Therapist profile
Dr. Lia Willis, LCSW
Missouri
LCSW focused on anxiety and codependency
Continue with LiaWhere Lia stands
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Missouri / 004817
- NPI
- 1316636327
- Experience
- 20 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Missouri
About
- ACT methods
- CBT techniques
- Client-centered care
About Lia
Dr. Lia Willis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Missouri with 20 years of experience. She helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, depression, career strain, relationship concerns, and life changes. She also works with those affected by addiction, grief, trauma, and caregiving burdens.
Her approach centers on straightforward conversation and practical work. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters most and take small steps toward it. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Client-centered methods shape the pace and tone of sessions so people feel heard.
In sessions she invites clear, honest talk about current struggles and patterns that repeat in relationships. She pays attention to family of origin issues, codependency, and the stress that comes from caregiving and first responder work. She also addresses issues related to adoption and foster care, aging concerns, kink and alternative sexual cultures, and end-of-life care.
Her work includes practical strategies for managing difficult feelings, building boundaries, and improving day-to-day coping. She also supports people facing guilt, shame, infidelity, or feelings of emptiness. Sessions can include skills practice, values clarification, and behavior-focused experiments.
People who prefer direct, steady conversation about what’s happening now and what can be changed may find this approach helpful. To start, follow the practice's booking steps and complete the initial matching questionnaire.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify what matters to them and take committed steps toward those values. Online sessions can use ACT exercises to name values, notice unhelpful reactions, and plan tiny changes that fit daily life.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on noticing and testing thoughts and behaviors. In remote sessions CBT tools can include thought records, behavioral experiments to try between meetings, and short skills practice during the session to break worry and low mood cycles.
Client-centered work keeps the conversation guided by the person's concerns and pace. That means the therapist focuses on listening, reflecting, and helping people set achievable goals together rather than imposing a rigid plan.
Finding the right approach is often a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as progress or obstacles appear.
If you are considering online therapy confirm the session formats available before booking. Many people find online work helpful because it can fit into a weekday break, avoid travel time, or allow shorter check-ins when needed. Ask about the specific session options offered so you can pick what fits your schedule and needs.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Missouri
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, career difficulties, relationship and family concerns, addictions, grief, trauma, and related issues such as codependency and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
She blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and client-centered methods to combine values-focused work, cognitive skills, and collaborative listening.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed as an LCSW in Missouri and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment work?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.