- Thoughts and everyday habits
- Practical coping skills
- Collaborative goal-setting
About John
John Shafer is an LCSW with 25 years of clinical practice based in New York. He focuses on thoughts and everyday habits to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. He uses straightforward, practical conversation to help clients notice patterns and try small changes.
Over his career John has worked in rural community mental health, school-based programs, and city and suburban settings. He has experience with a wide age range and with people from many racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. This variety shaped his approach to everyday struggles and coping skills.
John draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential ideas. In sessions he focuses on what a person thinks and does day to day, and on building habits that support clearer thinking and steadier moods.
He has provided individual, couples, and group therapy over the years, and aims to work collaboratively on concrete goals. John also addresses concerns such as addiction, grief, parenting strain, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and intimacy-related issues by breaking problems into manageable steps.
People who meet with him can expect direct, calm guidance and practical tools. He helps clients set realistic goals, practices new habits in session, and checks progress over time to refine the approach.
Over his career John has worked in rural community mental health, school-based programs, and city and suburban settings. He has experience with a wide age range and with people from many racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. This variety shaped his approach to everyday struggles and coping skills.
John draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential ideas. In sessions he focuses on what a person thinks and does day to day, and on building habits that support clearer thinking and steadier moods.
He has provided individual, couples, and group therapy over the years, and aims to work collaboratively on concrete goals. John also addresses concerns such as addiction, grief, parenting strain, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and intimacy-related issues by breaking problems into manageable steps.
People who meet with him can expect direct, calm guidance and practical tools. He helps clients set realistic goals, practices new habits in session, and checks progress over time to refine the approach.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice thoughts without getting stuck in them and to act on values that matter. It can help when worry or rumination get in the way of everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing small behavior changes to shift mood and functioning. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation so clients feel heard and can find their own solutions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and daily routine. That choice can change over time as progress is made and needs shift.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit care into a busy life by reducing travel time, enabling shorter check-ins, or allowing sessions during breaks. It can also support steady practice of skills between meetings and make it simpler to involve different schedules without rearranging the whole day.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Areas include stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting and family concerns, ADHD, bipolar, and coping with life changes.
What is the therapist's approach or style?
He uses a mix of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and existential ideas. Sessions focus on everyday thoughts and habits and on practical changes clients can try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 25 years of experience working across rural, school-based, city, and suburban settings. That history includes individual, couples, and group therapy roles.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LCSW licensed in New York and practices from that region.
In which languages can sessions be conducted?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.