Steven Osterstrom , LCSW

Steven Osterstrom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 24 years of experience providing psychotherapy in individual and group settings. He works with a broad range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, identity questions, relationship and family difficulties, parenting and fatherhood issues, career challenges, addictions and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, as well as trauma and emotional abuse. He emphasizes the link between the stories people tell about their past and their current sense of wellbeing, and he helps clients identify unhelpful patterns of belief that interfere with living a more fulfilling life.

Alongside clinical practice, he has taught at two universities for 20 years, preparing social work graduate students with practical skills for professional practice. He has also volunteered through the Alternatives to Violence Project, leading groups with incarcerated individuals in New York State and Pennsylvania to explore nonviolent approaches to conflict. Those teaching and volunteer experiences have informed his work with diverse populations and contributed to an inclusive, anti-racist and gender-aware stance.

His therapeutic stance is warm and interactive, grounded in a compassion-focused attitude that highlights strengths and potential. He draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and related methods such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and he integrates mindfulness practices and client-centered principles to support practical change. Steven aims to help people find resilience by gently examining vulnerabilities and using courage to pursue meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Steven Osterstrom integrates several evidence-informed methods into online therapy to meet practical needs and personal goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise - it is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, offering concrete strategies for depression, anxiety, and coping with challenges. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and gentle attention to inner experience, which can support emotional regulation and reduce reactivity.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Steven works collaboratively with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and he tailors methods so therapy fits the individual rather than forcing a single model onto everyone.

Online sessions can be scheduled by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexible options to fit work, family, and geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods and to access support from home or other convenient locations, while allowing licensed professionals to provide structured, goal-focused work remotely.