Alishka’s Journey: Empowering Social Workers & Navigating Challenges with Resilience

Alishka Ostrander, LCSW, embodies the very essence of social work—a tireless dedication to compassion, empathy, and resilience. With nearly two decades of experience, her journey is a testament to overcoming adversity and igniting positive change.

Her passion for social work began during her undergraduate years at Northeastern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Fueled by a thirst for understanding human behavior, she pursued a Master’s in Social Work from NYU, solidifying her commitment to making a meaningful impact.

A decade spent at Bellevue Hospital’s Child Protection and Development Center honed Alishka’s skills in navigating the complexities of trauma and abuse. On the front lines, she became a steadfast pillar of support for vulnerable children and families, offering counseling, advocacy, and hope amidst darkness.

Transitioning to a role at an elementary school in the Lower East Side renewed Alishka’s purpose and passion. Working with children from diverse backgrounds, she provided individual and group counseling, empowering both young clients and their parents with essential life skills.

Despite the financial challenges often faced by social workers in New York City, Alishka persevered, balancing multiple jobs for a decade. Her unwavering commitment to her clients and profession, coupled with her resilience, she is a woman living and thriving with mild cerebral palsy, served as a beacon of inspiration to all who knew her.

Alishka offers candid advice to aspiring social workers. She emphasizes the importance of financial preparedness and encourages long-term career goals, including entrepreneurial pursuits. Additionally, she stresses the need for emotional support and self-care to sustain well-being in a demanding field.

Alishka’s journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of resilience and the unwavering commitment to making a difference. Her personal experiences, along with the support of loved ones, inspired her strength-based approach with clients, demonstrating that even one person’s encouragement can spark positive change.

As she continues her journey, Alishka remains deeply passionate about her work, finding inspiration within the community of social workers dedicated to positive change. An active member of the SWEET Institute, she empowers fellow social workers to embrace challenges and realize the transformative potential of their profession.

In addition to her contributions, Alishka is embarking on a new chapter as she establishes her own private practice, further expanding her capacity to empower and uplift those in need.

Alishka’s story stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, urging future social workers to navigate challenges with grace and resilience. With compassion, empathy, and determination, she exemplifies that anything is possible in the field of social work.

Alishka was born in upstate New York and went to college at Northeastern University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in Sociology in 2006. She then earned a Master’s in Social Work from New York University in 2008. Alishka began her career at Bellevue Hospital’s Child Protection & Development Center where she provided counseling and advocacy services to children, adolescents, and their families who were victims of crime and who experienced severe trauma and abuse. As her expertise grew, she began supervising colleagues and trained Master of Social Work students as they completed their field placements at the hospital. After a decade of service, Alishka transitioned to a job with the New York City Department of Education working at a school in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She provided individual and group counseling to children in kindergarten through fifth grade who received special education services. She also worked closely with their parents providing psychoeducation and supportive counseling to help them better support their children’s growth and development. Currently, Alishka is building a private practice which continues her work with children and families but also includes work with women experiencing fertility issues and mothers in their postpartum transition and beyond. Her therapeutic style is warm, supportive, non-judgmental, and collaborative. She takes a strength-based and solution-focused approach in her work with adolescents and adults and uses her numerous years of experience to implement play therapy in her work with children. She strives to create an environment that feels safe where deep, meaningful work can occur. Almost two decades of experience have consistently showed her how important and valuable therapeutic support and encouragement can be. She believes that everyone is capable of positive change and growth, and she takes great pride in helping her clients reach their goals.