Gretchen Raring

Gretchen Raring is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than two decades of practice. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and self-esteem concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, addiction, and life transitions. Her tone is warm and straightforward and she aims to work alongside clients to find practical ways forward.

Gretchen draws on several approaches to tailor care to each person. She uses Trauma-Focused Therapy to address the effects of traumatic events, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and build committed action. She also uses Attachment-Based and Client-Centered methods to strengthen relationships with self and others, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits.

Across 24 years of practice she has worked in settings that included mental health, addiction services, homelessness support, incarceration contexts, and veteran care. That range informs a pragmatic style that blends empathy with tools people can use day to day. She meets people where they are and adjusts pacing and techniques to match their needs.

Gretchen earned a Master of Social Work from Temple University. She holds the MA LICSW and ND LCSW credentials as documented, and practices in New Jersey. Sessions are conducted in English. She does not accept international clients.

To begin, prospective clients use the site Start Therapy process to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability. The service uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online work

Gretchen practices Trauma-Focused Therapy by creating a focused space to address traumatic memories and their effects, using grounding and paced processing techniques to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her work helps people name what matters most, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and take small steps toward values-based goals. Attachment-Based approaches look at how relationships shape patterns of trust and closeness, helping people shift long-standing habits in relating to others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences, and together they decide which methods to try and how to adjust them over time. That may mean mixing skills from ACT, trauma-focused work, CBT, or client-centered listening depending on what helps most.

Because the site does not list session formats in the biography, confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports people who benefit from having therapy access in different locations and can be scheduled to align with work, caregiving, or health obligations.