Paul Pasternak , LMHC

Paul Pasternak is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York with more than 25 years of experience working across a wide range of clinical settings. LMHC indicates training and licensure to provide mental health care and counseling services in the state of New York. Over the course of his career he has built a deep reservoir of practical experience to draw on when supporting people through difficult periods.

He has spent much of his work helping individuals manage anxiety and depression, navigate parenting challenges, resolve relationship difficulties, overcome addiction, and adjust to major life changes. He finds particular reward in supporting a young person moving into adulthood, a couple negotiating relationship transitions, or an older adult adapting to the complexities that come with aging.

Paul uses a strength-based, client-centered framework that puts the client’s goals at the center of the work. He commonly draws on Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and practice the changes they want to make. With each person he develops a specific care plan that targets the areas needing attention, tracks progress over time, and is adjusted as goals evolve. His style is nurturing and empathetic, with attention to past trauma and a focus on practical steps toward success.

He emphasizes that change requires inner strength, dedication, and hope, and views the therapeutic process as a collaborative journey toward a more satisfying life.

Approaches and Online Care with Paul Pasternak

Paul Pasternak works from a client-centered perspective that emphasizes the client’s own goals and strengths. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on empathetic listening and supporting the client to lead the direction of change - it is helpful for people facing life transitions, relationship concerns, or uncertainty about next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skills practice - it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with addictive behaviors. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style that helps people resolve ambivalence and increase motivation for change - it can be particularly useful for addiction, health behavior changes, or when motivation feels stuck.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Paul and the client work together to determine which methods fit the client’s needs, goals, and personal preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds. This collaborative stance helps tailor care to the individual rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for varying schedules and life demands. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals and therapists from different locations, reduce travel time, and allow steady continuity of care even when life circumstances change.