- Stress and anxiety
- Values clarification
- DBT and CBT skills
About Lakesh
Lakesh Rivera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with five years of experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, anger, and self-esteem concerns. She also focuses on issues such as life purpose, social anxiety, isolation, body image, and caregiver stress.
Her sessions start with listening to what feels most urgent. She helps people name patterns that get in the way, such as control issues or attachment wounds. Conversations often include practical tools from cognitive behavioral approaches to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Lakesh uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques to help clients clarify values and take meaningful steps, while also drawing on DBT skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Attachment-based ideas inform work on relationship habits and trust. Client-centered principles guide a respectful, nonjudgmental pace during sessions.
She works concretely on communication skills, forgiveness, and rebuilding self-worth after separation or loss. Sessions may include role play, behavioral experiments, and homework to practice new ways of responding. The goal is clearer choices, not a quick fix.
People come to her when they feel stuck after a life change, when they want to understand why they repeat patterns, or when they need help deciding what matters next. She asks questions, notices patterns, and supports practical steps toward daily changes.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to the client and taking small, concrete steps that align with those values. It can help when life feels directionless after a job change, breakup, or health shift.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers practical exercises and homework to test unhelpful beliefs and change behavior patterns that keep people stuck.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides skills for regulating intense emotions and improving distress tolerance. These tools are useful when anger, anxiety, or overwhelm make it hard to make choices.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and try methods that match the client’s goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process that may mix techniques over several sessions to see what fits best.
Confirm the session formats before booking, since this profile does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, role-plays, and worksheets to an online setting so the work remains practical and focused on real-life changes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, anger, and low self-esteem. Additional focus areas include life purpose, social anxiety, body image, and caregiver stress.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She combines acceptance and action-based techniques with cognitive and skills work. Sessions focus on clarifying values, spotting patterns, and practicing small changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of experience working as a therapist in Virginia.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is a LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - licensed in Virginia and practices there.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in this profile.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.