- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Addiction and recovery support
About Polly
Polly Parks is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 14 years of professional experience. She works with people facing depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and concerns common to LGBT clients. Polly also addresses addictions and challenges tied to life purpose and relationships.
Polly draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy in sessions. She uses Client-Centered and Trauma-Focused practices to help people talk through painful memories, intense emotions, and relationship ruptures. Sessions are practical and conversational. The aim is to notice what matters and to take workable steps forward.
Her background includes working with students and professionals after the Saugus High School shooting in 2019. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Polly has kept continuous licensure in California and has completed the BBS-approved telehealth training required by the state.
Polly speaks from long-term recovery from alcohol and integrates that lived perspective into work on addiction and relapse prevention. She is familiar with 12-step resources and also recommends SMART recovery options when appropriate. Her experience includes hospice and end-of-life counseling, domestic violence, and multicultural issues.
Practical details are arranged through a short matching questionnaire to schedule the first session. Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. She offers afternoon, evening, and weekend appointment times.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions that matter. It helps when someone feels stuck or uncertain about what to do next by turning attention toward meaningful behavior rather than only trying to reduce uncomfortable feelings. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on emotional experience and how it shapes close relationships. It can help people recognize patterns in how they respond to loss, anger, or loneliness and then practice different ways of connecting.Deciding which approach fits best is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and life demands together and recommend an approach that suits the client’s situation. That decision is revisited as therapy progresses to make sure the method keeps aligning with what the client needs.
The practical benefits of online sessions include fitting meetings into a busy day and reducing travel time. Because the biography does not specify session formats, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to schedule afternoon, evening, or weekend appointments and to keep regular check-ins during life transitions without rearranging an entire day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with depression, anxiety, grief, anger, LGBT concerns, trauma and abuse, addiction, and related issues such as guilt, shame, and isolation.
How would she approach feeling stuck or unsure about life purpose?
She uses methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centered work to help people notice values and try small, actionable steps toward what matters to them.
What is her professional background?
She has 14 years of clinical experience, has worked with students and professionals after the Saugus High School shooting, and brings personal recovery experience with addiction into her practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California and holds the required BBS telehealth training for the state.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
To get started, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.