Veronica Purcell

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California with nine years of experience and a background that's a little unusual for a therapist: before I opened a private practice, I spent more than a decade as a clinical social worker in a pediatric ICU. I worked alongside families during medical crises, sudden diagnoses, and end-of-life situations. That work changed me. It taught me that people are extraordinarily resilient — and that grief, anxiety, and fear deserve to be taken seriously, not talked around. Today I work primarily with young adult women navigating anxiety, life transitions, and loss. I offer therapy fully via telehealth across California, and I see clients in both English and Spanish.

I approach therapy as a real conversation — not a script, not a checklist. I draw from psychodynamic, attachment-based, and CBT frameworks depending on what each person needs, but the most important thing to me is meeting you where you actually are. We will work on giving you the support you need to manage your anxiety. If you're in the middle of a transition that doesn't fit neatly into a 'positive reframe,' I won't pretend otherwise. I tend to ask thoughtful questions, challenge gently when something seems worth questioning, and stay attuned to what's underneath what gets said. My style is warm and focused — therapy should feel like it's working, and I'll be honest with you about when something feels that it isn't.

Our first session is really about getting oriented — together. I'll want to hear what's brought you in, what's been feeling hard, and what you're hoping gets better. I'll ask a few questions about your background, your patterns, and what you've already tried — not to fill out a form, but because context matters to how I work. You'll have space to ask me questions too, and there's no pressure to have everything figured out before we meet. By the end, we should both have a clearer sense of whether working together feels right — and if it does, what the first few sessions might look like.