John Shafer, LCSW
New York · 25 years in practice
John Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience.
License and registration
- LCSW, New York
- 071443 · expires January 2029
- NPI
- 1942397682 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 25
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About John
John Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience. He practices from an existential perspective while using practical, down-to-earth techniques to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, and relationship concerns. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and client-centered ways of working.
Sessions focus on what feels most useful for the person in front of him. He emphasizes clear goals and simple skills people can use between sessions.
Background and approach
John's background includes work in rural community mental health, school-based programs, and urban and suburban settings. Over the years he has worked with a wide range of ages and life situations, and he learned to adapt his approach to different cultural and gender identity contexts. This practical variety shaped his flexible style.
In the room he aims to build a steady working relationship and to help people clarify values and next steps. He helps people cope with grief, parenting strain, burnout, ADHD, bipolar mood challenges, sleeping problems, and career stress. He also supports people dealing with intimacy, abandonment, adoption and foster-care histories, chronic illness, and communication problems.
John works collaboratively to set goals and track progress. He brings plain language, steady listening, and skills-based tools that people can try right away.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything John lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches John names
- Existential Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How existential and skills-based therapy work online
Existential Therapy helps people look at big life questions and find personal meaning when facing change or loss. It focuses on choices, values, and how people want to live, which can help with grief, career shifts, and feelings of emptiness.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, teaches practical ways to live with difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful actions. It often helps with anxiety, depression, and coping with chronic stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes respectful listening and working at the client’s pace to build a trusting working relationship and clearer goals.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then shape sessions to fit those needs. That decision is collaborative and may change as progress is made.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which give options for different situations. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a busy day. Live chat and text messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, skills coaching, or when written reflection feels easier. These options make scheduling more flexible and help people keep continuity of care when life gets busy.
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Questions people ask
What kinds of problems does this therapist address?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. Other concerns listed include sleep problems, parenting strain, career stress, and ADHD.
What is their therapeutic style like?
He blends an existential outlook with skills-based methods like CBT, ACT, and DBT. Sessions are practical and focused on discovering values, building coping skills, and setting clear next steps.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 25 years of professional experience working in a range of settings including rural community mental health, school-based programs, and city and suburban clinics.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds a Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, LCSW, and practices from New York.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. He is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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