Ms. Lynn Gerstein, LCSW

As we move through our lives, we are presented with experiences through which we can grow and change. This is true at every stage of our lives, whether we are leaving home for the first time, creating our own families, dealing with relationship loss, or managing our own aging or the aging of loved ones. For healthy growth to occur, we need skills, tools, and support to adapt to changes in our lives. When we do not have these, we experience a myriad symptoms of distress—including depression, anxiety, and exhaustion. Whether these changes are welcome and positive or brought about by tragedy and loss, they can create barriers to living rewarding and fulfilling lives. I view therapy as a relationship that can help find ways to turn these barriers/challenges into growth opportunities.

As a therapist, I work to create a welcoming space and a connection where, together, we will identify what’s working, what’s not working, and what can be different. Collaboratively, we will establish goals and a plan to achieve them.

For the past 30+ years, I have been working with individuals, families, couples and groups as a clinical social worker in the public sector and higher education. My clinical training is in family systems theory. As such, I understand the influence of the systems in which we live and how they shape our development and impact how we show up in the world. This includes the impact of power and privilege and the structures and systems they create. I strive to be aware of the impact of marginalization and have experience and training working with individuals that experience various forms of oppression including oppression due to nationality, race, ethnicity, age, gender and sexual orientation. I have worked with clients at all stages of the life cycle managing change and life transitions. For the past 25 years, I have worked in higher education. I also have training and experience working in substance abuse treatment and recovery.