About Lawrence
Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg is a licensed clinical social worker with 42 years of experience. He approaches counseling from a strengths and solutions perspective, helping people build on what already works for them. He writes plainly and helps clients find practical steps toward the life they want.
Larry began his work on a back ward at a state mental hospital. Early on he learned to focus on real resources people already had rather than complicated theories.
How Lawrence works
That experience shaped a direct, hands-on style that emphasizes usable skills over jargon. In sessions he listens for what a person can do right now and helps them try small changes. He uses conversational, goal-focused methods to address stress, anxiety, trauma, addictions, mood concerns, and issues around identity and intimacy.
He also supports people dealing with grief, career decisions, and life purpose. His work includes attention to ADHD, bipolar concerns, and challenges related to autism and Asperger syndrome. He has long experience with LGBT issues and helping people manage alternative sexual cultures like BDSM and kink without shame.
He also helps caregivers, first responders, and people facing end-of-life caregiving challenges. Larry draws on a mix of approaches such as client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral ideas, existential thinking, hypnotherapy, and mindfulness. Sessions tend to be practical, conversational, and focused on specific next steps the client can try between meetings.
Lawrence lists 8 ways of working on the entry:
What Lawrence works with
The areas below are the ones Lawrence selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 42 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches for online change and practical therapy
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building on a person's strengths. The therapist follows the client's lead, reflects what they hear, and helps clients identify steps they can try. This approach is useful for stress, relationship concerns, and finding direction in life.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. It helps people test and change unhelpful thinking patterns and try different behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and addictive habits. Short exercises are often used between sessions to reinforce progress.
Larry will work with each person to find the right mix of methods. Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process based on your needs, goals, and preferences. He talks with clients about options and adjusts the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, so people can choose what fits their day. Video is good when visual cues help the work, phone can be a simpler check-in, and messaging or chat can support brief updates or coaching between longer sessions. These formats make scheduling easier and let therapy fit around work, caregiving, or other obligations.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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