Psychotherapy, with purpose.Individual Therapy for Adults in Buffalo, Western New York, and Across New York State
In-Person Therapy near Buffalo • Online Therapy in New York State
Psychotherapy Informed by Cognitive and Behavioral Science
The challenges we face often develop through complex interactions among our experiences, circumstances, and learned patterns. Understanding these influences provides a starting point for identifying what may help.
My approach to psychotherapy is evidence-informed and draws on cognitive and behavioral science to examine the relationships among thoughts, emotions, behavior, and the environments in which we live. Together, we work to clarify the difficulties you are experiencing, identify the processes that may be sustaining them, and develop strategies suited to your goals.
Our work involves active collaboration. We consider how familiar ways of thinking and responding have developed, what function they may serve, and where they have become limiting. Depending on your needs, therapy may involve evaluating assumptions, changing patterns of behavior, developing new skills, approaching avoided situations, or experimenting with different ways of responding to difficult experiences.
Over time, therapy can help you recognize patterns more readily, relate differently to thoughts and emotions, and develop greater flexibility in how you approach problems, relationships, and decisions.
Evidence-Based Support for Mental Health, Relationships, and Life Transitions
People seek therapy for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, questions of identity and direction, significant life transitions, and patterns of thinking or behavior that have become hard to change. Some concerns are immediate and clearly defined. Others develop gradually, becoming apparent through recurring frustrations, persistent dissatisfaction, avoidance, or problems that continue despite efforts to resolve them.
These experiences can affect several areas of life at once. Anxiety may lead us to avoid situations that matter to us. Habitual responses to conflict can place strain on relationships. Beliefs about ourselves and what we are capable of may influence the choices we make and the opportunities we pursue. Exploring how these experiences develop and interact can reveal possibilities for responding differently.
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Anxiety can take many forms, from persistent worry and apprehension to physical tension, avoidance, and a heightened sense of threat. It may become difficult to tolerate uncertainty, make decisions, or disengage from concerns about what could happen next. Therapy can help identify the thoughts, behaviors, and circumstances that contribute to anxiety, while developing practical ways to approach feared situations, respond to worry, and become more comfortable with uncertainty.
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Depression can affect how we feel, think, behave, and engage with everyday life. It may involve persistent sadness, diminished interest, low energy, withdrawal, self-criticism, or difficulty initiating activities that previously felt manageable. Our work considers the circumstances and behavioral patterns associated with these experiences, including the ways reduced activity and isolation can reinforce low mood. Therapy may involve gradually rebuilding engagement, restructuring discouraging beliefs, and developing more effective responses to changes in mood and motivation.
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Sustained demands at work, at home, or in relationships can leave little opportunity for recovery. Over time, stress may affect concentration, sleep, emotional regulation, and the capacity to manage everyday responsibilities. Burnout can bring exhaustion, detachment, and a diminished sense of effectiveness, while prolonged stress may also contribute to irritability, heightened emotional reactions, or difficulty managing distress. Our work may involve clarifying the pressures you are facing, developing skills for regulating emotional responses, and finding practical ways to address competing demands, establish boundaries, and allow for recovery.
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Difficulties with attention, planning, organization, task initiation, and follow-through can interfere with work, relationships, and everyday responsibilities. Procrastination, avoidance, and other established patterns of behavior may further complicate efforts to make changes, even when we recognize their consequences. Therapy can help identify what interferes with effective functioning, map circumstances and behavioral patterns, and develop practical strategies for managing priorities, building useful habits, and following through on changes in everyday life.
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Difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested can affect nearly every aspect of daily functioning. Sleep problems may be influenced by stress, worry, irregular routines, learned associations, or health-related factors, and they can also intensify emotional distress. Therapy can help identify behavioral and psychological influences on sleep, address patterns that may be contributing to sleeplessness, and develop strategies for improving sleep and managing the effects of fatigue.
