Therapists in Ridgewood, NJ

Therapy is about telling the truth. Listening for it, discovering it, and acknowledging it with the help of someone who makes that possible through trust. It's also about growth beyond difficult times, with guidance and encouragement. Over the last 25 years, mental health studies reveal that the most significant factor in successful outcomes is the alliance between the therapist and client. Often the practitioner's credentials, methodology, and theoretical framework are secondary. I specialize in work with couples, individuals and adolescents. My credentials include the 6-year psychotherapy privilege, the highest licensing of my profession in New York State.

I bring 21 years of pastoral counseling experience to my 15 years of clinical practice with adults, children, couples and families. My clinical and pastoral background gives me the opportunity to provide a gentle calming presence and a compassionate understanding to my work with individuals and families who struggle with managing life challenges related to anxiety, depression and resolving conflict. I also provide life coaching to help individuals navigate life transitions due to separation, divorce, loss and grief.

The most important thing to me as a therapist is to create a safe, warm, and comfortable environment where you can feel free to share whatever is on your mind without judgement. My goal is to provide you with the support, guidance and the tools necessary in order to make lasting change and find the answers you seek.

I am a warm and empathetic therapist in clinical practice for over 25 years, I appreciate how difficult it is to talk to someone about very personal and challenging issues. I believe that a person can grow and empower oneself via talk therapy and building a therapeutic alliance. My specialties include depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, issues of cancer survivors, grief counseling, change of life issues, divorce, marital and couples counseling. My practice draws upon cognitive behavioral, motivational theory, DBT(Dialectic Behavioral Theory), mindfulness and interpersonal dynamics. I work with individuals (age 18 and older), couples and families.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in full-time private practice. I have had post-doctoral training in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, and have received certification in medical hypnosis. I work with a diverse patient caseload, dealing with the spectrum of anxiety disorders (panic, generalized anxiety, OCD), as well as depressive disorders, and stress-related conditions, including psychsomatic problems such as back pain. I also work extensively with patients with relationship issues, in both individual and couple therapy settings. I am also available for psychological testing, including intelligence and personality testing. In addition, I provide training in mindfulness and marital communication skills.

I help people access their potential. By empowering and supporting you, you will find freedom from the pain of old wounds, recovery from trauma and gain new ways of coping and relating. Central to this work will be the relationship between therapist and client, which evolves within a safe and compassionate space, within which you will find the courage to explore your concerns without feeling pushed or pathologized.

Life can get better. Change can happen. I treat individuals and couples struggling with depression and anxiety who are seeking to free themselves from continued suffering. Reaching out for help is an action of strength. My approach is empathic and nonjudgemental. The right professional guidance can help you feel better and potentially change your life. Many of my patients have found greater happiness and fulfillment. I specialize in treatment for anxiety and depression as well as relationship issues. Call today to set up an initial consultation.

I work with individuals and couples who are struggling with feelings of: hopelessness, anger, fear, frustration, resentment, sadness, and confusion. My goal is to guide and support you in identifying and making the life changes necessary to improve your relationships, your work, and your overall happiness. I foster a collaborative and non-judgmental alliance between us-- this is vital for your therapeutic experience to be a success. You will discover a safe environment where, together, we can explore the external and internal roadblocks that are preventing you from being as happy as you deserve to be.

In understanding that individuals in pain or having a particular challenge in life may make only one attempt at reaching out for help, I strive to welcome and set at ease every one who contacts me. Most therapy patients are ordinary people that have hit a bump in the road of life and cannot get past it on their own. My commitment, through goal directed therapy, is to help those people return to their optimal level of coping with the sometimes mild, sometimes severe challenges that life brings their way and guide them back to a sense of well being.

I have over 30 years of experience as a practicing clinician who uses a variety of treatment approaches, in order to provide you with the best possible outcome. My goal is to help you to navigate in any of the life experiences or situations that have created an impasse. I am interested in supporting you to achieve your best possible way of living. I work in a psychodynamic manner as well as a more direct solution focused paradigm. This can include using DBT, CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness. I see individuals and/or couples. I am strength based, in working with you to navigate towards healing.

