Cynthia Besteman (She/Her)

LSWAIC
Accepting Clients

If you're facing a life change like divorce, cancer, or career, I'm here to help you navigate change with clarity, strength, and support.

Associate Clinical Social Worker in Washington

Services
  • Individual
  • Couples
  • Group

About My Clients

If you are anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or simply not feeling like yourself… you're not alone. If you’re navigating cancer, divorce, menopause, loss, or the stress of running a business… I see you. If you’re in a midlife shift that no one prepared you for, and you’re wondering “Is this it?”... I get it. I work with adults facing the messy, often painful transitions that life throws at us—when everything seems to change at once and the ground beneath you feels shaky.

My Background and Approach

As a licensed Associate Social Worker, I work collaboratively with each client. That means we set goals together, explore what’s working (and what’s not), and move at a pace that feels right for you. You’re the expert on your life—I’m here to support, challenge, and guide you through meaningful change. I draw from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and other strengths-based, person-centered methods

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I’ve lived through cancer, divorce, big moves, and the pressure of building and running a business. Before becoming a therapist, I spent 35 years in New York City—first as a Broadway actress, then as a top real estate broker, and later as the founder of a multi-award-winning skincare company. I understand what it means to reinvent yourself—and the toll it can take. Anxiety played a major role in my decision to leave my acting career. At the time, I didn’t have the language for what I was experiencing—I just knew something felt off. It took years to understand that what I had been dealing with was anxiety, and even longer to learn how to manage it in a way that worked for me. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew I couldn’t keep pushing it aside. That’s when I finally began therapy. It helped me through cancer treatment, but just as importantly, it gave me the tools to finally face the anxiety that had been quietly shaping my life. I want to help others as I was helped.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Narrative Therapy Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Other Techniques
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Coaching
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples Counseling
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy: Body-Based Healing for Emotional Trauma
  • Integrative Therapy
  • Relationship Counseling

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Aging Concerns Anxiety Cancer
Other Issues
  • Aging Concerns
  • Anxiety
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Cancer
  • Career Counseling
  • Chronic Pain or Illness
  • Depression
  • Divorce
  • Grief or Loss
  • Insomnia
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Women's Issues
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Out of Network
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 3 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $150 - 150/session

Reach out to Cynthia