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Relationships can be a source of connection and satisfaction, as well as frustration, uncertainty, and distress. Recurring disagreements, difficulty communicating needs, concerns about trust, or patterns of withdrawal and accommodation can affect how we relate to others. In individual therapy, we can assess the expectations, interpretations, emotional responses, and behaviors that shape these interactions. This work may involve developing communication skills, establishing boundaries, approaching conflict differently, and reconsidering established interpersonal patterns.
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Changes in work, relationships, health, family responsibilities, or other circumstances can unsettle established routines and expectations. Even anticipated or welcome transitions may involve uncertainty, competing priorities, and difficult decisions. Therapy can help clarify the challenges associated with a particular transition, appraise assumptions that influence decision-making, and develop ways to adapt to changing circumstances. Questions about direction, priorities, and what comes next may also become important parts of this work.
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How we understand and evaluate ourselves can influence our relationships, decisions, ambitions, and responses to setbacks. Persistent self-criticism, perfectionistic standards, fear of judgment, or doubts about one's abilities may restrict behavior and reinforce negative beliefs. Therapy can help examine how these patterns develop and are maintained, test assumptions through experience, and develop a more flexible approach to self-evaluation. Questions of identity, personal values, and the expectations we place on ourselves may also be explored.
Andrew Wilton, LCSW
Psychotherapist & Clinical Social Worker
I’m Andrew Wilton, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist in New York State, with nearly two decades of experience across clinical practice, community work, research, and higher education.
I came to psychotherapy by a somewhat unconventional path.
While studying architecture and urban planning, I became interested in how our surroundings and circumstances influence behavior, relationships, opportunity, and the choices available to us. That interest led me to sociology and, eventually, to social work. Since then, my work has spanned public health, community outreach, mental health, university teaching and mentorship, and private practice.
These experiences continue to inform my approach to psychotherapy. I believe in the value of time-tested, evidence-based practices while remaining attentive to the histories, relationships, and circumstances that shape each person's experience. Across these different fields, I have remained interested in the same essential question: How can understanding the patterns and environments that shape our lives help us change the ways we live?
Working Together: Common Questions
More details about individual therapy and how to begin.
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I am pleased to announce the relocation of my practice to its new location at 501 John James Audubon Parkway in Amherst, NY, where I will open for in-person appointments beginning in November 2026. This location is central to Erie and Niagara Counties, near University at Buffalo’s north campus, and accessible via I-290, I-990, and NFTA-Metro bus.
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Yes, I offer secure online therapy for adults in New York State.
Telehealth provides the flexibility of meeting from a location that works for you while maintaining the consistency, privacy, and depth of an ongoing therapeutic relationship.
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The frequency of therapy depends on your goals, needs, circumstances, and the type of support you are seeking. Many clients begin with weekly or biweekly sessions to establish momentum, continuity, and build a strong therapeutic relationship.
As therapy progresses, the frequency of sessions may evolve based on your needs and preferences. We will regularly discuss what feels most appropriate for your circumstances.
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I operate as a private-pay practice, allowing for greater privacy, flexibility, autonomy, and continuity of care.
50-minute session: $135
90-minute session: $240
Payment is processed securely via autopay using any major credit or debit card. Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds may be used for eligible services, depending on your plan and account type.
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This is a private-pay practice and I do not participate directly with insurance plans. Depending on your plan, you may have out-of-network benefits that provide partial reimbursement for psychotherapy services.
Because plans vary considerably, I recommend contacting your insurance provider before beginning therapy to confirm your behavioral health benefits, reimbursement rates, deductible requirements, and any documentation they require.
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Getting started begins with scheduling a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. This brief conversation provides an opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy, ask questions, and determine whether working together may be a good fit.
If we decide that it may be a good match, we will schedule an initial session and begin developing an understanding of your goals, experiences, and the areas you would like to explore.
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The first session is an opportunity to begin understanding what brings you to therapy, explore your goals, and consider how we might work together. We will discuss your history, current circumstances, and what you hope to gain from therapy while allowing space for questions about the process.
Schedule a complimentary consultation and begin with clarity.
I would welcome the opportunity to connect. A complimentary 15-minute phone consultation offers a chance to discuss what brings you to therapy, ask questions, and consider whether working together may be a good fit.