Laurie Coppa, LCSW

Laurie Coppa is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York. She draws on 24 years in the field to help people cope with stress, anxiety, grief, relationship strain, and life changes. Her style is direct and down-to-earth, with an emphasis on listening and practical steps that feel doable.

Laurie has worked in a wide range of settings including inpatient psychiatric units, hospital medical floors, neonatal intensive care, residential care for adolescents, and services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. She has supported families facing end-of-life stressors and people navigating caregiver strain. Those experiences shaped how she sees systems and the barriers they can create for individuals seeking help.

In sessions she prioritizes clear communication and being a steady presence. Laurie uses plain language rather than labels, and she focuses on identifying feelings and expressing them without judgment. She often encourages exploration of self-love as a practical step toward change, and she helps clients spot obstacles that keep them from living the life they want.

Her approach blends solution-focused work with empathy and empowerment. Laurie believes most people already know what they need but sometimes benefit from outside guidance to make changes. She emphasizes regular sessions - weekly or biweekly - to build momentum and change old patterns.

Laurie works with concerns related to aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life counseling, women's issues, and other life transitions. She aims to be a reflective partner who helps clients test ideas and take small, meaningful steps forward.

How Laurie’s approaches translate to online work

Laurie uses client-centered therapy to place the client's experience at the center of each session, focusing on listening, reflection, and helping people feel heard. This approach is useful for issues like grief, self-esteem, and caregiving stress where being understood matters.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Laurie collaborates with clients to test what feels useful and adjusts methods based on each person's goals and preferences. She frames therapy as teamwork where both people try things, review what helps, and adapt over time.

Session formats were described by Laurie as video and phone being preferred, with live chat as a last option; however, confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, phone check-ins can be shorter and fit into a work break, while video sessions allow a fuller back-and-forth dialogue. These practical choices help clients keep momentum and work on change without rearranging their whole schedule.