Very responsive and empathetic
Steven Lai, LCSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Steven is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Steven. View 67 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Pennsylvania
Recent reviews
Very responsive and thoughtful!
More about Steven
- 32 years' experience
- Male
- LCSW
Hello! I have successfully practiced clinical social work for over 30 years and have enjoyed helping the many clients I have counseled during my career. You will find me to be caring, understanding, respectful, nonjudgmental, knowledgeable and attentive to your needs. I have experience as a therapist /counselor, case manager, clinical supervisor and mental health clinic director, working with adults, adolescents and children and families and have been effective in helping my clients consistently achieve positive change. My number one objective is to help you feel better and resolve any difficult issues you are coping with. My approach is goal oriented and problem solving, often using cognitive behavioral therapy strategies and motivational interviewing techniques designed to challenge any negative thoughts and improve and maintain your motivation to make the changes needed to resolve issues and problems you are facing. I graduated from The Hunter School of Social Work in 1990 with a Master's Degree in Social Work in New York City and I am currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Pennsylvania.
I'm here to help you and look forward to working with you!
Specialties
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Licenses
Steven Lai's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1194958785.
- LCSW · Pennsylvania · CW017158 · Expires February 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.
Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Steven Lai
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Very responsive and empathetic
Very responsive and thoughtful!
He is excellent! Great listener and also provides amazing feedback. I have had him as my therapist for over a year.
Has been there for me every step of the way
So far, our working relationship has been great.
Steven is thoughtful, kind, reflective and patient. He is a attentive and honest listener. I have appreciated his insights and encouragement.
He is patient with me
Reliable, receptive and encouraging. Steve offers biblically sound advice!
Steve is an excellent counselor. I appreciate his ability to show me different perspectives of my situation. He’s kind and empathetic and very responsive in his communications. I highly recommend Steve!
Steve is great. His unique perspective is helpful when I can't see the forest for the trees.
Steve is a knowledgeable person. He knows about a wide variety of subjects. he is also patient with me but helps me move forward. Thank you, Steve for sharing your insight and taking time to listen and to walk with me on this journey toward becoming more equipped for doing this thing called life.
I have been working with Steve for quite some time now (6+ months). He is absolutely fantastic at listening and helping you unlock your potential. I am a high performing Type-A personality and he truly has helped me begin to harness this in a healthy fashion rather than letting my drive take over my emotional state. This has lead to reduced stress and a larger awareness of the fact that I am NOT the center of the universe, but, rather, a part of it and I am here to do good work and love the people around me. If you're looking for a good Christian counselor who has a great deal of experience, Steve is the person you're looking for.
Steve is professional, thoughtful, patient, poses good questions, and makes helpful suggestions. He is quick to listen to slow to speak. Thankful for Steve.
I have had five sessions with Steven and I have appreciated his insight, advice, and understanding so far. It may sound simple but it's nice to have a therapist who truly meets you where you are and gives practical solutions to every day problems so early on in treatment. It's always hard to start therapy over again. Establishing that foundation again can be very trying and hard. But so far, that's been the farthest from the truth with Steve. :)
Steven is very patient, a great listener and always checking in to make sure everything is alright, couldn’t ask for more
Steven not only listens to your issues but offers a variety of tools help you to cope with them. He also goes out of his way to check in on you, and makes you feel cared about. His passion for helping people is shown by how much he truly cares about his patients. I would recommend Steven 10 out of 10 times.
I have been talking to Steve for over 6 months. He is really an amazing therapist. I am beyond grateful.
Steve was great, he listened and gave me great advice.
He is amazing. Always willing to go above and beyond what is expected from a therapist. I couldn't have gotten through this difficult time without his empathy and brilliant knowledge and expertise.
Just a true 10/10 for what has been a year of growth and support, could not possibly rate just 1/10 but if ten is the highest, so be it - 10.
He is amazing a great listener! I highly recommend!
Absolutely excellent, very understanding, response is impeccable. I think Mr. Lai really gets me so I would give 1,000 out of 100. Very good man.
Amazing listener he’s always checking up on me even when I am not responding which I really appreciate
Steve is a very compassionate and understanding counselor. He has asked me question to better understand myself and my thinking. He has change my mindset for the better and I look forward to having sessions with him every week. I recommend Steve for anyone dealing with internal struggles.
He's great, listens to my needs. He offers solutions and different perspectives I haven't thought about. He is quick to respond and reliable. Easy to talk to.
He’s really good at his job I feel comfortable to talk about the problems I’m experiencing.
He is great.
Steve is Awesome he know how to bring me up when I’m down and he really listen to me.
Steve is kind, compassionate, present, and very knowledgeable.
He is an extremely good listener and is also very kind.
Trust him very much.
Steve has been great. I have been working with him for about 2 months now and he's always been a great listener. He offers some advice and a different perspective of things when I feel stuck somewhere. He was immensely helpful in getting me out of a depression when I left my job, burned out, and receiving job rejections. He never pushes to talk about anything, but I know when I want to talk about something he will listen. He's great!
Dr. Lai has been a huge aid in helping me to manage stress and other personal challenges. He is a great listener that always offers well thought out and helpful advice. Dr. Lai is down-to-earth and easy to talk to.
