Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg, LCSW

Illinois · 42 years in practice

Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg is a licensed clinical social worker with 42 years of counseling experience.

License and registration

LCSW, Illinois: 149008012 · expires November 2027
NPI: 1649696832 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 42
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Lawrence

Lawrence "Larry" Westenberg is a licensed clinical social worker with 42 years of counseling experience. He emphasizes a strengths and solutions approach that helps people find practical steps toward the life they want. Larry focuses on listening and helping clients use their own resources to make change.

Larry began his career working on a back ward in a state mental hospital. That early work shaped how he thinks about people and recovery.

Background and approach

He learned to look for what clients already have rather than only labeling problems. He works with issues such as trauma, anxiety and panic, depression, addictions, attention differences, relationship difficulties, and questions of life purpose. He also supports people facing grief, caregiver stress, career changes, and identity issues including LGBT concerns.

Larry uses a mix of approaches that include Existential therapy, client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral ideas, hypnotherapy, and mindfulness practices. In sessions he focuses on clear, direct conversation and practical strategies clients can try between appointments. He has worked across inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and crisis settings over his career.

That range of experience informs how he meets people where they are and helps them move forward at a pace that fits their life. Larry asks people to focus on their goals and strengths. He aims to help clients notice what works for them and build on it, rather than getting stuck in labels or long theoretical explanations.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Lawrence lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Trauma and abuse
Self esteem
Depression
Coping with life changes
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coaching
ADHD
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Caregiver issues and stress
Communication problems
Control issues
Divorce and separation
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Multicultural concerns
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia

Approaches Lawrence names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Existential therapy helps people reflect on meaning, choice, and responsibility in their lives; it can be useful for those facing big life decisions, emptiness, grief, or questions about purpose. Client-centered therapy focuses on a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation where the therapist follows the client’s lead and supports self-discovery. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thought and behavior and offers practical exercises to change unhelpful habits and reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and may combine elements from different methods to fit their needs. This shared planning helps tailor sessions to what actually helps the person in their daily life.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good when visual connection matters, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be useful for quick check-ins, and messaging supports brief ongoing contact between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work days, caregiving schedules, or other routines while keeping care flexible and consistent.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does Larry help with?

He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, grief, career questions, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and life purpose. Additional focuses include autism and Asperger syndrome, BDSM and kink culture issues, caregiver stress, and first responder concerns.

What is his general therapy style?

He uses a strengths and solutions orientation with clear, direct conversation. Sessions emphasize practical steps, exploring meaning, and building on the client’s existing resources.

How much experience does he have?

He brings 42 years of counseling experience, including work in inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and crisis intervention settings.

What credentials and region are listed?

He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - licensed in Illinois. His practice is based in Illinois.

Which languages are supported and can international clients join?

Sessions are offered in English. He does not accept international clients.

What session formats are available online?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are fees structured?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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