Paul Pasternak
Hope-focused LMHC guiding practical change
LMHC New York
- Experience
- 25 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Family, Anger, Self esteem
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Paul
Paul Pasternak is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York with more than 25 years of clinical experience. He has supported people facing anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, stress, anger, relationship strain, parenting challenges, and major life transitions.
Background and approach
Drawing on a long career across varied settings, he brings a broad set of practical skills to help clients identify goals and work toward change. He adopts a strength-based, client-centered stance that centers on each person's priorities and capacities.
Sessions typically focus on collaborative care planning that outlines specific, measurable steps, and techniques are adjusted as progress is tracked. Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are his preferred tools, used to build motivation, shift unhelpful thinking patterns, and develop concrete coping skills.
Paul emphasizes an empathetic, trauma-aware environment and supports clients as they pursue meaningful, realistic change. Those who begin work with him can expect a paced, goal-oriented process that values hope and steady effort.
Paul frames therapy as a joint undertaking in which the client’s aims guide the path forward and practical strategies are tailored to each person’s situation.
Practical approaches for online therapy and change
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and teaches concrete skills for shifting those patterns. It is often used to address anxiety, depression, stress, and many day-to-day problems by focusing on actionable strategies and problem solving. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client’s own goals and pace, offering empathic listening and support so that people can explore their priorities and build on their strengths. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative method that helps strengthen a person’s motivation to change by exploring ambivalence and fostering internally driven reasons for taking steps forward.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist will work with clients to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative process can involve blending techniques and adjusting the care plan as progress is made, ensuring treatment stays aligned with what the client wants to accomplish.
Online sessions via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for scheduling and make it simpler to maintain continuity of care amid busy lives. These formats can support ongoing skill practice, brief coaching check-ins, and full-length therapy sessions, allowing clients to access licensed professionals in ways that suit their routines and comfort.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English