes that when individuals are treated with respect and are offered an honest, healthy therapeutic connection, meaningful change can follow. Patricia emphasizes tailored, individualized care that draws on cognitive-behavioral techniques, solution-focused strategies, and motivational interviewing to help clients meet their goals.

She meets clients where they are and lets personal goals drive the work together, combining practical tools with reflective exploration to support clearer coping and greater life satisfaction. Patricia prefers including some voice or face-to-face contact alongside text-based interactions when appropriate, and she aims to provide skills and insight that foster a more fulfilling life. She holds LPC and LCMHC credentials, which indicate licensed professional counselor and licensed clinical mental health counselor training and licensure.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Patricia Searels uses evidence-informed methods to guide remote work and help clients develop practical skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce anxiety, lift mood, and improve daily functioning. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes clients strengths and achievable steps, helping people make measurable progress on specific problems in a relatively short time. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and acceptance strategies that can ease stress, improve emotional regulation, and support recovery from difficult experiences.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Patricia works with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time so the work remains relevant and effective for the individual.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for busy schedules and for those who prefer remote access. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during life changes, coordinate across different time zones when applicable, and use a format that feels most comfortable for each person while working with licensed professionals and therapists.