- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and loss
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
About Rita
Rita Varano is an LCSW with 20 years of clinical experience based in Pennsylvania. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. Rita often supports people who are asking what comes next after a job change, loss, health shift, or other big transition.
Her practice centers on clear, practical support rather than abstract theory. Sessions focus on understanding what feels most urgent, building small coping steps, and testing changes that fit day-to-day life. Rita draws on evidence-based methods to help people increase activity, manage symptoms, and regain a sense of control.
She also addresses issues that commonly appear alongside life shifts. These include attachment and relationship difficulties, caregiver stress, challenges related to aging, chronic illness and pain, isolation, and the moral and emotional weight first responders can carry. She works with feelings like guilt, shame, emptiness, and struggles with forgiveness.
Rita has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trauma-focused approaches and uses those techniques in straightforward ways. That can mean breaking down overwhelming problems into manageable steps, testing new behaviors, and working through traumatic memories at a pace the client can handle.
People who come seeking help with life purpose or direction will find a clinician who asks focused questions, prioritizes doable changes, and collaborates on practical next steps. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online therapy options button.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Rita uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in straightforward ways, helping people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. This approach focuses on clear steps and measurable changes that can be practiced between sessions.She also uses trauma-focused techniques to address traumatic memories and their effects on day-to-day life. These methods aim to reduce the intensity of painful memories and improve coping with reminders and triggers.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Rita will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most manageable. She collaborates with each person to try methods that fit their needs and adjusts the plan as progress is made.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can help fit therapy into a busy schedule by reducing travel time, allowing for shorter check-ins, or making it easier to meet during breaks from work. For some people, video sessions support more in-depth work while audio or shorter sessions can be useful for quick symptom management or check-ins.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, plus related issues like caregiver stress, chronic illness, and isolation.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
Her style is practical and collaborative, focusing on small, testable steps and using evidence-based techniques to work through what is most pressing.
What is her clinical experience?
She has 20 years of experience helping adults navigate transitions, trauma, and emotional struggles across the lifespan.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and practices from Pennsylvania.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start 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.