Galina Storozhenko, LCSW

Galina Storozhenko is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 17 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns. She approaches each person with respect and a belief that they know their own story and strengths. Galina aims to provide steady support as someone takes the first steps toward change.

Her practice focuses on practical tools that can be used between sessions. She uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy to help people manage difficult thoughts and emotions. Galina also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and principles from the Gottman Method when relationship patterns and emotion regulation are central concerns.

She helps people who are coping with caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, abandonment wounds, and isolation or loneliness. Work and workplace stress, panic attacks, social anxiety, and mood disorders are also areas she addresses. Grief, guilt, and shame are taken seriously and worked through at a pace that feels safe for each person.

Sessions are offered in English and Russian for those who prefer either language. Galina’s practice is based in California and follows the professional standards of an LCSW. Her approach centers on collaboration - she listens, reflects what she hears, and helps develop clear, doable steps forward.

To begin, people are invited to decide what change matters most to them and to bring that goal to the first session. Galina emphasizes small, steady steps and practical strategies that fit into everyday life.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Galina uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice painful thoughts and still move toward what matters to them. ACT focuses on values-based action and learning to live with difficult feelings instead of fighting them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also part of her work and targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with practical exercises that can be practiced between sessions. CBT is often useful for anxiety, panic, and mood issues. Client-Centered Therapy shapes how she listens and responds, offering empathic reflection that helps people feel understood and find their own solutions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. She will talk with each person about goals, life demands, and what methods feel most useful. This decision is collaborative and can shift over time as needs and priorities change.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people practice skills in real-world settings and bring immediate questions to a therapist during a typical day. Ask about language options, scheduling, and any practical details when you match, so sessions align with your routine and goals.