- Years in practice
- 7
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Deanna
Deanna Bennet Ridgway is a licensed clinical social worker in California who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, and parenting challenges. She also supports those facing low self-esteem, depression, grief, and compassion fatigue. Her tone is encouraging and direct, aimed at parents who may feel overwhelmed by daily demands.
She keeps sessions straightforward and focused on what matters to the client. Deanna invites honest conversation so people can say what they are feeling without judgment.
Background and approach
She helps clients notice patterns and try practical steps that fit into family life. Deanna has seven years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That time includes supporting people through major life changes, separation and divorce, and caregiver stress.
She draws on what she has seen work for others while tailoring plans to each person. In sessions she often prioritizes clear goals and small experiments to test new ways of coping. Conversations can include problem solving, communication practice, and ways to rebuild confidence.
The aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes. Deanna provides services in English and practices in California. She recognizes that starting therapy takes courage and offers a calm, steady presence to guide parents through relationships, career shifts, and parenting strain.
Her approach is practical, compassionate, and geared toward everyday life changes.
What Deanna works with
Everything Deanna lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Deanna helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Life purpose
- Self-love
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Deanna uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and emotional processing. One common approach she relies on teaches concrete coping skills for anxiety and stress such as breathing, grounding, and short behavioral experiments to test what helps. These tools are useful for parents juggling daily demands and for people facing sudden life changes.Another key approach emphasizes processing emotions and traumatic memories in a paced way so the person can make sense of what happened and reduce its day-to-day impact. This work tends to focus on building tolerance for difficult feelings and improving how someone talks about needs in relationships.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and comfort level, adjusting methods as progress is made.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility for busy parents and professionals. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a deeper connection is helpful. Phone sessions can fit during a break or when video bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for quick check-ins, brief skill coaching, or when someone prefers written reflection. Together these options make it easier to keep therapy consistent amid family schedules and work demands.
Questions people ask about Deanna
What concerns can Deanna help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, grief, self-esteem, depression, and related concerns like caregiver stress and body image.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Sessions are direct and practical with an emphasis on honest conversation and small steps. She aims to create a nonjudgmental space where people can talk through feelings and try new coping strategies.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional work experience supporting people through life changes, relationship issues, and caregiver stress.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in California.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin work with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling based on therapist availability.
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