PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

JS Portrait of Jay Sontag
Online therapist

Jay Sontag

LGBTQ-informed family and relationship support

Credentials
LMHC
Experience
4 years
Licensed in
New York
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Jay

Jay Sontag is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York who uses humanistic and existential approaches in therapy. Jay focuses on family and parenting concerns as well as relationship and LGBT-related issues. Sessions aim to help people find meaning, get grounded, and manage everyday stresses in ways that fit their lives.

Jay brings four years of clinical experience to each meeting. The sessions are conversational and down-to-earth.

Background and approach

People can expect a space to talk through grief, family disagreements, and anxiety without jargon or rushed advice. As a non-binary therapist and lifelong New Yorker, Jay values community and restorative practices. That perspective shapes how sessions consider identity, fairness, and connection.

It also informs support around gender dysphoria, sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and women's issues when those topics arise. Jay draws from client-centered work that focuses on the person’s experience. Narrative and existential ideas are used to look at life stories and what gives meaning.

Motivational interviewing techniques help with readiness and commitment when people want change. Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Sessions are organized through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

To begin, users complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Client-centered therapy puts the person’s experience first. The therapist listens closely, follows the client’s lead, and helps them make sense of their feelings and choices. This approach is useful when someone needs acceptance, clearer self-understanding, or help with parenting and relationship challenges.

Existential therapy looks at meaning, values, and how people handle life’s big questions. It helps when someone feels stuck, unsure about purpose, or overwhelmed by transitions. Narrative therapy focuses on the stories people tell about their lives and offers ways to reframe those stories to reduce shame and open up new possibilities.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Jay will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then use one or more methods to match the work to the person’s needs. The plan can change as progress and priorities evolve.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase convenience and access. These options allow people to connect from home, coordinate around busy schedules, and choose the format that fits their comfort level. Licensed professionals can still use these methods to focus on parenting, family dynamics, grief, and relationship work without requiring in-person visits.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Existential Therapy

Takes the larger questions seriously: meaning, choice, mortality, responsibility. Suited to periods when the difficulty is less a symptom than a sense that something has to change.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Jay focus on?
Areas of focus include LGBT matters, relationship and family concerns, grief, and parenting. Additional topics may include adoption and foster care, sexuality, and communication problems.
What is Jay's style in sessions?
Jay practices in a humanistic, client-centered manner with existential and narrative influences. Conversations are direct and practical, aimed at helping people find meaning and handle daily challenges.
How much clinical experience does Jay have?
Jay has four years of professional experience as a licensed mental health counselor. That experience includes work with grief, family conflict, and LGBT-related topics.
What credentials and location apply?
Jay holds the credential LMHC with license number NY LMHC 017325 and practices in New York.
Which languages and regions are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options for different needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Jay?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

  • LGBT
  • Relationship issues
  • Family conflicts
Experience
4 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Jay

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point