Paul Pasternak, LMHC

Paul Pasternak is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in New York with 25 years of experience. He helps people who are facing anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting stress, addiction, grief, and the specific challenge of jealousy. He focuses on the changes clients want to make and supports them through practical steps.

Paul uses a client-centered, strength-based way of working. He listens first, then helps people set clear goals and build a tailored care plan. Techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are used to address unhelpful thoughts, find motivation, and practice new habits.

Sessions are aimed at finding realistic next steps. Progress is tracked and the plan is adjusted as needed. Paul pays attention to past trauma and to how life stage or caregiving roles can affect mood and behavior.

He draws on long experience in varied settings to offer straightforward guidance and tools. That background informs how he helps people manage anger, control issues, impulsivity, and isolation. The work often includes practical coaching around career, parenting, and coping with major life changes.

Paul emphasizes hope and steady effort as the basis for change. He frames therapy as a collaborative process where small, consistent steps lead to better routines and clearer choices. Clients who want focused, goal-oriented support may find this approach useful.

How these approaches guide online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's own goals and experiences. The therapist listens closely, reflects what he hears, and helps people decide what changes matter most. This approach is useful for relationship concerns, parenting stress, and coping with life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It teaches practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thinking and build new habits, which can help with anxiety, depression, anger, and addiction-related behaviors.

Motivational Interviewing helps people find internal reasons to change. It uses focused conversation to boost readiness and commitment for steps like reducing substance use or addressing relationship problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying a mix of strategies and adjusting the plan based on what works.

Confirm current session options before booking, since the biography does not list formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people work with a licensed professional from different locations while tailoring the schedule to everyday routines.