Steven Osterstrom, LCSW

Steven Osterstrom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 24 years of clinical experience. He combines practical tools and conversational therapy to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship problems, and grief. Steven keeps sessions straightforward and focused so parents and busy adults can fit therapy into their lives.

He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques. Mindfulness practices are woven into sessions to help clients notice patterns of thought and behavior. The therapist emphasizes strengths and small, practical steps that can make daily life feel more manageable.

Steven’s background includes many years teaching social work students and volunteering in prison programs that focus on nonviolent conflict resolution. Those roles deepened his experience with diverse populations and with people facing complex life and co-occurring substance concerns. He brings that experience into one-on-one work in a calm, respectful way.

In sessions he aims to be warm, interactive, and compassionate. He encourages clients to notice beliefs that hold them back and to test new ways of behaving. Therapy is framed as a collaborative process where the client’s goals guide the work.

People often seek him out for help with attachment and abandonment concerns, codependency, parenting and fatherhood issues, career transitions, and coping with life changes. He supports those exploring identity, intimacy challenges, and recovering from trauma or abuse.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Many sessions use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. CBT gives clear exercises to try between meetings and helps track progress in everyday life.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another common approach and emphasizes choosing actions that match values, even when uncomfortable emotions are present. ACT can help people move toward meaningful goals while learning to accept difficult feelings instead of fighting them.

Client-centered techniques shape how the therapist listens and responds, creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space. This helps people feel heard and figure out which tools fit them best. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose approaches that match the client’s goals and preferences rather than assuming one fixed method.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy schedules. Video calls let the therapist use exercises, worksheets, and shared screens. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is low or a quieter audio check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, coaching, or when someone prefers written reflection over speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family life, and other obligations while still using the CBT, ACT, and mindfulness techniques that support change.