- Years in practice
- 12
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Indiana
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Tara
Tara Wagner is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Indiana with 12 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for parents and individuals facing addiction, mood concerns, anxiety, and relationship stress. Tara aims to create a respectful, sensitive space where people feel heard and valued.
Tara has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, medication-assisted treatment programs, and academic environments. That range of settings gave her hands-on experience with substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, and trauma-related concerns.
Background and approach
She often supports people dealing with grief, low self-esteem, and major life changes. Her style is straightforward and collaborative. She adapts conversations and plans to match what a person needs that week.
Sessions tend to focus on practical steps, clearer communication, and building motivation to change behaviors that cause pain. Tara uses a mix of approaches to fit different needs. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to break unhelpful patterns, motivational interviewing to strengthen commitment to change, and client-centered methods to keep the work focused on the person’s priorities.
She also brings psychodynamic and solution-focused ideas when they fit. People who prefer clear options, short-term problem solving, or help managing strong emotions often find her approach useful. Tara supports parents who are worried about how stress, addiction, or relationship problems affect their family life, and she works with adults navigating intimacy-related issues and identity concerns.
What Tara works with
Everything Tara lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Tara helps people with.
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Tara lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How her approaches work online
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s lead. The therapist helps the client name priorities, and the session unfolds around what matters most. This approach is useful for people who want to feel understood and want their goals respected.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at practical links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sessions may include setting small behavioral experiments, tracking patterns, and trying different responses to old habits. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and changing unhelpful routines.
Motivational interviewing helps people increase their own willingness to change. It uses focused questions and reflection to clarify reasons for change and to strengthen commitment. This method pairs well with work around substance use, ambivalence, and starting new habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will discuss options and adjust methods based on a client’s goals, comfort, and progress. That collaborative work means strategies can be tailored week to week rather than fixed up front.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility for busy schedules. Video calls let people meet face-to-face when needed, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text-based messaging allow brief check-ins, writing out thoughts, or ongoing support between longer sessions. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent around parenting duties, work hours, and other commitments.
Questions people ask about Tara
What concerns does Tara commonly address?
She works with addiction, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. Parenting stress, grief, and mood disorders like bipolar are also listed focus areas.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward. Sessions focus on practical steps, clearer communication, and building motivation to change.
What is her professional background?
She has 12 years of professional experience across inpatient and outpatient settings, medication-assisted treatment, and academic work. That experience includes treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW and practices in Indiana.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she use?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How is cost handled for therapy?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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