About Mark

Mark Duarte is a licensed clinical social worker with decades of experience supporting people through painful and confusing life moments. He listens calmly and helps people name what feels off. His work is direct and grounded in everyday language so parents can understand practical next steps.

He focuses on identity, purpose, and the hard feelings that come with change. Many people come for help with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, anger, addiction, or attention-related concerns such as ADHD.

Background and approach

He also supports those coping with trauma, stress, career shifts, and issues around intimacy or self-esteem. Sessions are collaborative and paced to the person's needs. He draws on client-centered methods to center each person’s experience and on cognitive behavioral and dialectical skills to teach concrete tools for managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

He helps people practice new ways of handling difficult moments between sessions. Mark keeps language simple and focuses on skills that can be used right away. He works to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space and tailors plans to the individual rather than following a single formula.

His style emphasizes practical change alongside deeper self-understanding. Having worked in California for many years, he brings wide clinical experience to common and complex problems. He encourages small, steady steps and stands alongside people as they try new approaches and reclaim a clearer sense of direction.

Approach and online options for meaningful change

Mark integrates client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy. Client-centered therapy centers the person’s experience and helps people feel heard while deciding what matters most in therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on noticing and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and attention-related struggles.

He also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills when strong feelings cause repeated conflict or overwhelm. These methods are taught in simple, step-by-step ways so people can practice them between sessions. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. He collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals, daily life, and what feels useful in the moment.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for longer sessions and seeing nonverbal cues, phone works well if bandwidth is limited, live chat allows brief check-ins during busy days, and text messaging supports ongoing, shorter exchanges or reminders. These options make it easier to fit consistent therapy into a busy schedule and to keep practicing skills between sessions.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with a broad range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy problems, addictions, stress, sleep struggles, self-esteem, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His approach is collaborative and straightforward, using client-centered listening plus practical skills from cognitive behavioral and dialectical methods to help people manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
What is his clinical background and experience?
He is a licensed clinical social worker with 46 years of professional experience working with identity, purpose, and life transition issues.
Where is he licensed and located?
He holds a California LCSW and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does payment and starting therapy work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
46 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

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