01 · Who Sophie works with

Sophie works with stress, Anxiety, anger management and self esteem

Sophie lists 8 specialisms and 5 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Sophie chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Sophie's own words

What Sophie says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with experience supporting children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and trauma-related needs. My work is rooted in a trauma-informed approach, and I am passionate about helping young people feel safe, understood, and empowered to navigate challenges in healthy ways.

I have extensive experience working with children who struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, trauma, and school-related stress. I use evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness strategies, and trauma-informed interventions to help children develop coping skills, build confidence, and improve relationships.

In addition to working directly with children, I value strong collaboration with families. I believe parents and caregivers are essential partners in the therapeutic process, and I work closely with families to develop practical tools and strategies that support success across home, school, and community settings.

My goal is to create a supportive and engaging space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves, learning new skills, and building resilience.

Sophie Niemaszyk, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Sophie works

The 3 approaches Sophie lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Sophie lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Sophie's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Sophie runs a session.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

Internal Family SystemsIFS

Treats the mind as made up of parts - the critic, the one who withdraws, the one that keeps everything running - each of which is trying to protect you. The work is getting to know them rather than overruling them.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Sophie practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Sophie's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Sophie at this point.

2. Naming Sophie specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Sophie is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Sophie.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Sophie

Built from what Sophie actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Sophie's - Sophie has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Internal Family Systems. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LCSW

Licensed in

Illinois

Licence

IL LCSW 149029885

Licence number

149029885

Licence expires

30 Nov 2027

NPI

1841130192

Years in practice

4

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

12 Jun 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Sophie's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Sophie. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.