He is amazing! A very good listener and he helps me come up with a plan and real steps to improve. I am an active participant in my healing with him! He has a very calm and soothing demeanor and it is helpful for me.
Me. Steve has been an amazing help in my life. I am extremely grateful for him.
Very caring
He's a great listener and is truly helping me.
Steve has helped me tremendously with my progress. Couldnt be more thankful to have him in my life.
Has helped me out immensely. Thoughtful, understanding and provides much needed perspective.
While working with Steve, I have been able to open up about topics that I have not shared with any other counselor. He has always made me feel heard and has offered me great ways to cope with past traumas.
Easy to talk to and very good advice/support!
Steve Lai is a solid, reliable counselor. He's compassionate but direct. He breaks issues down to their elements so things don't feel so very overwhelming.
I feel really blessed to have been matched with Steve, he is an excellent listener, does not dismiss not one feeling thought or opinion. He has an appropriate sense of humor and tells you like it is. I love it!! Mostly, I was having problems with my email, when I logged back in, several missed msgs of concern
I have only been working with Steve for a few weeks but I have already learned so many helpful strategies to help cope with various issues! He is extremely attentive and I feel open to express any feelings or thoughts with him. Very excited to keep working with him throughout the healing process!!
I love my couselor! He has helped me tremendously!
Steve is amazing. He listens and gives great insight. I was in a dark place when i first started. A few weeks later i felt alot more confident in myself.
Steve is awesome. I am so fortunate to have him.
Steve is top notch. Few counselors I’ve experienced (both on Betterhelp and in-person) have displayed such a great balance of listening and offering insight. He has helped me in many ways as I struggle with depression, anxiety, etc. I’d recommend his services to anyone who feels lost or overwhelmed. He has become an invaluable resource in regards to my mental health, relationships, and life in general.
Steve listens to you and has got your back. It is my first time seeking counseling and he has made it a fantastic experience!
I believe Steve to be very helpful and an active listener
Steve has a great sense of empathy, very much in tune with what you are discussing with him. I felt he actively listened to me and even paid attention to what I was not saying at times. I felt extremely comfortable discussing various issues with Steve in a very safe and non-judgmental environment. I can honestly say Steve helped me resolve a lot of personal issues. I looked forward to our sessions to learn more about myself and develop skills that I needed to improve upon- like my reactions to the overwhelming stress I have been dealing with for a long time. I would highly recommend Steve as well as BetterHelp to others in need of counseling.
Steve Lai has helped me with my anger / anxiety issues and has helped me cope better whenever these emotions come up. If you are willing to work with him, he will work with you.
Steve is an amazing and understanding counselor! He is always there when I need him, responds to all my messages and deals with all the drastic changes in my life with grace. He supports me always. Talking to him has greatly improved my mental state.
Steve is always available and listens carefully to my specific needs.
I can’t believe it’s been over 1 year now that I have been working with Steve. He’s been so supportive and really educational on so many levels when I have questions about how to manage through a challenging period in my life. It’s nice to have a solid history with him now, so we can dive right into whatever’s on my mind that week. To be able to email him about anything between sessions is also so helpful! I tell my kids all the time that I look forward to chatting with my counselor; he’s helping me so much!
Before Steve's counseling, I have been practically mad for 5 months in a row. After listening and telling him my problems, I haven't been mad a lot. Maybe irritated but not to the point how I was before.
Steve is awesome! He is very knowledgeable and knows his stuff. He is easy to talk to and listens.
He doesn't judge. He listens. He never gives an unsolicited opinion. If I ask his opinion, he gives it. Really good dude. Glad I have him as a counselor.
I really value Steve's expertise and insights!
Steve is a very kind man, he’s a great listener, supportive, and helpful. My talks with him have quickly helped sort out feelings, get on track with goals, and aided in my mental well-being. I look forward to our conversations, I’m thankful there are people like Steve out there.
He is really good! Makes me think and challenges me but is very compassionate as well.
I truly appreciate the time and energy Steve has given me. He has truly helped me navigate through this confusing journey called life and has helped me succeed in finding inner peace.
Steve has created an environment for me where I can share safely. He is patient, and speaks in a way that brings calm. I would recommend Steve to anyone!
Wonderful Counselor. He listens and gives very helpful information and worksheets to help you understand the concepts and apply to your life experiences.
Steve is very warm and I feel safe talking to him.
Steve is smart, kind, and timely with his responses. I enjoy our conversations. He has a calm, positive demeanor and seems very genuine. He's great.
Steve is excellent at listening and giving good methods of reducing anxiety and depression. Knowing I can message him with anything has already helped more than I imagined when exploring betterhelp.
Frequently asked questions
Does Steven Lai offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Steven Lai works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Steven Lai speak?
Steven Lai speaks English.
How many years of experience does Steven Lai have?
Steven Lai has 32 years of experience.
Where is Steven Lai licensed to practice?
Steven Lai is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Does Steven Lai accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Steven Lai does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Steven Lai offer?
Steven Lai offers clients Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
How can I communicate with Steven Lai?
Steven Lai can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Steven Lai?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.