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LCSW

Tara McBrearty, LCSW

  • Experience30 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasRelationship, Intimacy-related issues, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Tara

Tara McBrearty is a California-licensed LCSW with 30 years of clinical experience helping people navigate relationship challenges, intimacy concerns, self-esteem struggles, career transitions, stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, sleep disturbances, and depression.

Background and approach

She creates space for clients to explore emotional patterns and life changes, supporting their capacity to manage transitions and strengthen a sense of self. Her work often helps clients clarify relationship conflicts, uncover barriers to intimacy, rebuild trust, and move toward greater motivation and career progress.

Her style emphasizes cooperation, tolerance, and an encouraging professional tone that aims to foster creativity and personal agency within sessions. Tara draws on several evidence-based methods including Internal Family Systems, client-centered approaches, cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to tailor work to each person’s needs.

She frames therapy as a collaborative process, honoring the courage it takes to pursue purpose and fulfillment, and offers steady support for those seeking to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Integrating Therapeutic Approaches in Online Care

Internal Family Systems is an approach that helps people identify and relate to the different parts of themselves, working to heal wounded or reactive parts and restore internal balance; it can be useful for relationship patterns, dissociation, shame, and emotional reactivity. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and unconditional regard, creating a space where clients can explore their values, identity, and goals at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and developing practical strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Tara will collaborate with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative stance means approaches can be blended and adjusted as therapy progresses to address emerging priorities.

Online sessions through video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people balancing work, family, or geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent contact, try different session rhythms, and access care from varied settings, supporting continuity and responsiveness in ongoing therapeutic work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Tara commonly address?
She supports people with relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, career challenges, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, sleep problems, and depression, along with related areas like attachment, abandonment, and family-of-origin concerns.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Tara practices with a cooperative, tolerant tone that emphasizes collaboration and client agency, using methods such as Internal Family Systems, client-centered therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to match each person’s needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 30 years of professional experience providing psychotherapy and supporting people through personal and relational transitions.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
Tara holds the credential LCSW and is licensed in California as CA LCSW 27798.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats does she provide?
She meets with clients via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are sessions priced and billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsGriefSleeping disordersDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

30+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English