Dual Diagnosis Therapists in 07009

I am an experienced licensed drug and alcohol counselor and a licensed professional counselor. I have worked in inpatient and outpatient settings. I work with individuals with mental health issues or a substance use disorder. My goal is to help individuals to maximize their potential by helping them gain skills and support in their ongoing recovery process.

You have already made the first step in a what can be a very overwhelming process. Deciding to enter therapy and finding the right therapist is difficult. I want to ensure you that I will listen to your issues and help you develop appropriate coping strategies. I will provide a safe environment that promotes a comfortable atmosphere. My goal is to utilize my mental health and addiction experience to ease your pain and increase your well being.

I see the counseling experience as being similar to solving a jigsaw puzzle. When an individual enters my office with a box of pieces, maybe having a partial picture, maybe some of the pieces seem lost; I see it as my responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment that allows the individual to explore the most difficult aspects of themselves so together the missing pieces can be found and the individual can create the whole picture they want to see.

My work is dedicated to helping you embrace who you are in order to live a fulfilling and balanced life. I focus on developing your ability to understand the powerful connection between your mind and body. This insight facilitates a path toward healing from current and past challenges. During the course of our work, I will help you develop your "Emotional Intelligence" (understanding of what motivates feelings and actions) and acquire the tools needed to overcome barriers blocking growth and change. Once you gain these coping skills, you will find yourself open to loving relationships, living in the present and creating a more fulfilling life.

Recovery is not a solitary journey; it is about connection with self and others. As we enter into the process of therapy you will have the opportunity to experience inner connection and awareness leading to Self expansion and outer growth. I believe strongly that our primary task is to continue your journey of self exploration; to seek the wealth of potential, strength, compassion, understanding, and openness that lies within. It is your ability to connect with these that will serve as your greatest asset in obtaining whatever goals you have coming into therapy.

About Me: I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), and an Accredited Clinical Supervisor in NJ with over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, families, and couples. My work over the years, particularly with people struggling with addiction, has demonstrated how physical and emotional trauma can affect our well-being and how a holistic approach can offer long-lasting healing and transformation.

If addiction has taken over your life, now is the time to do something about it. Life is too short to be unhappy. I offer a warm, confidential environment to help you find the clarity you need to break the cycle of addiction so you and those around you may lead happier lives. I also offer help for co-occurring issues: mood regulation, anxiety, anger management, trauma, and high functioning autism. I am trained in EMDR, Mindfulness Practices and Stress Reduction. In addition, I frequently work in consultation with other therapists' clients, providing EMDR and substance abuse assessments and treatment.

If you’ve been feeling discouraged, disconnected, or constantly comparing yourself to others, maybe it’s time to talk to someone. Therapy offers a nonjudgmental space where the priority is building an affirming therapeutic relationship that lets us move at your pace toward your goals. I work with adults of all ages and walks of life who are facing life transitions, struggling with self-esteem, feeling stuck and “going nowhere,” or coping with past trauma. You’ll be able to discover the patterns that show up in your everyday life, identify the tools and wisdom you already possess, and heal the parts of you that need attention.

To be self-aware and recognize that you need help is a strength that should be acknowledged. Taking the next step and finding a therapist can be both nerve-wracking and uncomfortable. While deciding to seek therapy is hard enough, finding an approachable and empathetic therapist should not be. Although it is my job to counsel and treat my clients, it is my passion to empower and encourage my clients to grow and achieve their goals. By establishing a strong rapport and a safe environment, the therapeutic relationship becomes supportive, collaborative, and non-judgmental without effort.

Like focusing a camera lens to help create a desired picture, we need at times to refocus the image of our lives that may have become blurry often through the uninvited challenges or changes that come our way -or perhpas past events are not completely resolved as we thought. With blocked or stiffled awareness, our copng skills may be crying out for help as our deptression, our anxiety, our mood swings, our drinking, or our drug use may be taking over and managing us instead of we managing them. Do you hear yourself saying: I know that I need help; I want to do better; I want to feel better; I know that I can! Can you help me?