- Mood disorders
- Grief and loss
- Addiction recovery
About Polly
Polly Parks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 14 years of professional experience. She helps people who are dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, and concerns commonly faced by LGBTQ2+ people. Her practice also addresses addiction recovery and issues connected to trauma and loss.
Polly uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered approaches, and Trauma-Focused Therapy. In sessions she listens for emotional patterns that keep people stuck and helps name feelings that are hard to identify. Conversations focus on what matters to the client and on small choices that can change daily life.
Her background includes work with students and professionals after the 2019 Saugus High School student shooting in Santa Clarita. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the World Association of Transgender Health. Polly also maintains the California telehealth training required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Polly speaks English and draws on lived experience in long-term recovery from alcohol to support people dealing with substance use and process addictions. She is familiar with 12 step groups and recommends SMART recovery options alongside mutual-support fellowships.
Practical session details are shared when someone begins the intake process. She outlines scheduling norms and meeting times up front and will not hold sessions while a client is driving. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How her approaches shape online sessions
Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying and naming emotions and attachment patterns that affect relationships and self-connection. It can help people recognize recurring emotional responses and practice new ways of responding to strong feelings.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and take committed steps toward them while learning to notice difficult thoughts without getting stuck. Client-Centered Therapy centers the client's perspective, using listening and reflection so the person feels heard and can make their own choices.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Polly will collaborate with each client to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That collaborative process means adapting sessions as progress and needs change.
The biography does not list specific online session formats here, so confirm current session options before booking. In general, remote sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into weekday afternoons, evenings, or weekends, and they can allow shorter check-ins when needed. Polly notes practical scheduling norms up front and will not hold sessions while a client is driving. If you want to discuss how sessions will be arranged, mention that in the matching questionnaire before your first appointment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, and issues common among LGBTQ2+ people. Her practice also covers trauma, addiction, and related concerns.
What therapeutic approach does she use?
Polly lists Emotionally-Focused Therapy as one of her approaches and also uses ACT, Client-Centered methods, and Trauma-Focused Therapy. These frameworks guide how she notices emotions and relationship patterns in sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional therapeutic experience and has maintained a California LCSW in good standing throughout that time.
What credential and region is she associated with?
She is an LCSW licensed in California and practices from that state. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and WPATH.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific scheduling details are provided during intake.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the booking flow.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.