Sheri Bell-O'Gara

Sheri Bell-O'Gara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 30 years of practice. She focuses on trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and related challenges. Sheri aims to meet people where they are and uses a compassionate, down-to-earth style that can include gentle humor.

Her work centers on Trauma-Focused Therapy and other evidence-based approaches to help people cope with past hurts and current stress. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR as part of her toolkit. Sheri helps people manage sleep problems, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, and chronic illness impacts.

Sheri has experience supporting returning combat veterans, hospice clients, and geriatric clients. That background has shaped how she approaches strong emotions, loss, and life transitions. She describes herself as someone who adapts her approach to each person rather than fitting people into one box.

Sessions can include practical strategies and skills work, guided processing of trauma memories, or conversational, client-centered support. Sheri often blends approaches to match a person’s needs and preferences. She aims to help people find ways to keep going and, when possible, to notice things that bring them relief or lightness.

Clients are invited to discuss goals and pace at the start of work together. Sheri emphasizes collaboration and respects individual differences when choosing techniques and next steps.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on gently addressing distressing memories and the ways trauma affects daily life. It aims to reduce the hold of past events so people can engage more fully with the present.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify values and take actions that match those values. It teaches practical skills for handling painful thoughts and emotions without letting them drive behavior.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, uses guided processing to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and the reactions they trigger. It is often used when trauma memories keep coming up in daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about symptoms, goals, and personal preferences and then suggest methods to try. Decisions are collaborative and can change as progress is made.

The listed biography notes availability by video, chat, texting, and phone. Confirm which of these formats are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow brief check-ins when needed, and let people choose quieter surroundings or shorter visits on hectic days.