As a leader in sexual health and wellness, Dr. Donahue understands the complexities many people face in their lives and how it can impact their sexuality. All people are sexual beings, and their quality of life can suffer when experiencing challenges in this area. All ages, genders, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds can benefit from sex therapy. Dr. Donahue's broad spectrum of knowledge is advantageous when working with the whole patient, leaning into the body-mind connection.

My expertise lies in counseling my patients to master their anxieties, depression, relationship, and vocational struggles. In addition to being a licensed social worker, and psychotherapist on staff at my post-graduate institute for psychoanalytic psychotherapy, I have extensive experience in both the business and fashion worlds and can readily appreciate the difficulties engendered by high-pressure careers. Having worked in competitive environments, I am exquisitely attuned to the many self-esteem vulnerabilities that can inhibit people from achieving their goals.

“We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world — the company of those who have known suffering.” — Helen Keller. Although grief is most often associated with emotions in response to a death, my clinical training and experience has made it evident to me that we can experience grief due to loss of a person, pet, ideals, culture, disappointment in life’s trajectory, a non death related end of a relationship, chronic illness, and so many more common but painful experiences in life. Grief, loss, emotional pain in relationships is ubiquitous with living and it by no means has to be linear.

Congratulations on taking the first step to a better life for yourself! It takes great courage to open yourself up and to contemplate change, even more so during the pandemic. I will be both your guide and partner as you explore your ideas and your options and recognize the choices that are available to you. I see my role in this partnership as a creative, compassionate, and insightful guide. I want you to feel safe and accepted so that we go can through the process of exploration that leads to resolutions of your challenges and a change in your beliefs about yourself and your world so you feel more secure and connected

My approach Integrates the best of Modern Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Traditional Holistic approaches. I specialize in treating anxiety, fears, phobias, OCD and panic disorders. Relief may be immediate. I also work with depression, negative thoughts and personal issues. Free initial phone consultation..

My approach is collaborative, viewing therapy as a shared journey towards healing and growth. Together, we will work to develop insight, cultivate self compassion, process trauma and loss, and expand your coping skills to navigate the challenges you face with greater confidence and resilience. I am passionate about my work, and strive to create an open and accepting space for you to explore your thoughts, emotions and experiences.

In Manhattan, NY and Parsippany, Denville, Teaneck, Oradell, Ridgewood, Ramsey, Paramus, NJ - Full-service counseling - Adult counseling - Couples counseling - Relationship counseling - Premarital counseling - Marriage counseling - Family counseling - Child counseling - Teen counseling - ADHD - Addiction counseling - Grief & bereavement counseling - Pet loss therapy - Stress and anxiety - Depression - Low self-esteem - Perfectionism - Worry - Indecision - Procrastination - Phobias - Assertiveness issues - Panic - Life Coaching / Daytime, evenings, and weekends available / Spanish-speaking counselors / Most insurances welcomed.

Therapy is a powerful way to increase self awareness and develop problem solving skills. I work collaboratively with clients to address issues that interfere with their sense of wellbeing. I am warm,authentic,insightful,and funny. Feeling validated, clients are able to work through challenging issues. We will build upon your strengths to create more effective coping strategies, and to help clients attain happiness and peace. I am thrilled to announce that I have joined the Lukin Center, a group of highly qualified clinicians with locations in Englewood, Hoboken, Ridgewood and Jersey City, NJ.

I have been in private practice for more than 20 years. I work in Northern New Jersey and provide short-term psychotherapy using psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sensorimotor psychotherapy. I feel using an integrated model produces the best results. Every client is different so it's necessary to use multiple modalities --a one size fits all model does not work in therapy. I like working in partnership with clients. I am approachable, warm, nurturing and active in my sessions. I believe it's essential to be available to clients and return phone calls and emails on a timely basis