Gilda Axelrod, LCSW-R

Gilda Axelrod is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Registered (LCSW-R) based in New York with 26 years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people manage relationship struggles, grief, low self-esteem, and major life changes. She also supports those facing compassion fatigue and people working to stop smoking or vaping.

Her sessions start with listening to what matters most to each person. She tailors conversation and planning to fit individual needs rather than using one fixed method. The work often includes practical steps to build confidence, manage emotions, and improve communication with others.

Gilda has long experience assisting people with caregiving stress, aging and geriatric concerns, and chronic pain or illness. She also addresses family of origin issues, divorce and separation, and challenges tied to addiction and recovery. Her approach includes helping people process guilt, shame, and isolation so they can move toward clearer goals.

She treats the whole situation, not just a single symptom. That can mean learning better ways to talk with others, creating small routines to ease daily strain, or developing strategies to cope with loss. Gilda emphasizes practical, doable changes that fit into a person’s life.

Many clients come wanting straightforward support and guidance. Gilda sees those first steps as part of a longer process of growth, and she aims to offer steady, respectful help along the way.

Approaches and online therapy that fit your life

Gilda uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change and emotional processing. One common approach helps people build coping skills for stress, grief, and chronic illness by teaching concrete strategies for managing difficult feelings and daily routines. Another approach centers on communication and relationship skills, helping people learn clearer ways to express needs, set boundaries, and resolve conflicts.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then adapt methods so they match what the person wants to accomplish. This is a collaborative process where options are tried and adjusted over time.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also can be a good choice when bandwidth is limited or when a phone call is a better fit than being on camera. Ask about available formats during the scheduling step so sessions are arranged to suit practical needs and daily life.