Licensed Clinical Social Worker — New Canaan, CT
Jon Abelack, LCSW
I bring something most therapists simply don't have: over 20 years of real-world experience in the business world. When you walk into my office, I already understand the pressures you're carrying. Because I've carried them too.
Embrace the Now. Ignite Your Future.
Credential
LCSW — Licensed NY & CT
Location
New Canaan, CT
Session Format
In-Person & Online
Availability
Weekly Appointments
Jon Abelack, LCSW | Accepting New Clients
A Therapist Who Has Lived
the Professional World
PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Before I became a psychotherapist, I spent over 20 years working at the director level in sales and marketing, primarily within the financial services industry. I've navigated the pressures of both startup environments and large, well-established organizations, and I've experienced firsthand what it means to perform under pressure, manage high-stakes decisions, and live inside the kind of stress that doesn't simply disappear when you leave the office. That history isn't incidental to my work as a therapist. It's the foundation of it.
When a client tells me about the relentless pace of a demanding career, the isolation that can come with professional success, or the anxiety that shows up when they're not sure what they actually want anymore, I don't have to imagine any of that. I understand it. And that understanding changes the quality of the conversation we're able to have.
My practice is based in New Canaan, CT, where I work with driven, self-aware individuals and couples who are committed to making real, lasting change in their lives. The people I tend to work best with are not reluctant about therapy. They are people who take their growth seriously. They show up with intention, they ask honest questions, and they're prepared to do the work between sessions as well as in them.
Whether you're navigating a difficult impasse in your relationship, wrestling with the meaning of your career, working through anxiety or depression that has started to limit your life, or simply feeling stuck in patterns you can't break, I offer a space where that work can happen with honesty, depth, and genuine care. I work with both individuals and couples, and I see clients in person at my New Canaan office and online across Connecticut and New York. My approach is always shaped around the specific person or couple in front of me. Never a template, never a formula.
Evidence-Based Methods,
Tailored to You
MY CLINICAL APPROACH
Before I became a psychotherapist, I spent over 20 years working at the director level in sales and marketing, primarily within the financial services industry. I've navigated the pressures of both startup environments and large, well-established organizations, and I've experienced firsthand what it means to perform under pressure, manage high-stakes decisions, and live inside the kind of stress that doesn't simply disappear when you leave the office. That history isn't incidental to my work as a therapist. It's the foundation of it.
When a client tells me about the relentless pace of a demanding career, the isolation that can come with professional success, or the anxiety that shows up when they're not sure what they actually want anymore, I don't have to imagine any of that. I understand it. And that understanding changes the quality of the conversation we're able to have.
My practice is based in New Canaan, CT, where I work with driven, self-aware individuals and couples who are committed to making real, lasting change in their lives. The people I tend to work best with are not reluctant about therapy. They are people who take their growth seriously. They show up with intention, they ask honest questions, and they're prepared to do the work between sessions as well as in them.
Whether you're navigating a difficult impasse in your relationship, wrestling with the meaning of your career, working through anxiety or depression that has started to limit your life, or simply feeling stuck in patterns you can't break, I offer a space where that work can happen with honesty, depth, and genuine care. I work with both individuals and couples, and I see clients in person at my New Canaan office and online across Connecticut and New York. My approach is always shaped around the specific person or couple in front of me. Never a template, never a formula.
Gestalt Therapy
My primary modality and deepest area of clinical training. Gestalt focuses on present-moment awareness, helping you gain honest clarity about what you're feeling right now and why. Rather than exclusively revisiting the past, we work with what is alive in you today. This approach encourages genuine self-discovery, personal responsibility, and healthier ways of relating to the people in your life.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
One of the most thoroughly researched approaches available for couples. EFT works by identifying and reshaping the emotional cycles that keep partners locked in conflict or disconnection; the patterns of pursuit and withdrawal that can feel impossible to escape. It helps couples build deeper trust, more secure attachment, and genuinely lasting intimacy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A structured, goal-oriented method that targets the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is particularly effective for anxiety, depression, and work-related stress. It gives you concrete tools for recognizing unhelpful thought patterns and building healthier responses; skills that carry well beyond our sessions and into your everyday life.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Rather than focusing exclusively on what isn't working, Solution-Focused Therapy draws on your existing strengths to create practical momentum toward your goals. It's a forward-looking, pragmatic approach that resonates particularly well with high achievers; people who are ready to move from insight to action and want to see real progress.
Relational Life Therapy (RLT)
Developed by Terry Real, RLT addresses the relational dynamics that quietly erode intimacy over time; power imbalances, defensive habits, and the patterns that keep partners from genuinely connecting. It is direct, compassionate, and built for couples who want real transformation. My goal is to help you build a partnership rooted in mutual respect and authentic love.
Certifications & Training
GESTALT THERAPY
4-Year Clinical Fellowship at Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy (NYC)
EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY
EFT, Level 1
CertificationThe Gottman Method, Level 1
RELATIONAL LIFE THERAPY
RLT, Level 1 Certification
RLT Institute
PEAK PERFORMANCE
Certified Peak Performance Coach
Credentialed by The Flow Research Collective
What You Can Expect
When We Work Together
THE PROCESS
Starting therapy is a meaningful step, and I want you to understand exactly what working with me looks like before you ever pick up the phone. My process is intentional, collaborative, and built entirely around you; not a predetermined intake script, not a generic protocol.
01 | A Free 15-Minute Consultation
Before committing to anything, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation by phone or video. This is a chance for you to briefly share what's going on, ask any questions about my approach, and get a sense of whether we'd work well together. I take that mutual fit seriously. The right therapeutic relationship makes everything else possible.
02 | A Deep Dive Into Your Background
Our early sessions involve a thorough, honest exploration of your history: where you've been, what you've carried, and what has brought you here. I ask questions that most people haven't been asked before, and I listen carefully. This is not a surface-level intake process. It is the beginning of a genuine working relationship. The more fully I understand your story, the more precisely I can design what we do together.
03 | An Approach Built Around You, Not a Template
Based on what I learn, I develop a clear, personalized approach that addresses your specific goals and challenges. Whether we're focused on your relationship dynamics, navigating a career transition, building emotional resilience, or managing anxiety, the roadmap is yours and it's shaped around where you want to go. No two clients work on the same things in the same way, and I don't treat them as if they do.
04 | Weekly Sessions with Purposeful Structure
Once we establish care, sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis. Consistency is central to meaningful progress. Regular appointments create the rhythm and accountability that real change requires. Each session builds deliberately on the last, and there is always a clear thread running through our work together.
05 | Between-Session Work
Growth doesn't pause the moment you leave my office. Depending on what we're working on, I may assign thoughtful exercises or reflection prompts between sessions. These are not busywork. They are purposefully designed to extend and reinforce what we're building together, so that real change becomes something you experience in your daily life, not just in our weekly appointments.
Professional Memberships
NASW
National Association of Social Workers
Member, Connecticut & New York Chapters
Areas of Focus
Serving New Canaan, CT & Beyond
My office is located at 180 Bridle Path Lane in New Canaan, CT, easily accessible from Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, Ridgefield, Pound Ridge, and Bedford. I also offer secure online sessions for clients throughout Connecticut and New York, so wherever you are, the right support is within reach.
📍 In-Person in New Canaan, CT
💻 Online Across CT & NY
Ready to Take
the First Step?
Reach out today to learn about scheduling, availability, and how we might work together. The initial consultation is always free.