About Steven
Steven Lai brings more than three decades of clinical social work to his practice. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - based in Pennsylvania who aims to help people feel better and resolve difficult issues. His style is direct and respectful, with an emphasis on practical steps and clear goals.
Over a 32-year career he has held roles as a therapist and counselor, case manager, clinical supervisor, and mental health clinic director.
How Steven works
He uses that experience to offer grounded, common-sense support. He focuses on what is getting in the way now and on small changes that add up. Steven often uses client-centered methods to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space.
He pairs that with cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses unhelpful thoughts and teaches new coping skills. Sessions tend to be goal-oriented and problem solving, so conversations move toward concrete strategies. People come to him for a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma and abuse, and issues with intimacy.
He also helps with sleep, eating, parenting strains, anger, self-esteem, career matters, and bipolar challenges. He pays attention to experiences of prejudice and discrimination and supports work on self-love. Steven keeps sessions focused and practical.
He works with each person to set clear goals, track small steps, and adjust plans when needed. He aims to make therapy feel useful and relevant to everyday life.
Steven lists 2 ways of working on the entry:
What Steven works with
The areas below are the ones Steven selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 32 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Pennsylvania |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How client-centered work and CBT translate to online therapy
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building a respectful working relationship. In practice this means the therapist reflects what a person says, follows their lead, and helps them clarify goals and values. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches specific skills to change unhelpful thinking and coping patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and habit change.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to choose methods that fit a person's needs, goals, and preferences. That can mean mixing listening-based, client-centered work with skill-building from CBT so the plan matches what the person wants to accomplish.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a longer session or visual connection helps. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for ongoing support between sessions or when someone prefers to type their thoughts. These options make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and to continue momentum between appointments.
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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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