Therapist Howard Acosta Photo

Howard Acosta, LCSW

Stress, Anxiety LGBT Parenting issues Anger management
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

HELLO! Feeling stuck? We live in challenging times and relief doesn't seem fast enough these days. I've been there, I've been counseling 24+ years and I know what works and what works fast. My job as a licensed psychotherapist is to get you in-and-out as soon as possible and to ensure you learn what works by teaching you up-front, rapid, evidence-based coping methods and strategies that work to quickly move you towards more relaxation, self-control and joy as fast as possible. In fact I've written books about it titled "UCoping" and "UCoping: Interactive Edition" available on Amazon. The methods in UCoping are the methods I use in treatment. They CUT TO THE CHASE, without all the PSYCHOBABBLE and instead teach you how to RAPIDLY use evidence-based coping correctly, and how to CRYSTALIZE them for life in as short of an amount of sessions as possible—usually 3-5 sessions. After then we can triage for transition to long-term therapy if needed! This is how I practice in treatment. It all comes through an active faith, being a licensed therapist and through the academics of clinical psychotherapy.

I mainly treat anxiety, and sexual identity distress (not sex addiction) and can also modestly treat co-occurring symptoms of depression, substance use, and psychosis (not personality disorders) by teaching how to turn evidence-based coping methods into habits for life! I add faith, spiritual and/or religious discussions as needed in a style that is calm, warm and compassionate. I mostly use cognitive/behavioral therapy (CBT), some Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution-Focused Treatment (SFT) to name a few. Let's get started working together to get you unstuck fast for life!

Professional experience

24yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety LGBT Parenting issues Anger management

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Grief, Self esteem, Depression, Coping with life changes, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Co-morbidity, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Impulsivity, Isolation / Loneliness, Men's Issues, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood Disorders, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Paranoia, Phobias, Post-traumatic Stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Sexuality, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social Anxiety and Phobia

Clinical approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

CA LCSW 74837

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Howard Acosta. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Howard is an excellent therapist. He really takes the time to listen and understand what I say. He goes beyond just asking open ended questions, as some therapists I have had will do. He will engage in a conversation which helps me to understand where feelings are coming from and provides quick and simple ways of addressing those feelings. I would highly recommend Howard to anyone looking for a judgement-free and results oriented relationship with their therapist.

Written on May 01, 2023 after therapy with Howard for 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, and relationship issues

have never felt so seen. and that is the root.

Written on Jan 11, 2023 after therapy with Howard for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, adhd, and lgbt

I would strongly recommend my therapist to friends and colleagues because he understands what I’m going threw and listens to me, He also make’s good suggestions

Written on Jan 03, 2023 after therapy with Howard for 2 weeks on issues concerning trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, and adhd

He's a good therapist.

Written on Dec 17, 2022 after therapy with Howard for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, self esteem, and adhd

Love it

Written on Aug 01, 2022 after therapy with Howard for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd

It has been a couple of weeks since I started my sessions with Howard. I feel comfortable in our sessions and couldn’t be happier with the progress. Positive advice and helpful techniques like diaphragmatic breathing to help manage my anxiety. I believe CBT therapy is a excellent way to help anyone feel better. I appreciate your help, thank you Howard.

Written on Oct 20, 2021 after therapy with Howard for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and coping with life changes