Phyllis Hartman

Phyllis Hartman is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of clinical experience helping people who are struggling with anger, stress, anxiety, addictions, and relationship problems. She combines a straightforward style with steady support to help people make changes that matter. Phyllis listens first, then helps clients set clear goals and practical steps to reach them.

She earned a Master of Social Work in 1999 and holds an LCSW, a Pennsylvania licensed clinical social worker credential. Her approach treats therapy as hands-on teaching - working through patterns that block progress and practicing new responses in real life. Sessions focus on skills people can use right away, not just talking about problems.

Phyllis draws on client-centered ways of working to keep the person’s needs central. She also uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to change unhelpful thinking and from dialectical behavior therapy to build emotion and distress tolerance. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing tools are used as appropriate to increase awareness and strengthen motivation for change.

She has experience supporting people with trauma, grief, caregiving stress, ADHD, mood disorders, and substance issues, among other concerns. People often seek her help for parenting stress, self-esteem, career transitions, and coping with life changes.

Phyllis brings a practical, encouraging presence to the work. Her faith and close relationships inform her outlook, and she aims to help clients rediscover purpose, self-love, and healthier ways of relating.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s experience and priorities. The therapist emphasizes listening, empathy, and tailoring sessions to what the client says matters. This approach helps with motivation, relationship issues, and questions about life purpose.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, anger, and depressive patterns. Clients often leave sessions with homework to try between meetings.

Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal skills. Those tools can help people who struggle with intense anger, mood swings, or impulsive behavior.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each client to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can be adjusted as progress is made and circumstances change.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, shorten commute time, and allow for lighter check-ins when needed. Many people find that having regular sessions from home or during a break at work helps them keep momentum and practice new skills between meetings.