I specialize in working with adults who have experienced trauma of various kinds (illness, accidents, assault, loss) in childhood or adulthood. I have worked for many years with women and men who have experienced childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse, or adult sexual assault. Recurring thoughts and images about the trauma, or less conscious feelings such as fear and worthlessness, or difficulties letting anyone get close, can persist, even if it happened long ago. My focus in therapy is to help you work through these experiences so they no longer prevent you from living more fully in your present life.

Many of us feel anxious and overwhelmed in our daily lives. Most of the time, we have the tools and support to effectively deal with our anxiety. However, there can be times when we have difficulty managing the stress on our own. Work, family, finances, health issues and other stress can trigger unresolved trauma from our past which often leads to heightened anxiety. Research shows that chronic stress negatively impacts our health and relationships. Whether your anxiety is caused by past traumatic experiences, or a recent life events, we can work together to improve your ability to cope and live a more peaceful life.

I'm a licensed clinical social worker(psychotherapist), professor, life coach, consultant, trainer, author &motivational speaker with over 20 year's experience. My Team and I at Great Joy Counseling &Consulting Services are committed to providing specialized services in a variety of treatment modalites. When asked what sets me apart from others in the field, clients cite my keen insight, non-judgmental approach & depth of experience as the key factors that make the difference. I provide "just- in- time" services that assist individuals and organizations with refocusing their energy and getting back on track with their goals.

Call me at (908) 432-2547. I work with adults and youth on relationships, stress, anxiety, moods, and wellness. I focus on strengths and development. I know it is not easy to reach out, look inward, and commit to changes. I enjoy working with people who want to grow, creative people, successful people, underdogs, athletes, parents, educators, students, and people with potential to develop. I like working with people at points in their lives where they want to understand more about themselves, achieve more, and commit to wellness.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience treating adults and adolescents with a variety of problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, marital difficulties and other interpersonal challenges. I strive to help people find satisfaction in their careers, relationships and other aspects of their lifestyles. I believe that the therapeutic process can provide insight into an individual's problems and help them find coping strategies to maximize their sense of well-being.

Donna Galante provides a safe and confidential environment when working with individuals, couples and families in order to help cope with life's stressors, and create less anxiety and confusion. Her strategies are designed to help clients negotiate more effectively at home, school, and in the workplace.

Since becoming licensed in 1977, I have maintained a general, mostly adult practice. I now bring a breadth and depth of experience to the table. I have worked with people with highly complex problems for extended periods as well as with clients appropriate for brief therapy. I assume that everyone can make positive changes once they access inner resources they may not even realize are there.

"What good is psychotherapy if you're up to your a** in alligators?" A phrase that was used by my favorite professor in graduate school. My goal as a licensed clinical social worker is to meet individuals where they are in life presently, whether they need to process ongoing psychological challenges, or current anxiety and stress related to everyday concerns. With my patients, I want to help process through feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and help facilitate a better understanding of any underlying issues. Ultimately, helping individuals to be able to live a more healthy and productive life.

I am a clinical psychologist experienced in working with individuals and couples around a variety of emotional and life challenges, including anxiety, depression, parenting, postpartum adjustment, relationship issues, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. I believe therapy is a creative process in which a therapist must utilize a variety of techniques to create a unique treatment plan for each patient. I am trained in many different modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Theory, Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness.

I help couples communicate effectively so that both partners can listen without getting defensive, see each other's point of view and feel appreciated. You’re probably wondering whatever happened to the person you fell in love with. Where is that person who understood your every need? Do you even remember the last time your partner tried to understand your point of view? You would even settle for a little empathy. And why does every little thing have to turn into an argument? You’ve tried everything you can think of to make your relationship work.

Welcome! My belief in the healing potential of psychotherapy is grounded in the decades of research on attachment, trauma and the body, and relational neuroscience. Our early relationships and experiences, including trauma, form the lens through which we experience our day-to-day lives. By understanding distressing patterns in our here-and-now functioning as remnants of protective and adaptive functioning in early life, we can move towards change from a place of self-compassion and deep understanding.

Everyone faces challenging times in life, which often leads to people feeling sad, anxious and overwhelmed. Sometimes these issues feel insurmountable. My goal is to help you overcome these challenges in a safe and comfortable environment. I pride myself on being a warm, empathic and interactive therapist who can help you learn effective coping strategies.

Never wanted to home school your kids. Me neither. If you wanted to be a teacher, that’s what you would have become. Go teachers! Yet here you are wrangling with the internet, Zoom meetings, Google Classroom and a load of other things just to keep your kids in school and prevent them from falling behind. And maybe they're behind already. It should be a comfort that all kids may be behind, but it's totally not. If that’s not enough, you get to feel guilty about how much more screen time you're allowing just to get anything done. And let’s not even get started on juggling work outside the home if that’s on your plate. It is a lot.

Personal/professional growth is daunting and scary. You may not be sure how to start. We begin by exploring your strengths and hopes. We work towards solving a problem or finding deeper satisfaction. I offer a safe place to sort things out. You may have a new: marriage, career or business venture, I bring 30 years experience. I have extensive experience coaching business, finance, medical & creative professionals. I offer remote/video/phone therapy whenever necessary. I am good at helping you seek or enhance your success, but also at finding satisfaction that comes from a well developed self, relationship or professional life.

I have been in private practice in Westfield since 1995 with an emphasis on adolescents and adults in need of help coping with life's stressors. These stressors include, but are certainly not limited to depression and anxiety, developmental issues,school anxiety and school refusal, women's issues, parenting difficulties and social issues to name a few. Women in particular often cope with a great deal of stress related to work, family,loss and from time to time, serious illness. These strains can become overwhelming and coping may become difficult and sometimes impossible to do alone.

My philosophy and approach to therapy is different from traditional schools of thought. I break away from the "old school" idea that therapy is just for people who have " serious problems", or mental illness. I understand life is stressful, relationships are tough, and the daily grind can leave even the best of us feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

I love helping others assess and overcome their challenges while embracing their strengths; physical, emotional, social and spiritual. You deserve to grow and embrace a full and abundant life. My diversified vocational ( nursing, business, writing, counseling and pastoral) background allows me to work and walk with my clients as they heal from their past and move forward to maximize their strengths and accomplish their goals.) If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, a broken marriage, family dysfunction, career challenges or so many other things that hold us back from a life of joy, hope and peace...please call me.

Thank you for taking the time to consider me as your therapist. It is important for you to feel comfortable with the therapist of your choice when you begin your journey towards overall wellness. Are you struggling with the demands of work and family during this pandemic? Are you finding yourself with less patience and being short with others? Have you ever been told your anger can get out of control? Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed? If this is the case, I am sure I can assist you. Give me a call today to discuss how we might be able to work together. If I'm not a good fit, I'd be happy to provide you with other referrals.

I view good emotional and psychological health as boiling down to one word: perspective. With good perspective, we feel better; when we "lose perspective," we feel less well. With good perspective, we discover that our vulnerability and insecurities don't make us (or others) "weak." We accept that feeling insecure, confused, lost, scared and uncertain makes us human, not deficient. We can learn to embrace our vulnerability without shame, while addressing what impedes us from pursuing meaningful connections and goals.