- Compassionate approach
- Addiction support
- Practical coping tools
About Andrea
Andrea Plate is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of experience in behavioral health. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and relationship strains. Andrea aims to create straightforward, respectful conversations that help clients make practical changes.
For nearly 15 years she ran a residential substance abuse treatment program at the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs. That work involved supporting people experiencing homelessness and chronic mental illness, and it shaped her approach to addiction and caregiver stress. She later taught social welfare and addiction courses at a major West Los Angeles university, bringing classroom perspectives back into clinical work.
Andrea uses several therapy styles to match each person's needs. She leans on client-centered methods to follow what matters to the person in the room. She also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to address unhelpful thinking and on motivational interviewing when working through change and substance use concerns.
In sessions she focuses on practical steps for coping with life changes, career setbacks, and communication problems. She helps people untangle codependent patterns, manage compassion fatigue, and rebuild self-esteem after loss or separation. Her work is direct and goal-oriented while remaining sensitive to each person's history.
Andrea practices in California and conducts work in English. She tailors treatment plans to fit a client's situation and invites collaborative planning so goals feel realistic and achievable.
How Andrea's approaches translate to online therapy
Andrea commonly uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person, which helps build trust and clarify personal goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches practical skills to change them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has worked or not worked before. Together they will try methods that fit the client's needs and adjust the plan over time based on what helps most.
If you are considering remote sessions, confirm available session options before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and support more consistent check-ins during major life changes. It also allows for flexible scheduling around work or caregiving responsibilities and can let people use quieter surroundings or shorter formats when needed.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Andrea address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship issues, and related challenges like caregiver stress and codependency.
What is Andrea's therapy style like?
Her style is client-centered and practical. She uses goal-focused talk and techniques that fit each person's needs.
What background informs her work?
Andrea spent nearly 15 years running a residential substance abuse program at the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs and has taught social welfare and addiction at a West Los Angeles university.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California and practices in that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with Andrea?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Andrea?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.