Simona Ostrow, LMHC

Simona Ostrow is a licensed mental health counselor in New York who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, and career challenges. She works with people navigating major life changes and those coping with chronic illness or caregiving strain. Her approach centers on practical skills people can use between sessions to feel steadier day to day.

Simona blends cognitive behavioral techniques with elements of dialectical behavior therapy. She focuses on building clear tools for thoughts, emotions, and behavior so clients can test what works in real life. Sessions tend to be collaborative and action-oriented, with time spent on practicing strategies together.

With two decades of experience, Simona draws on a wide range of clinical work to meet each person where they are. She values the client’s own knowledge of their life and respects the small steps that make a difference. Her style is straightforward, warm, and focused on manageable change.

Simona offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. She checks messages regularly Monday through Thursday and asks for patience when replies take a bit longer due to other responsibilities. Subscription-based sessions can be canceled at any time.

To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability. Simona practices in New York and holds the LMHC credential, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

How CBT and DBT translate to online care

Simona uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT focuses on clear steps and small experiments that reduce anxiety and lift mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving communication, useful for stress, mood swings, and relationship strain.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. She will work with each person to decide whether CBT, DBT, or a blend fits best based on symptoms, goals, and daily life. Treatment plans are adjusted together as progress or new needs appear.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Video sessions allow face-to-face work on skills and role-play. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging can be used for brief check-ins, reminders, and between-session skill practice. These options support regular contact and flexible scheduling with licensed professionals.