Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg, LCSW

Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 42 years of counseling experience. He takes a practical, strengths-based approach and focuses on helping people make changes that matter to them. Larry emphasizes real-world tools over theory when helping someone face a midlife crossroads or other life stressors.

He began working on a back ward in a state mental hospital and learned quickly to rely on practical help and what actually worked for people. Over decades he has worked in inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and crisis settings. That history informs a straightforward style that values clients' own resources and life knowledge.

Larry uses several approaches to meet people where they are, including client-centered work that follows the person's pace, cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and mindfulness techniques to reduce stress. He also offers hypnotherapy and draws on existential ideas when people ask about meaning and life purpose.

Common issues he addresses include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, grief, career questions, ADHD, and coping with life changes such as divorce or caregiver strain. He also supports people with autism and Asperger syndrome and those involved in BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture.

Larry aims for collaborative sessions where clients identify practical next steps. He asks about strengths, clarifies goals, and helps people try small experiments to see what changes feel right. The focus is on usable strategies that can fit into everyday life.

How his approaches translate to online work

Lawrence uses client-centered work that follows the person’s pace and focuses on their strengths. This approach helps people set priorities and decide what to try next, which can be easy to do in regular online sessions.

He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which centers on spotting unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors. CBT suits issues like anxiety, depression, stress, and many kinds of life-change struggles where practical experiments matter.

Existential ideas are part of his practice when people want to talk about meaning, life purpose, or big transitions. Those conversations can help someone facing a midlife shift clarify values and make intentional choices.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will help identify which methods match a person’s goals and try different techniques to see what fits. Clients and the therapist decide together how to move forward based on needs and preferences.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins between appointments, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about timing and session length to match everyday routines.