- Years in practice
- 24
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- LGBT
About Howard
Howard Acosta is a licensed clinical social worker with 24 years of experience in California. He focuses on common but painful concerns parents often face, such as stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and low self-esteem. Howard brings a calm, direct manner to sessions and aims to help people find practical ways forward.
He uses straightforward conversations and goal-focused exercises rather than lengthy theory. Many parents want clear strategies they can try between sessions, and he emphasizes short, actionable steps.
Background and approach
Sessions tend to focus on changing unhelpful thoughts, building coping skills, and spotting small shifts that add up. Howard also draws on mindfulness practices to help people manage strong emotions and reduce reactivity. Motivational interviewing techniques support clients who are unsure about change or feel stuck.
These approaches are woven into a plan tailored to each person’s situation. His background includes long experience with addiction, mood disorders, and issues common to LGBT people. He has worked with concerns related to adoption, fatherhood, aging, and end-of-life matters, and he recognizes how overlapping issues can affect day-to-day life.
That perspective helps when problems feel complicated. Howard offers sessions in English and accepts international clients. Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging.
People who want a practical, steady approach to parenting challenges and life transitions may find his style useful.
What Howard works with
Everything Howard lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Howard helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- 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
- Gender dysphoria
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces 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
Approaches Howard lists
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Howard Uses Evidence-Based Tools Online
Howard combines cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy in ways that map well to online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors, which translates into clear exercises and homework people can do between video or text sessions. Mindfulness therapy teaches attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve emotional awareness, and those skills are easy to practice after a short guided exercise during a call.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose which methods to try first and adjusts based on goals and what fits day-to-day life. That collaborative planning helps make sure time online feels focused and relevant to parenting challenges and personal priorities.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction for skill demonstrations, phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited, live chat and text messaging work well for shorter check-ins or ongoing support between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy routines and to keep momentum between meetings.
Questions people ask about Howard
What issues does Howard focus on?
He focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, grief, anger, self-esteem, and parenting concerns, plus related issues like mood disorders and compulsions.
How would you describe his therapy style?
Sessions are practical and goal-focused, mixing cognitive behavioral tools with mindfulness and motivational interviewing to create steps people can use day to day.
What is his professional background?
Howard has 24 years of clinical experience and has worked with matters such as addiction, veteran issues, aging, and adoption-related concerns.
Where is he licensed and located?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
He meets by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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