Wendy Kesel, LCSW-R

Wendy Kesel is a licensed clinical social worker with 26 years of practice in New York. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting challenges, and life transitions. Her approach is grounded in listening first and building a respectful, nonjudgmental space for talking about what matters most.

With a long record of direct practice, she supports people facing grief, trauma and abuse, mood concerns such as depression and bipolar, and issues around self-esteem and intimacy. Wendy also addresses practical challenges like career stress, caregiving strain, and the complexities of adoption, blended families, and commitment worries.

In sessions she blends several therapeutic styles to fit each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients clarify values and take meaningful steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Attachment-based and client-centered work guide conversations about connection, trust, and emotional needs.

Wendy also brings tools from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotion regulation or intense stress is present. She has experience helping people with ADHD, autism spectrum considerations, and identity issues including LGBT concerns. Aging and geriatric issues and caregiver stress are among the additional areas she addresses.

Her goal is practical progress. Sessions focus on clear goals, skills you can try between meetings, and steady support while you make changes. To begin, follow the site’s Start Therapy process and schedule according to availability.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name what matters to them and take small, meaningful steps toward those values even when feelings are difficult. It is often used for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and trying different behaviors to change how you feel. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and day-to-day coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and then suggest an approach or combination of approaches. Decisions about methods are collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make sessions easier to fit into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time on workdays or caregiving days. It can also let people join a session when travel or mobility would otherwise be a barrier. Licensed professionals can discuss which approach and format will best support your goals during the first meetings.