- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Rachel
Rachel McGowan is an MA, LICSW practicing in Massachusetts with 11 years of clinical experience. She has worked in schools and residential settings and has supported people facing stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, eating concerns, parenting challenges, and anger. Sessions are structured and interactive, with a focus on practical skills that can be used day to day.
She spent several years as a school social worker and four years in residential care meeting people who had experienced physical, sexual, and emotional trauma. That background informs how she thinks about safety, routine, and coping when emotions run high. Rachel draws on direct experience with social skills, OCD, autism spectrum differences, and mood disorders.
Her approach blends client-centered work with evidence-informed techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. She also uses mindfulness and motivational interviewing to help people notice patterns, build new habits, and stay motivated to practice skills. Sessions often include short teaching segments and in-the-moment skill practice.
Rachel describes her style as interactive and respectful. She aims to reduce blame and to focus on clear, achievable steps. She encourages clients to identify triggers, test new responses, and practice coping strategies between meetings.
She mentions a certified therapy dog, Bauer, who is sometimes present and can help people feel more at ease. To begin, readers are asked to use the site's matching and scheduling flow to set up an initial appointment.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Rachel often uses client-centered therapy to focus on what matters to the person in front of her. This approach means conversations start from the client’s goals and experiences and build from there into practical steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is used to identify unhelpful thinking and test small behavior changes that reduce stress and anger over time. DBT skills are introduced for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. She will review needs, goals, and preferences with each person and together choose techniques to try. Sessions are collaborative and may shift as new needs appear or as particular skills prove helpful.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because the biography does not list specific formats. In general, online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and allow practice of grounding or mindfulness skills between appointments. Ask about how a therapy dog like Bauer may be included if that is relevant to your first session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
Rachel works with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, eating issues, parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem, bipolar and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is interactive and client-centered. She mixes teaching, skills practice, and collaborative problem-solving.
How long has she been practicing clinically?
She has 11 years of experience as a clinician and school social worker, plus four years in a residential setting.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an MA and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts.
Which languages are supported and can she see international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the biography.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.