Christopher Standish

Christopher Standish is an LCSW licensed in California and New York with nine years of clinical experience. He has worked in publicly funded mental health clinics and in substance abuse treatment settings. Christopher focuses on practical ways to reduce stress and anger and to build confidence and healthier relationships.

He meets people where they are and listens first. Sessions tend to focus on identifying what feels most urgent and doable right now. Christopher uses clear, goal-oriented conversation to help people notice patterns and try different responses in everyday life.

In past work he has supported people facing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship strain. He has also worked with issues linked to aging, caregiving stress, fatherhood, substance use, and family background concerns. Christopher pays attention to how past relationships shape present behavior and feelings.

His approach blends client-centered listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioral techniques and motivational interviewing. He also draws on narrative and psychodynamic ideas to help people understand recurring patterns and stories that influence choices. He tailors the mix to each person’s needs rather than following a single formula.

Christopher aims to make the first steps feel manageable. New clients start by describing what matters most, and then together they shape a straightforward plan. He encourages small experiments between sessions to test what helps and refine the plan over time.

How his approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and responding to each person's needs. In practice this means the therapist focuses on understanding your goals and reflecting back what matters most to you, which helps clarify next steps and build trust.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers concrete tools to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT-based work often includes identifying patterns, trying short experiments between sessions, and practicing new skills for stress, anger, and anxiety.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or unsure about change. It uses respectful conversation to strengthen a person's own reasons for trying a new way of coping or breaking a habit.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, past efforts, and preferences and then suggest a mix of methods. This is a collaborative process and may shift as needs change.

Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use tools and worksheets between meetings. It can also remove travel time and help maintain continuity of care when schedules change.