Steven Osterstrom, LCSW

Steven Osterstrom is a New York based LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 24 years of experience providing individual and group psychotherapy. He works with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, identity questions, relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, career pressures, addictions and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. He also supports people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse and assists those coping with grief, intimacy-related issues, and life transitions.

In addition to his clinical work, he has taught social work graduate students at two universities for the past 20 years, helping them develop practical skills for professional practice. His volunteer work with the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison settings in New York and Pennsylvania has involved group work with inmates focused on nonviolent approaches to conflict, an experience that has informed his commitment to working with diversity and moving toward an anti-racist, gender-inclusive stance.

His therapy style is warm and interactive, grounded in a compassion-focused outlook that highlights strengths and resilience. He draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness practices to help clients identify unhelpful belief patterns and pursue meaningful change. He emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and collaboration, and aims to help people use courage to explore their truths and move toward more fulfilling lives. He is available to support those ready to take the next step toward change.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Care

Steven integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside mindfulness practices to support clients in an online setting. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise - it is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce distress and improve functioning, and it is commonly applied to mood, anxiety, and coping challenges. Mindfulness practices are woven into these methods to cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity, which can help with stress, emotional regulation, and grounding after trauma.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work. Steven collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies over time as progress is made. This collaborative process helps ensure therapy feels personally relevant and practical.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy lives and to access licensed professionals from different locations. These options support continuity of care and allow clients to choose the communication style that feels most comfortable for them.