Chris Payton

Chris Payton is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York. He has eight years of professional experience helping people manage depression, addiction, anger, and trauma. He approaches each person with respect and aims to create a supportive space for change.

He adapts conversations and care to fit what each person needs. Sessions are practical and goal-focused, with attention to real-life steps between meetings. Chris emphasizes small, doable changes that build over time.

People often come for help with low self-esteem, persistent anger, or the aftereffects of abuse. He also offers support related to HIV and AIDS. When relevant, he uses techniques to break down unhelpful thoughts and to increase motivation for change.

Chris uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts and actions affect mood and behavior. He also uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change and to move toward goals at their own pace.

Sessions focus on clear goals, skill building, and practical coping tools. Chris will work with each person to set priorities and track progress. His style is straightforward, compassionate, and focused on helping people make lasting changes.

How CBT and Motivational Interviewing Shape Online Care

Chris uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change thoughts and behaviors that make problems worse. CBT focuses on practical exercises and skill practice to reduce symptoms like low mood, anger, or patterns that feed addiction.

Motivational Interviewing is about drawing out a person's own reasons to change. It relies on open conversation and gentle guidance to build readiness and set personally meaningful goals. This approach can be helpful when someone feels stuck or unsure about next steps.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. Chris will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That means testing strategies, tracking what helps, and adjusting the plan as progress is made.

The therapist's biography did not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find it simpler to schedule sessions around work or caregiving, and some tasks like structured worksheets or thought records transfer well to remote sessions. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework so progress continues between appointments.