Steven Osterstrom , LCSW

Steven Osterstrom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with 24 years of experience providing individual and group psychotherapy. He works with a broad range of concerns including depression, anxiety, identity questions, relationship and family challenges, parenting and fatherhood issues, career transitions, addiction and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, as well as trauma and emotional abuse. He emphasizes the link between the stories people tell about their past and their present well-being and helps clients explore those narratives to restore balance and purpose.

In addition to clinical practice, he has taught social work at two universities for many years and has volunteered in prison programs such as the Alternatives to Violence Project in New York and Pennsylvania. Those experiences have informed a practice that attends to diversity and moves toward a gender-inclusive, anti-racist stance. Steven describes his therapeutic presence as warm and interactive, drawing on compassion-focused methods that highlight strengths and resilience.

He integrates proven approaches from the cognitive behavior therapy family - including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - and values mindfulness exercises as part of treatment. His orientation is collaborative and respectful, inviting clients to use curiosity and courage to examine limiting beliefs and reclaim a more wholehearted life. Steven aims to support and empower people who are ready to take steps toward change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Steven Osterstrom draws on several evidence-informed approaches to support change and coping. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise - it is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and to improve problem-solving skills. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness skills that reduce reactivity, support emotion regulation, and complement both ACT and CBT practices.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process; Steven works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their goals, preferences, and needs. He tailors techniques and pacing so therapy feels practical and respectful of each person’s pace and values.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals without needing to travel, and they allow therapy to fit into the rhythms of everyday life while maintaining a collaborative, relational focus.