Derek Hawkins, LCSW

Derek Hawkins, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in New York with 23 years of professional experience. He focuses on helping people navigate addictions, recover from trauma and abuse, process grief and loss, and adjust to major life changes. The LCSW credential indicates specialized training and licensure in clinical social work, allowing him to provide ongoing therapeutic care.

Derek approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, adapting conversations and treatment plans to fit individual needs and circumstances. He emphasizes a collaborative relationship in which goals and strategies are shaped by the client’s priorities and pace.

Recognizing that seeking support requires courage, Derek offers steady guidance and practical tools to support change. Whether a client is confronting substance use, working through painful memories, coping with a loss, or managing transitions, he aims to create a supportive space where progress is possible and treatment is tailored to what will work best for that person.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Therapy

Derek Hawkins draws on evidence-based techniques tailored to the presenting concern. For trauma and abuse he uses trauma-informed approaches that focus on understanding the impact of traumatic events, building coping skills, and improving emotional regulation to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. For addictions he applies structured, evidence-based strategies that help clients identify triggers, develop relapse prevention skills, and build healthier routines to support recovery. He also offers focused support for grief and life transitions, helping clients process loss and adjust to new circumstances while developing practical coping tools.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Derek works collaboratively with each person to determine which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds to ensure the approach remains helpful and relevant.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to access care from home or on the go. These formats provide flexibility for scheduling, accommodate varying communication preferences, and allow clients and licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care even when in-person visits are not possible.