Betty Laird, LCSW

Betty Laird is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Indiana. She brings four decades of experience to sessions and focuses on helping people face stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life transitions. Betty approaches therapy with respect for each person's resilience and vulnerability. Her work begins by listening closely to what matters to the client. She aims to build a steady, nonjudgmental relationship that becomes the main tool for change. In sessions she helps people name painful patterns, sort through difficult feelings, and weigh practical steps forward. Betty uses a mix of approaches to match the needs in the room. Those include attachment-based work to look at relationship patterns, client-centered methods that honor the person's pace, and cognitive techniques to adjust unhelpful thinking. She also draws on emotionally focused ideas to address intimacy and connection concerns. Clients bring many kinds of challenges, such as trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, parenting stress, sleep and eating concerns, attention differences, career strain, and identity topics related to LGBT experiences. Betty also supports those coping with chronic illness, caregiving burdens, adoption and foster care issues, and aging-related worries. Her style is straightforward and companionable. She sometimes uses cinematherapy - discussing film to highlight coping, conflict, and values. People who want a respectful listener and practical pathways for change may find her approach helpful.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current relationships shape how people connect and feel safe with others. Online conversations can help identify repeating patterns and create new ways of relating. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the client's lead, offering support and acceptance while the client names goals and timing; this approach helps when someone needs a steady ally to sort feelings and choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets specific thinking and behavior patterns and introduces practical tools to change them, which can be taught and practiced during sessions. Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, needs, and preferences and will recommend which methods to try first. Decisions about approach and pace are made together and adjusted as progress unfolds. Confirm the available session formats before booking since current options are not listed here. Online therapy can make attending sessions easier on busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. It also lets people bring real-life situations into conversation more quickly, so skills and insights can be practiced between appointments.