Bruce Richards, LICSW

Bruce Richards is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts with more than 15 years of experience. He focuses on helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, and midlife change. He also supports concerns like ADHD, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, and career stress. Bruce works with clients who are dealing with family and parenting issues, substance concerns, and mood disorders.

He favors a collaborative approach. He talks with clients about what brought them in and sets clear, achievable goals together. Bruce uses cognitive behavioral methods to identify unhelpful thoughts and small steps that change behaviors. He pairs that with solution-focused talk to find practical actions that make a difference quickly.

Bruce has worked with a range of mental health challenges including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in addition to more common mood and anxiety problems. He has advocated for people with mental health needs for many years and opposes discrimination and abuse in any form. His practice emphasizes respect and straightforward support.

Sessions involve active problem-solving and real-life skill building. Expect to leave sessions with concrete steps to try between meetings. The pace and effort vary by person, and Bruce stays engaged throughout the process.

He typically offers short-term work up to one year and will discuss a plan that fits each person’s goals. If someone is unsure about next steps, he helps outline options and a practical treatment plan. He looks forward to meeting people ready to make changes.

How his approaches translate to online work

Bruce uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and change thought patterns that lead to distress. CBT breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and gives clear exercises to try between sessions, which can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues.

He also draws on Solution-Focused Therapy to identify what is already working and build on it. This approach focuses on small, concrete steps and practical solutions that aim to produce noticeable change in a shorter time frame.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Bruce discusses goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped in the past. He uses that conversation to decide whether CBT, solution-focused work, or a blend will best fit someone’s needs.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since the biography does not list specific formats. When online options are available, they can make it easier to schedule therapy around work or family obligations, reduce commute time, and allow for brief check-ins that fit a busy day. Talk with him during the matching process to learn which session formats he currently offers and how they can fit into everyday life.