Mark Laster, LCSW-R

Mark Laster is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) based in New York who focuses on helping adults manage stress, mood concerns, grief, and life changes. He draws on more than a decade of experience as a practicing clinician to listen, assess needs, and guide practical steps forward.

He begins by quickly identifying what matters most to each person. Sessions emphasize clear goals and concrete strategies that can be used between meetings. Mark uses straightforward tools to address anxiety, depression, bipolar concerns, anger, and relationship strain.

Mark works with clients navigating caregiving stress, aging and geriatric issues, and recovery after trauma and abuse. He also supports people coping with career transitions, midlife crises, multicultural concerns, and adjustments after natural or human-caused disasters. Traumatic brain injury is listed among his focus areas and may be part of discussions about coping and daily functioning.

His approach centers on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to keep sessions practical and goal-oriented. He aims to connect people with resources and steps they can try right away.

People who prefer direct, action-minded therapy will find his sessions focused on problem solving and steady progress. Mark frames therapy as a collaborative effort to find what works for each person.

How these approaches shape online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and tailoring support to each person's needs. It focuses on understanding concerns from the client's point of view and building on their strengths to set helpful goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses simple exercises and experiments to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns that get in the way of daily life.

Solution-Focused Therapy centers on small, achievable changes. Sessions identify what is already working and build brief, practical steps to move forward after setbacks or life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring. That decision can change over time as needs evolve.

The practical upside of online therapy is flexibility and easier fitting of sessions into busy days. Because the specific session formats were not listed in the biography, confirm the available options before booking. Many people find online work helps them keep continuity of care, maintain momentum between appointments, and try techniques at home or during a short break at work without adding long travel time.