Therapists in Highland Park, NJ

Thinking of therapy? Ask us for the first session free. IPG paved the way for other Queer-affirmative therapists. Founded in 1983 specifically to serve the LGBTQ+ community, back when most practitioners viewed it as a mental illness, we are still trailblazers, working with trans/GNC folks, bi/pansexuals, the kink/BDSM community, consensual nonmonogamists, and others who make up the "Q+" in LGBTQ+. You may not want therapy because you are gay, but you likely want a therapist who is not only affirming but knowledgeable. We understand the special issues of LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families, and we provide sex therapy as well.

Thinking of therapy? Ask us for the first session free, for a limited time. IPG has roughly 30 therapists over three NJ offices: Highland Park, Freehold, and Jersey City. Since 1983 we've combined compassionate care with high-level expertise. We provide individual, family, child, and relationship counseling for concerns ranging from depression to life transitions to marital strife. We have a special focus on the LGBTQ community, including transgender/GNC youth, but we see clients from all walks of life. We also have many other niche specialties such as sex therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and eating disorders.

I enjoy working with individuals, groups and families who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, grief/loss issues, etc. I am interested in working with children (10+), adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and People of Color who are ready and willing to work on repairing their relationships with self and others (peers, partners, family and friends).

My practice is based on the understanding that many clients have suffered overwhelming, traumatic, or adverse childhood experiences regardless of whether they are coming to therapy specifically due to these experiences. With compassion and care, I approach every session from a trauma informed lens. Instead of asking, "What is wrong with you?" I explore, "What have you experienced in your life and how might these symptoms be a response to it?" I am also particularly sensitive to the needs of often undiagnosed adults with ADHD and how trauma and the ADHD brain are interconnected.

Whether looking for individual or couples therapy, finding the right therapist can be challenging. Who would be a good match? Who has the balance of supporting you and challenging you when needed? Who do you trust? Perhaps I can be that right match. I have experience in the LGBT, military, and Veterans communities. I have experience working with adults and children from cultures across the world. I have worked with various issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, work/school/sports performance. I have a calm, friendly, interactive, supportive style while focusing on the healing power of a therapeutic relationship.

I have a diverse practice in which I work with adults, children, adolescents and couples who are struggling with a variety of different issues. These include depression, anxiety/panic attacks, relationship problems, school and behavioral issues, parenting challenges, ADHD, low self-esteem, stress, sexual orientation and gender identity concerns, struggles with spirituality, self-injurious behavior, adoption, dealing with medical problems, grief and loss, trauma, and coping with divorce and its aftermath. My ideal client is one who wants help and is feeling ready to do the work necessary to improve and enrich his or her life.

Life's challenges are diverse and dynamic. They can manifest as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, or a myriad of other forms. Every human bears their unique burdens and just as no two struggles are identical, no pain should ever be underestimated. Therapy is not solely about alleviating pain, it's about becoming empowered to live one's best life. It's about learning the tools and strategies to navigate life's storms, to find your inner strength, and to embrace your authentic self. It's a transformative process that can lead to profound self-discovery and personal growth.

Finding a trustworthy and compassionate individual with whom you can be vulnerable and share your most fragile moments, is necessary in order for healing to occur. My approach is collaborative in nature and tailored to fulfill each client’s needs. My goal is to help the individual, couple, or family explore, identify, and change cycles that maintain suffering in life.

Have you been wanting to make meaningful changes in your life but feel hesitant to start therapy? I know how courageous making this move is, and provide a relaxed, supportive atmosphere as you explore your emotional life. I partner with you to identify your goals for personal growth. Together we create a safe space for you to clarify patterns of behavior and thinking that may be bogging you down. We can look at repeated sources of disappointment or dissatisfaction so that you can grow away from them and into a more vibrant relation to yourself, others, and the world.