- Focus on strengths
- Short-term goals
- Practical skills
About Denise
Denise Smith Baril is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Florida who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She views each person as the expert on their own life and looks for strengths to build on. She aims to support and empower people taking first steps toward change.
With four years of professional experience, she draws on several therapy approaches to match what each person needs. Sessions emphasize listening, practical strategies, and building skills to handle everyday problems. Denise uses straightforward conversation and collaborative planning so people leave with clear next steps.
She has worked with issues that include parenting strain, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, compassion fatigue, and ADHD-related challenges. Additional focus areas include aging and geriatric issues, attachment struggles, autism and Asperger Syndrome, cancer-related concerns, caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, and recovery after separation or divorce.
Denise also supports people facing family of origin problems, codependency, control and commitment issues, forgiveness work, and situations following natural or human-caused disasters. First responder issues are another area where she has experience.
In sessions she blends client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral and emotion-focused approaches. The goal is to create manageable changes and reduce daily distress. She encourages people to set small, achievable goals and to use their strengths as part of recovery.
How her approaches guide online care
Denise draws on client-centered therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where people lead the conversation and set priorities. This approach focuses on listening, reflecting what matters to the person, and helping them notice their own strengths.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to translate worries and patterns into concrete steps. CBT helps identify unhelpful thoughts, try small experiments, and develop coping skills for anxiety, mood, and stress-related problems.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. She will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That collaborative process can involve trying techniques from different approaches and adjusting as progress is made.
Confirm which session formats are available before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten check-ins when needed, or offer options that avoid travel time. It can also help people practice skills in the settings where they live and cope, with scheduling that can better match daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Credentials
Florida, Louisiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What problems does she help people with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, coping with life changes, parenting concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, depression, compassion fatigue, and ADHD-related challenges.
What style of therapy does she use?
She blends client-centered listening with techniques from attachment-based, cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, and emotionally-focused approaches to create practical plans and skill-building.
How much experience does she have?
She has four years of professional clinical experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with Florida licensure noted and practices from Florida.
Can I work with her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Are online or phone sessions available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.