Michael Masters, LCSW

Michael Masters is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York. He draws on five years of clinical practice to help people manage trauma, grief, anxiety, and life transitions. He works with adults on relationship and intimacy concerns, addiction and stress, and issues tied to identity and caregiving.

Before clinical work he organized in communities and counseled people affected by systemic conflict and trauma. That background shapes how he listens and responds. He focuses on practical steps that make daily life easier, not just talk about feelings.

In sessions he uses a mix of approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Existential Therapy. He helps people learn new skills, notice unhelpful patterns, and build actions that match their values.

Michael supports people facing complex combinations of challenges, including chronic illness, caregiving stress, adoption and foster care histories, attachment concerns, and work or career strain. He also addresses areas like codependency, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue.

Sessions are intended to be collaborative and straightforward. Clients can expect clear goals, practical tools, and room to talk through painful experiences at a manageable pace.

How Michael’s approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values even when emotions are strong. It can help with anxiety, depression, and coping after injury or loss. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-world experiments to reduce anxiety and improve mood. It is useful for stress, panic, and behavioral patterns tied to addiction or avoidance. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and building a trusting relationship so clients feel heard and can explore goals at their own pace.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Confirm session options before booking because specific formats are not listed in the profile. In general, online work can make attending sessions easier around work, medical appointments, or caregiving duties. It can allow shorter check-ins, avoid travel time, and fit therapy into a busy week. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and skills practice to remote sessions so progress continues between meetings.