- Warm listening
- Practical skills
- Grief and loss
About Ryder
Ryder DeFranco is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) based in Washington who offers supportive, goal-focused therapy. She emphasizes compassionate listening and practical steps to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and major life shifts. Ryder writes plainly and meets people where they are in order to begin change one step at a time.
She frames therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions aim to reduce overwhelm, uncover patterns, and build concrete coping skills. Ryder works with people on relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strains, self-esteem, and career questions. She also addresses trauma, attachment and abandonment wounds, body image, and caregiver stress.
Ryder uses a mix of client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, dialectical behavior strategies, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. That blend helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, practice new behaviors, and strengthen emotion regulation. The focus is practical rather than abstract, with tools meant to apply between sessions.
People seeking support around grieving, hospice and end-of-life concerns will find a therapist who acknowledges sorrow while helping to find meaning and manageable steps forward. Ryder also helps with forgiveness, guilt and shame, infidelity, and communication problems.
Her approach is warm and nonjudgmental. Ryder encourages self-discovery and steady progress rather than quick fixes. She asks clients to work with curiosity and patience as they develop clearer direction and healthier coping.
To begin, she guides people through small, achievable changes so that early gains can build into lasting improvement.
She frames therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions aim to reduce overwhelm, uncover patterns, and build concrete coping skills. Ryder works with people on relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strains, self-esteem, and career questions. She also addresses trauma, attachment and abandonment wounds, body image, and caregiver stress.
Ryder uses a mix of client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, dialectical behavior strategies, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. That blend helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, practice new behaviors, and strengthen emotion regulation. The focus is practical rather than abstract, with tools meant to apply between sessions.
People seeking support around grieving, hospice and end-of-life concerns will find a therapist who acknowledges sorrow while helping to find meaning and manageable steps forward. Ryder also helps with forgiveness, guilt and shame, infidelity, and communication problems.
Her approach is warm and nonjudgmental. Ryder encourages self-discovery and steady progress rather than quick fixes. She asks clients to work with curiosity and patience as they develop clearer direction and healthier coping.
To begin, she guides people through small, achievable changes so that early gains can build into lasting improvement.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Washington
Languages
English
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and reflecting what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard and decide their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. These methods are commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Ryder will talk with clients about their goals and preferences and try different techniques to see what fits. She aims to tailor strategies to each person so they can use tools between sessions and notice steady progress.
The practical advantages of online therapy include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into a busy life. Confirm current session options before booking so you know how sessions are held. Online work can make it simpler to check in during a break, avoid travel time, or use audio-only when bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and mindfulness practices for remote sessions so the work continues between meetings.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does Ryder help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting concerns, career questions, trauma and family problems among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative, focusing on compassionate listening and practical steps to reduce distress and build skills.
What is her clinical background?
Ryder has seven years of experience as a practicing clinician, offering supportive psychotherapy and skill-based approaches.
Where is she licensed and located?
She holds a Washington LICSW and practices in Washington state.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.