Betty Laird, LCSW

Betty Laird is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Indiana with four decades of practice. She welcomes conversations about stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life changes. Her work is grounded in creating a steady, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about what hurts and what matters to them.

She believes people are resilient yet vulnerable to stress and loss. In sessions she listens carefully and helps clients name patterns that get in the way. The goal is to build understanding and practical ways to cope, not quick fixes or labels.

Her background includes long experience with trauma and PTSD, compassion fatigue, fertility and adoption concerns, chronic illness and caregiver stress, and relationship and intimacy issues. She also supports people managing ADHD, bipolar mood challenges, sleep and eating difficulties, and career-related strain.

Betty uses several therapeutic approaches depending on the person and the problem. She often draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns, client-centered work to follow the client’s priorities, and cognitive behavioral techniques to change problematic thoughts and behaviors. She also brings emotionally-focused and existential perspectives when appropriate.

She incorporates cinematherapy at times, using film clips to open discussion about personality, coping, and conflict. For a first step clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

How these approaches guide online therapy

Attachment-based work focuses on how early and current relationships shape feeling and behavior. It helps people understand why they react strongly in close relationships and what might shift those patterns. Client-centered therapy centers the person’s own goals and experience; the therapist follows the client’s lead and helps them find their own answers. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change over time as deeper issues emerge or as practical skills are needed.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, such as taking a break during a workday or avoiding travel time. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when that suits the client, or sessions without video if bandwidth or comfort is a concern. The original profile does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available options when you book. Licensed professionals and therapists often adapt working methods to suit remote sessions, using conversation, emotion-focused work, and behavioral exercises that translate well to an online setting.