LCSW
Stuart Riskin, LCSW
- Experience28 years
- LocationCalifornia
- Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
- Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Check the available next steps for working with Stuart online.
About Stuart
Stuart Riskin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 28 years of experience supporting people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, ADHD, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma, and a wide range of life challenges.
Background and approach
He frames therapy as a collaborative process in which the client’s own knowledge and goals guide change. Stuart emphasizes a respectful, strength-based stance and treats clients as partners rather than passive recipients of advice.
Having entered social work after an earlier career in the entertainment industry, Stuart draws on diverse professional experiences in both public and personal sectors to shape pragmatic clinical work. His background informs a down-to-earth style that balances professional expertise with approachability and a sense of humor.
He helps clients develop practical skills for coping with mood disorders, communication problems, addiction, parenting and caregiving stress, identity and intimacy issues, and career transitions. Stuart uses evidence-informed practices and adapts methods to each person’s needs, aiming to foster sustained wellness through collaborative goal-setting and skill building.
He is open to working with international clients and conducts sessions in English using a flexible subscription format that can be canceled at any time.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Stuart commonly integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in his online work. Client-centered therapy emphasizes understanding each person’s perspective, building a respectful relationship, and supporting the client’s own goals and choices; this approach is helpful for people who want a validating, collaborative space to explore values and decisions. CBT focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that contribute to distress and teaching practical skills for managing anxiety, mood, addiction cravings, and everyday stressors.Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Stuart works with clients to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. He tailors interventions over time, combining supportive listening with skill-building so the client and therapist decide together what helps most.
Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to access care from different locations. These formats offer flexibility for follow-up, check-ins, or longer sessions, and allow clients to continue work on communication, coping strategies, and relationship skills without rearranging their lives.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Licensed
California
Languages
English
What Stuart can help with
Stuart Riskin works with clients on stress and anxiety, addictions, LGBT, relationship issues, and depression.
How Stuart approaches therapy
Stuart's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy.
Experience and training
Stuart is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in California, with 28 years of clinical experience.