- Person-centered approach
- Practical skills focus
- 25 years experience
About John
John Shafer is an LCSW with 25 years of clinical practice. He uses practical, person-centered methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. He also addresses money and financial issues alongside concerns such as career strain and work-related stress.
He trained at Syracuse University's School of Social Work and has worked across rural, suburban, and city settings. That variety shaped his approach and taught him to adapt methods to different life circumstances and cultures. He has supported people across a wide age range and many socio-economic backgrounds.
In sessions he blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with mindfulness and strengths-based ideas. He focuses on practical skills - spotting unhelpful thoughts, building flexible routines, and practicing small behavior changes that add up over time.
He has experience addressing trauma, grief, addictions, ADHD, intimacy and relationship concerns, parenting stress, and compassion fatigue. He also helps with specific issues like abandonment, adoption and foster care histories, chronic illness, and communication problems.
John emphasizes collaboration. He works with each person to set realistic goals and to try tools that fit their life. The aim is steady, manageable progress rather than quick fixes.
Therapeutic approaches and online support
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It focuses on accepting difficult feelings while taking small steps toward a meaningful life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches concrete techniques to change patterns that cause stress or anxiety. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication for people who struggle with intense feelings.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan over time based on what works in everyday life.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm available online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten the time needed for check-ins, or reduce the need to travel. It can also help keep momentum between sessions by making follow-ups easier to schedule. If you want to combine different approaches or focus on money and financial issues alongside emotional concerns, this collaborative process can be adapted to those priorities.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does John address?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and money and financial issues among other topics.
What is his therapy style like?
He uses a person-centered style and mixes practical methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Sessions focus on skills, real-life problem solving, and clear goals.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 25 years of experience working in rural, school-based, city, and suburban mental health settings and with a wide range of people across ages and backgrounds.
Where is he based and what are his credentials?
He is based in New York and holds the credential LCSW, listed as NY LCSW in his professional details.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.