Daniel Zarate Lustre, LCSW

Daniel Zarate Lustre is a California licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. He emphasizes practical steps to improve sleep, self-esteem, and daily coping. Daniel speaks English and Spanish and draws on eight years of practice to guide conversations toward change.

He approaches work in a straightforward way. Sessions focus on what matters now and on tools people can use between meetings. Daniel sees clients as the experts on their own lives and helps them notice strengths they already have.

Daniel uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered methods, psychodynamic ideas, and solution-focused techniques. He blends those approaches to match what each person needs rather than following a single script. That means sometimes working on thought patterns, sometimes on past influences, and sometimes on quick, goal-oriented steps.

Practical concerns often come up in sessions. He helps people with sleep problems, caregiving stress, chronic illness challenges, relationship communication, and feelings of isolation or shame. He also addresses life transitions such as divorce, midlife changes, money worries, and questions about purpose.

Therapy can happen by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Daniel explains the process, reviews options, and helps people pick the format that fits their schedule and needs. Getting started begins with a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session.

Overall he aims to create a calm, honest space where people can try small changes and build on what already works in their lives.

How Daniel’s approaches work for online care

Daniel uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors that reduce anxiety or depression. CBT is practical and often focuses on skills you can use between sessions, such as sleep routines or thought records.

He also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which puts the person’s priorities first and emphasizes listening, empathy, and collaboration. This approach helps when someone needs a nonjudgmental space to make sense of big feelings or life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Daniel will discuss goals, try different strategies, and adjust based on what is helping. Decisions about methods are made collaboratively, using the client's needs and preferences as the guide.

Online formats available include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversations and visual cues. Phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for quick updates, ongoing support between sessions, or when typing feels clearer than speaking. These options make therapy more flexible for different schedules and daily responsibilities.