Gabrielle Bowen LICSW

My personality itself is very similar in session to out of session. I think this is why I'm in counseling-- I have a very genuine, caring, and down-to-earth personality. Although clients don't know about my personal life since I maintain professionalism, I do believe people can tell that I am very genuine during sessions. I would not be in this field if I didn't believe in peoples' ability to overcome hard things.

Stigma is always one reason why people don't access care-- some people think therapy is a sign of weakness, they don't believe it could help them, or they think they should only go if they have major issues with their lives. However, the biggest barrier I've heard of recently is finances. Specifically, lack of insurance or not having good enough health coverage, such as with a high deductible, stops a lot of people from seeking therapy. Please let me know if finances are a barrier for you, and we can discuss some options.

Therapy is what you make of it. We won't push you to talk about topics that make you uncomfortable, and we can work at your pace. Additionally, therapy is really individualized to the person; for example, some people prefer sessions that are more structured by the therapist, and others prefer bringing their own topics to session and starting there. I would love to know what style you think would be most helpful so that I can tailor the sessions to you and you can get the most out of therapy.

• Alabama, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, 5316C

I have worked at multiple different agencies and with various programs since graduating with my Master of Social Work degree. However, all of them have had to do with supporting individuals' mental health. I've always been very down to earth, and I have been told that helps clients to feel more comfortable and cared for in a genuine way. After gaining a few years of experience, I moved into working in private practice, so that I could dive deeper into more sessions with clients. In January 2025, I opened my own virtual private practice called Clara Counseling, specializing in treating anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation issues.