About Paula
Dr. Paula Alvarez works with people facing a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family struggles, grief, intimacy questions, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career transitions, coping with life changes, coaching needs, and ADHD.
Background and approach
She also addresses related areas such as abandonment, caregiver stress, codependency, communication and control issues, divorce and separation, domestic violence, eating and food-related issues, family of origin dynamics, guilt and shame, hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration matters, isolation and loneliness, and questions about life purpose. Dr.
Alvarez’s practice is based in Missouri and she accepts international clients in English. She brings 35 years of clinical experience as an LCSW and integrates client-centered principles with evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and the Gottman Method where appropriate.
Sessions can include structured interventions such as homework and bibliotherapy when clients want them, and she adapts her style to fit individual goals and preferences. Her licensure includes CA LCSW 19790 and IL LCSW 149.023704.
Dr. Alvarez encourages prospective clients to consider whether her background and approach match their needs and to begin by completing the platform’s matching steps to schedule a session according to her availability.
Integrating evidence-based approaches with online access
Dr. Alvarez commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her clinical work. ACT focuses on helping people clarify personal values and build psychological flexibility so they can act in ways that matter despite difficult thoughts or feelings, which is often useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. CBT targets unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns through practical skills and structured exercises to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and related concerns.Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She works with clients to identify which methods fit their needs and preferences, tailoring interventions and offering optional tools like homework or bibliotherapy when clients want them. Treatment decisions are adjusted over time based on progress and goals.
Online therapy with Dr. Alvarez is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it possible to schedule care around work, caregiving, or travel and allow continuity of support when in-person sessions are not possible. Licensed professionals can adapt these modalities to deliver structured therapies and supportive coaching across distances, helping clients stay engaged with treatment on a schedule that works for them.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Dr. Paula Alvarez commonly address?
What therapeutic approaches does she use in sessions?
How much clinical experience does she have?
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Which session formats are available?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 35 years
- Licensed
- California, Missouri, Illinois
- Languages
- English