John Shafer

John Shafer is an LCSW with 25 years of clinical experience based in New York. He uses practical, hands-on methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns. He also addresses issues such as addiction, grief, intimacy-related problems, ADHD, and self-esteem.

He trained at Syracuse University’s School of Social Work and has worked across rural community mental health, school-based programs, and city and suburban settings. Those roles exposed him to many ages and life situations, from young children to people in their nineties. He also worked with people from a range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

In sessions he draws on approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and client-centered ideas. He emphasizes simple, actionable steps - for example, practicing new coping skills, trying behavioral experiments, and clarifying values. Treatment goals are set together and adjusted as life changes.

He has experience running individual sessions, group work, and couple's work, and has used narrative and solution-focused techniques in practice. Over his career he pursued diversity training and learned ways to support different gender identities and cultural perspectives respectfully.

People looking for help with relationship strain, parenting stress, workplace burnout, or coping with major life changes may find his straightforward style useful. Those interested in working with him should confirm current session options and scheduling before booking.

How his approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name what matters to them and take small steps that align with those values while managing painful thoughts and feelings. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors through simple experiments and homework. It often helps with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping skills. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete strategies for managing strong emotions, improving distress tolerance, and building interpersonal skills. It can support people dealing with intense feelings, anger, or relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to see which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together rather than committing to a single method up front.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by reducing travel time, allowing for shorter check-ins when needed, or making it simpler to schedule during a work break. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, worksheets, and behavioral practice to an online setting so the work stays practical and focused on everyday change.