Paul Pasternak, LMHC

Paul Pasternak is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 25 years of experience. He helps people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship stress, parenting challenges, and major life changes. He focuses on practical steps that can make daily life feel more manageable.

He uses a client-centered stance that starts with what the client wants to change. Sessions are guided by the person in care and shaped around their goals. Paul combines Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools to build a plan that fits each situation.

Each client receives a clear care plan that targets the issues they bring. Progress is monitored and the plan is adjusted as needed. The work can involve learning new coping skills, rethinking patterns of behavior, and addressing painful past events.

Paul emphasizes a strength-based approach. He listens for strengths to build on and practical ways to move forward. The setting is described as empathetic and aware of past trauma while focused on helping people reach their goals.

He has worked in many settings over his career and draws on that range of experience. Paul centers hope and effort as key parts of change, and he supports people through the steps that lead toward a different life.

How Paul's Approaches Work Online

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems by teaching practical skills and small experiments to try between sessions.

Client-Centered Therapy puts the client’s goals first and relies on listening, empathy, and collaboration. It helps people feel heard and clarifies what they most want to change. Motivational Interviewing supports commitment to change by exploring ambivalence and strengthening personal reasons to act; it often helps with addiction, behavior change, and readiness for new steps.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Paul will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences and then recommend which methods to try. That choice is revisited as progress is made so the plan stays useful and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people meet face-to-face for detailed work and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or suit lower bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, coaching, and reflections between longer sessions. These options make it easier to balance therapy with work, caregiving, or busy schedules while pursuing clear, skill-based change.