Therapists in Princeton, NJ

You are more than the painful experiences you have endured. You may feel triggered in everyday situations or feel alone and isolated. You may struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, or guilt. However, you have a sense of your life purpose — and long to live your life more authentically. You are ready for relief. You're ready to love who you truly are and face your future with a sense of hope. In our work together, you will gain a deeper respect for what makes you unique. Through connecting with your core, authentic self, you can experience greater ease, freedom, and self-acceptance.

When you are seeking therapy, finding the right therapist is the first and most important step. With the right therapist, you feel understood and safe to explore difficult issues. I am a warm and empathic listener who can help you gain insight into your life and give you tools to regain control. I received my doctorate from New York University and training in Psychoanalysis at the National Institute for Psychotherapies in NYC. Currently I am an adjunct faculty member & supervisor at NYU.

What would life be like if that didn’t happen? The years of tears, self-doubt and anger have ruled your life. Being in survival mode is exhausting. You know you can't go back and change the past, but you desperately want to. Sometimes it feels like you you are suffocating. There is no denying it anymore. You are suffering. You see people smile and want to know what it is like to be happy. Is it even possible to have a “normal” life (whatever that is)? No one really gets you. It feels like you’re all alone. It truly sucks.

LANI SOMMER-PADILLA, LCSW, is a New Jersey state licensed psychotherapist focusing on individual, couples and family psychotherapy. Among her areas of expertise are marital and family relationship issues, parenting adolescents, school refusal, and the treatment of depression and anxiety.

I believe in a collaborative approach with my clients to identify and address areas in their lives in which they are struggling. It is important to me to create an emotionally safe environment in which you can talk about your inner experiences in a reflective way. My goal is to help you find relief and clarity, recognizing your inherent strengths and capacity for meaningful change. Depending on your needs, I provide both short and long-term treatments. My approach and style is rooted primarily in psychodynamic and experiential theories, including AEDP. I draw on treatment approaches from various other theoretical backgrounds.

For me, being a therapist means being a collaborative partner with clients. My primary goal is to establish genuine relationships with others in order to undo aloneness and create safety. I aim to join people as they explore, navigate, and make meaning of the challenges and joys that they experience. Throughout this journey, I support them in discovering their most authentic selves by facilitating connection to their core emotions. I enjoy working with clients across the lifespan, and connect well with those who are feeling stuck in symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship/familial conflict, and identity formation.

We are dedicated team of clinicians serving children, adolescents, adults, couples and families from diverse and multicultural backgrounds. We utilize various evidenced-based approaches to address challenges while meeting patients where they are to collaborate and assist them along the change process. We assist in uplifting families, couples and individuals who struggle with Anger Management, Low Motivation, Co-Occurring Disorders, Mood Disorders ( PTSD, Depression, Conduct Disorder, Anxiety), Issues with Intimate Partner Violence, Athlete Stressors, Couples Therapy and Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.

Therapy is a wonderful first step on your journey of discovery about yourself and your relationships. Therapy can be life changing. I am a hands-on active therapist who is not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I will seek to give you real, concrete takeaways in order to help jumpstart meaningful change. Whether it is focusing on painful feelings, trauma, relationships, difficult life transitions, creative blocks, stress, or healing from challenging life experiences, my goal is to help you discover the obstacles that block positive growth while building on your strengths.

I am a warm and experienced clinical psychologist who specializes in adult and couples therapy. I help you feel more understood and supported in your relationships. I have extensive training in working with emotions, as well as understanding behavior and how to make positive changes in your life. There are always good reasons why you do what you do. We collaborate to understand what is getting in your way so you can achieve your goals. I can help you have better relationships.

My aim is to help you feel less alone and more equipped to manage the uncomfortable experiences that stem from the wide-ranging impact of depression and anxiety. You may find that you are constantly doubting yourself, feeling you don't belong, avoiding people/events, feeling disconnected in relationships, or using maladaptive coping mechanisms. My approach to therapy focuses on building a connected and safe therapeutic relationship where we adjust unhelpful beliefs, process feelings, increase insight, and set goals to help you move towards increased resiliency and self-confidence.

If you are looking at this statement then you are already taking the positive steps you need to achieve the life you want. Everyone struggles at times with overwhelming emotions and difficult choices and I believe that you do not have to struggle alone. Whether it is relationships, career stress, family dynamics, issues of gender/ sexual identity issues, or life stage changes I am here to help you find your own path.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with individuals and couples. I use an eclectic mix of therapeutic modalities like EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Existential Psychotherapy to help get at the root of psychological issues. I specialize in sex therapy, trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, and many other issues. I work extensively with couples. I am in the dissertation phase for a PhD in Clinical Sexology and see individuals and couples experiencing sexual issues.

You never need to traverse this path alone. I want to acknowledge your courage in embarking on this transformative journey. I often liken my role in this therapeutic voyage to that of a co-pilot or co-author of your life story. My core mission is to empower individuals to unlock their fullest potential by navigating unresolved issues, healing from trauma, and breaking free from maladaptive patterns that have held them back from happiness.

Making the call for counseling is often the first step you can take in beginning the healing process. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in New Jersey. I can counsel individuals, couples and families and specialize in working with clients dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship problems or life transitions including but not limited to divorce, loss of a job or death of a loved one. I strive to create a safe and comfortable environment to foster your own individual strength.