- Years in practice
- 40
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Grief
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Cheri
Cheri Atkinson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with forty years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and parenting challenges. She offers calm, practical support for parents feeling overwhelmed by life changes, medical issues, or relationship strain. Cheri writes and speaks plainly, making it easier to take the next step when things feel heavy.
She creates a welcoming space where clients can say what they are feeling without judgment.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on developing everyday coping skills that fit a person's life. Cheri emphasizes small, actionable steps that build emotional resilience over time. Her work includes supporting people facing chronic illness, caregiver stress, cancer, and the adjustments that follow accidents or medical changes.
She also helps with forgiveness, guilt, shame, and the isolation that sometimes follows major life transitions. Cheri draws on decades of practice to match methods to what each person needs in the moment. Clinical work centers on practical problem solving, emotion regulation, and communication skills.
Conversations are direct and compassionate, aimed at reducing symptoms and improving day-to-day functioning. Cheri helps people notice patterns and try new responses that lead to more manageable days. Clients can expect a collaborative relationship where goals are set together and progress is reviewed regularly.
The focus is on useful tools and steady change rather than quick fixes. Cheri supports parents and individuals through the real tasks of daily life, offering steady guidance and a clear plan. She practices in California and conducts sessions in English.
Cheri emphasizes respect, humility, and patience while helping people move toward clearer priorities and healthier routines.
What Cheri works with
Everything Cheri lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Cheri helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
Practical approaches for online support
Many clients respond well to evidence-based techniques that focus on skills people can use right away. One common approach emphasizes emotion regulation and coping skills - learning short exercises to manage intense feelings, reduce anxiety, and get through hard moments. This kind of work is helpful for stress, panic, grief, and mood shifts.Another frequent focus is communication and problem-solving. Sessions teach ways to state needs clearly, set limits, and break large problems into smaller, solvable steps. These strategies help with relationship strain, family difficulties, caregiving stress, and career-related decisions.
Finding the right method is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Clients and the therapist set goals together and review progress over time to find the best fit.
Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quieter voice check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging suit brief updates, quick skill practice, or when typing feels easier than speaking. Together these formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving, and medical appointments.
Questions people ask about Cheri
What concerns does Cheri help with?
Cheri supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, anger, and coping with life changes. She also works with issues related to chronic illness, caregiver stress, cancer, and isolation.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and compassionate. Sessions focus on clear steps, emotion regulation, communication skills, and building coping strategies that fit everyday life.
How much experience does she have?
Cheri brings forty years of professional experience as a social worker to her practice, using that background to guide clinical decision making and support.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in California and practices there.
In what language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working together?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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