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If you've been searching for a Black therapist in Long Beach, CA — or a culturally affirming therapist available throughout California via in-person and telehealth — you've found a space where you truly belong.

I'm Claudia Williams, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in grief and loss therapy, trauma therapy, life transitions, anxiety, and depression. For over 20 years, I've had the privilege of walking alongside children, adolescents, and adults through some of life's most painful and defining moments. My practice, Guided Steps Counseling, serves clients in Long Beach and across California through secure, accessible telehealth services.

Whether you're in the middle of an unexpected loss, navigating a major life transition that's left you unsure of who you are now, or recognizing that past trauma is quietly affecting your relationships, your confidence, and your daily life — you don't have to figure it out alone.

I became a therapist because I believe healing is for everyone. But I also understand that for many people finding a therapist who truly gets it hasn't always been easy. Culturally affirming therapy isn't something I add on. It's built into the way I listen, the questions I ask, and the space I create for every client I serve. If you're looking for a therapist who leads with warmth, cultural humility, and authenticity, you are welcome here.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, strengths-based, and deeply personalized. I meet you exactly where you are — without judgment — and work with you to help you feel seen, heard, and empowered to heal.

As a licensed therapist specializing in grief counseling, trauma-informed care, and anxiety treatment, I use an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to your unique needs. Depending on what you're working through, our sessions may draw from:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns driving anxiety, depression, or avoidance, and build practical coping skills for daily life

• Solution-Focused Therapy — to reconnect you with your strengths and create forward momentum, especially during difficult life transitions

• Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy — to explore how early relationships and past experiences may still be shaping how you feel, think, and connect with others today

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — to strengthen emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness — especially valuable for those navigating grief, trauma, or overwhelming anxiety

• Trauma-Informed Therapy — to ensure every step of our work together feels safe, stabilizing, and thoughtfully paced as we process difficult or painful experiences

If you've been searching for grief therapy in Long Beach, support after a major life change, help with anxiety or depression, or a trauma-informed therapist in California who understands your lived experience — I'd be honored to walk alongside you.

Healing is not about erasing your past. It's about no longer being defined by it. Together, we'll work toward a life shaped by your strength, your growth, and the possibilities still ahead of you.