Penny Gifford, LPC, LCPC

Penny Gifford is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 30 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping adults who are facing life transitions, mood concerns, and stress. Her approach centers on building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship so people feel able to make changes they want.

In sessions she aims to help people learn practical skills for managing anxiety, anger, addictive behaviors, and low self-esteem. She also supports people dealing with grief, relationship strain, career shifts, and midlife changes. Conversations tend to be straightforward and goal oriented so progress can be tracked over time.

Penny draws on a blend of client-centered methods and structured behavioral strategies. That means she listens for what matters most to each person, and then suggests exercises and ways of thinking that can reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. She also uses techniques that teach emotion regulation and coping skills.

Her work often includes brief, solution-focused steps alongside more exploratory discussion of past patterns and attachment issues. This mix allows for immediate relief when needed, and deeper change where it helps. She aims for a collaborative tone where clients set the pace.

Penny practices in California and offers services in English. She asks prospective clients to use the site Start Therapy process to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to therapist availability. The subscription model for sessions can be canceled at any time.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful partnership. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflects what they say, and helps them clarify goals and values. This approach helps with feelings of low self-worth and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and homework to change unhelpful thinking and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety, depression, and some addictive patterns.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, then suggest approaches to try. Adjustments can be made over time so the work fits the client's needs and pace.

For practical matters, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Some people find video helpful for face-to-face conversation, while phone sessions can work better when low bandwidth or a quicker check-in is needed. Licensed professionals aim to match the format to what helps the person engage and progress.