- CBT methods
- ACT and DBT skills
- Mindfulness practices
About Steven
Steven Osterstrom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York with 24 years of experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting strains, and life changes. He also addresses issues such as guilt and shame, attachment and abandonment, and difficulties tied to identity and career decisions.
He favors straightforward conversation and practical work in sessions. He uses client-centered methods alongside cognitive behavioral tools and mindfulness practices to help people notice unhelpful thought patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approaches are part of his toolbox when they fit the person's goals.
Steven has substantial experience leading groups and teaching social work students, which informs how he structures learning and skill-building in therapy. He has worked with people who have faced emotional and physical trauma and with clients managing co-occurring substance use and mental health issues. These experiences have shaped his attention to diversity and gender-inclusive practice.
In sessions he helps people name repeating beliefs that increase guilt and shame and then practices alternative ways of responding. He offers direct strategies from CBT and mindfulness exercises to interrupt intense emotions and build steadier coping. He also uses acceptance-based work to clarify values and next steps.
People who come for help with forgiveness, fatherhood issues, codependency, or loneliness will find an approach that mixes practical skills and reflective conversation. He encourages steady progress through small, concrete changes rather than quick fixes.
How his approaches translate to online work
Steven commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in his clinical work. ACT focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take committed steps toward those values even when difficult feelings remain. CBT targets the thoughts and behaviors that keep stress and shame active, offering concrete strategies to change patterns.He pairs those with client-centered listening and mindfulness exercises to slow down intense reactions. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work; he will talk with each person about goals, try methods, and adjust the plan collaboratively as needs shift.
Specific session formats are not listed here, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people find that remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. Online work also supports practicing mindfulness exercises between meetings and bringing real-life moments into session for immediate feedback.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting concerns, career challenges, and guilt and shame among other areas.
How does he approach guilt and shame in therapy?
He uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify thinking patterns and mindfulness and acceptance work to reduce reactivity and clarify values.
What is his professional background?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 24 years of clinical experience, and he has taught social work at the university level for many years.
Where is he licensed and practicing?
He holds an LCSW credential in New York and practices with that license in New York.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
What formats are used for sessions?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Costs vary by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.