Nora O'Connor, LCSW

Therapist in California

Compassionate, practical care for self-esteem and stress

Continue with Nora

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15 years of experience listed

LCSW professional credentials

English languages

15 years experience
CBT and somatic work
Focus on self-esteem

About Nora

Nora O'Connor is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of practice in California. She focuses on everyday struggles like stress, anxiety, addiction recovery, and building self-esteem. Nora also supports people facing LGBTQ+ concerns, career questions, and major life changes.

She uses practical, evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and somatic work to help people notice what’s happening in their minds and bodies. Sessions emphasize clear steps and simple skills to manage mood, panic, or compulsive behaviors. Nora blends mindfulness and solution-focused techniques to keep work goal-oriented and doable.

Her background includes long-term clinical experience with trauma-related issues and post-traumatic stress. That experience informs how she helps people who feel stuck by shame, guilt, codependency, or isolation. Nora also has experience with adoption and foster care concerns, caregiver stress, and challenges tied to chronic illness, including HIV/AIDS.

In sessions she encourages self-compassion and practical planning. People leave with manageable tools for anger, compassion fatigue, and money or career stress. She brings a straightforward, calm presence and offers somatic awareness exercises when helpful.

To begin, visitors are invited to use the Start Therapy flow, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability. The subscription used for sessions can be canceled at any time.

Practical approaches for online work and self-esteem

CBT helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and test them with simple experiments. It is useful for anxiety, panic, mood shifts, and improving self-esteem by changing thought patterns. Somatic Therapy focuses on the body - noticing tension, breathing, and movement - and can help with trauma responses, stress, and grounding when emotions feel overwhelming.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment attention and simple breathing practices. That approach supports better emotion regulation and reduces reactivity in daily life. Together these approaches give a mix of thinking skills, body-based tools, and short practices to use between sessions.

Finding the right mix of methods is a team effort. Nora will work collaboratively to choose techniques that fit the client’s goals, pace, and comfort level. That means trying practical steps, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan over time.

Session options are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find it simpler to use tools and homework between sessions when therapy fits into their regular routine.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsLGBTSelf esteem Coping with life changes

Also works with

Anger managementCareer difficultiesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyDomestic violenceForgiveness Guilt and shameHIV / AIDSIsolation / loneliness Life purposeMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Credentials

California

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Nora help with?

Nora works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, and self-esteem struggles. She also addresses career strain, compassion fatigue, and life changes.

What is her approach in therapy?

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, somatic awareness, mindfulness, DBT-informed skills, and solution-focused work to build practical tools and coping strategies.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 15 years of professional experience supporting people with trauma, mood-related concerns, and long-term recovery issues.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Are international clients accepted?

International clients are not currently accepted.

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.

How do I get started?

Select the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.