Dominique Decoster

Dominique Decoster is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, grief, and struggles with sleep and eating. She also supports people coping with parenting strain, anger, low self-esteem, and bipolar-related challenges. She communicates in English, Spanish, and French and works from Massachusetts. Dominique earned a Master of Social Work from Springfield College in 2005. Early clinical experiences included an internship in a correctional facility and another at a cancer center. She spent three years working as a therapist in a clinic before moving into public defense work. For the past 15 years she has provided social work services within a public defender's office, helping people who face criminal charges and who often have complex needs. Her approach is practical and person-centered. Sessions focus on what a person wants to change and on small, manageable steps toward those goals. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills when emotion regulation is needed. Mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing are used when they fit the client’s goals, such as building coping skills or increasing motivation for change. Dominique aims to make sessions conversational and focused on everyday solutions rather than jargon. Clients can expect clear, down-to-earth guidance and a focus on skills they can use between sessions. Before scheduling, confirm current session options and logistics to match needs and timing.

How therapy approaches shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the individual's goals and preferences, letting the person lead conversations while the therapist listens and reflects back what matters most. It helps when someone wants a respectful, non-directive space to sort through decisions and feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep, and eating concerns.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Short coaching-style practice of breathing, grounding, and emotion regulation can be useful for people who get overwhelmed by strong feelings.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work with each person to pick methods that fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change over time as needs shift.

Session logistics should be checked before booking because the biography did not name specific online formats. Confirm which formats are offered and how they fit your routine. Online work can make scheduling easier, help fit sessions into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow some people to use shorter check-ins when days are busy.