At a glance
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Wisconsin / 8083 - 123
- NPI
- 1043633159
- Experience
- 21 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Wisconsin
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Build motivation
- Improve communication
- Reduce anxiety
About Gary
Gary Swan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wisconsin with more than 21 years of experience. He helps people manage stress and anxiety, cope with addictions and impulsive behavior, and work through relationship and parenting concerns. He focuses on building motivation, improving self-esteem, and strengthening communication skills so people can feel more confident day to day.
Gary typically works with depression, mood concerns, anticipatory anxiety, and grief. He pays attention to attachment and family of origin issues and addresses patterns like codependency, control struggles, and blended family stress. He also supports people facing forgiveness, guilt, shame, and the practical strain of life transitions.
In sessions he aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be spoken aloud. He values trust and knows it grows slowly, one step at a time. He encourages clients to find their own motivation and to take small, manageable steps toward change.
Gary uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. He draws on Motivational Interviewing to help build readiness for change and on client-centered and attachment-informed ideas to strengthen relationships and self-understanding. He also uses cognitive-behavioral and dialectical strategies when they fit the issue at hand.
People who start here are invited to consider what they want next. Gary frames change as a chapter you can write, with support rather than judgment along the way.
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How motivational and attachment approaches work online
Motivational Interviewing helps identify and strengthen a person's own reasons to change. It uses questions and reflective listening to build momentum for concrete steps, which can help with addictions, impulsive behavior, and making life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect trust and closeness now, and it helps people notice and shift those patterns to improve relationships and emotional safety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing better ways of thinking and acting, which can ease anxiety and low mood.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. That choice can change over time as progress is made and new issues come up.
Specific session formats are not listed in the original profile, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also let people use video or phone setups that suit their energy level and bandwidth, so the work can fit into everyday life without added strain. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueAdditional focus areas
Attachment issuesBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesTherapeutic approaches
Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyExperience
21+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist help with?
He helps with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship struggles, low self-esteem, depression, grief, trauma and related issues such as parenting and intimacy concerns.
What is the therapist's general approach in sessions?
Sessions emphasize an open, nonjudgmental conversation where clients set goals and explore motivation for change. Techniques are practical and collaborative, focused on communication, coping skills, and confidence building.
How much experience does the clinician have?
The clinician has 21 years of professional experience working with mood disorders, addiction-related concerns, and relationship and family issues.
What credentials and location are listed for this provider?
The therapist is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Wisconsin and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are used for therapy?
The original profile does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does billing and cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions 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