At a glance
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Florida / SW25455
- NPI
- 1174401830
- Experience
- 3 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Florida
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational interviewing
- Values-based work
- Trauma informed care
About Dedra
Dedra McIntosh is a Florida licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who focuses on helping people through stressful and painful life moments. She works with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, and low self-esteem. Her style is compassionate and direct, aimed at practical steps clients can try between sessions.
In sessions she prioritizes listening and clear goals. She helps people notice what matters to them and take small, meaningful steps toward those values. She also addresses communication problems, commitment worries, and patterns tied to attachment and abandonment.
Her background emphasizes responding to caregiver stress, family of origin issues, and complex feelings like guilt, shame, and emptiness. She also supports people affected by adoption or foster care and those facing eating-related concerns. First responder issues and the impacts of domestic violence are part of her practice focus.
Dedra draws on several evidence-informed approaches, including Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She uses these methods to help people build emotional resilience and change habits that get in the way of daily functioning.
Clients can expect a collaborative process that balances empathic listening with straightforward skill-building. Sessions aim to help people reconnect with their strengths and move toward healthier patterns in relationships and daily life.
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How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Dedra integrates Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into a straightforward online process. Motivational Interviewing focuses on helping people find their own reasons to change and build motivation one step at a time. It suits issues like commitment worries, avoidance, and making lasting behavior changes. ACT helps people clarify what they value and take small actions toward those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying techniques in sessions and adjusting what she offers based on what helps the person make progress. Confirm the session options before you book, since specific online formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, save travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when life is hectic. It can also let someone choose a quieter setting or a less bandwidth-heavy option depending on what works best for them. Licensed professionals, including this therapist, tailor their approach to match each person's practical needs and aims. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDependent personalityDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issuesTherapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic TherapyExperience
3+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, and depression. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, caregiver stress, eating-related concerns, and family of origin problems.
What is Dedra's therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and goal-oriented with empathic listening. She blends practical skill work with space to process difficult feelings.
What experience does she bring?
She has three years of clinical experience working with the listed concerns and approaches. That experience shapes how she supports people through emotional and relational challenges.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Florida LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she practices in Florida.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Double-check the listed session types during scheduling.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Check the platform details for current pricing.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers