Tara Gilliard (she/her)

LMSW
Accepting Clients

I work with adults navigating anxiety, grief or major life changes who want a therapist who is warm but won’t avoid the hard things.

Licensed Master of Social Work in Connecticut

Services
  • Individual

About My Clients

You may be dealing with anxiety, depression or grief while also trying to manage relationships, work or a major change in your life. Perhaps the past still affects how you respond to people now, or you feel disconnected from what matters to you. I work with adults, including people navigating trauma, chronic illness, identity and family difficulties. We’ll understand what is happening and what you want to change. To work with me, book through my website.

My Background and Approach

My style is warm, grounded and conversational. I tend to listen more than I talk, but I’ll also offer honest feedback, notice patterns you may have missed and tell you the hard thing when I think it could help. Clients have described me as calming, compassionate and easy to talk to. I use ACT, CBT, IFS, psychodynamic therapy and trauma-focused approaches. We may look at how the past is affecting the present, get curious about different parts of you that want conflicting things or build practical skills for coping with difficult emotions. I’ll also help you clarify what matters to you and make choices that feel more aligned with those values. You can set the pace, and sessions can respond to what you need that day. At the same time, we’ll keep sight of what brought you to therapy and the changes you want to make.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe people are more able to change when they feel genuinely seen, not judged or reduced to a diagnosis. Therapy should give you room to understand yourself while also being honest about what is no longer working. I come from a multiracial and culturally mixed background, and I pay attention to how culture, identity and belonging shape the way we understand ourselves. I also have personal experience with grief, chronic pain, mental health recovery and changing careers. These experiences inform my work without leading me to assume that your experience will be the same as mine. I value creativity, reflection and humor. Therapy can make space for painful experiences without every conversation feeling heavy.

Techniques I Use

Other Techniques
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Culturally Sensitive Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Person-Centered (Rogerian)
  • Internal Family Systems

Issues I Treat

Other Issues
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Depression
  • Grief or Loss
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Self-Esteem

Client Focus

Languages
English

Qualifications

License
LMSW, State of Connecticut · #123196
Years in practice
2 years
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Oxford Health Plan
  • United Healthcare
I offer online counseling in the following states:

Hours & Availability

New clients welcome
Currently accepting new clients
Telehealth
Available

At A Glance

  • Experience: 2 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $175/session

Reach out to Tara