Lesbian Therapists in Parlin, NJ

I believe that healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment, and cooperatively assists my clients in clarifying their goals for treatment. Rather than adopting one methodology for all individuals and issues, I draw from a variety of methods to create a tailored approach for each individual and situation. As a therapist, I am warm, open, encouraging, and direct. I considers myself an active therapist, combining experience, education, creativity, and sense of humor with a down-to-earth, realistic approach to counseling.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and co-founder of One Step at a Time Therapy Center. I have 8 plus years of experience working with individuals and couples. I provide a neutral, nonjudgmental and compassionate environment that helps you throughout your journey of becoming a better version of yourself. I work best with clients who are ready and motivated towards making changes. I am direct in my approach and hope to provide you with valuable feedback and insight to help you accomplish your goals. You can read my full bio at https://onesteptherapycenter.com.

My approach to psychotherapy encompasses listening for the "life story" and helping a person understand and reach self-acceptance. I have extensive experience helping individuals with severe psychological trauma, grief & loss, eating disorders, sexual abuse and all aspects of substance abuse including the impact on family life. I also treat individuals with depression & anxiety. I have worked individually and in groups for the past 30 years. In addition, I have worked with couples and families. My office provides a warm and safe place where an individual can explore and come to increased peace with yourself and those in your life.

The Center for Marriage and Family Therapy has five offices throughout central New Jersey. Jackie Held, Karen Spiler and Jill Stein founded the Center in 1984. We refer to a large network of affiliated therapists whose specialties include relationship counseling, anxiety, depression, separation and divorce, gay and lesbian issues,grief therapy,stress management, victims of spousal abuse, chronic and terminal illness and dealing with life stage transitions. In addition to Toms River, our offices are in Matawan, Freehold, Piscataway and Princeton. Our network includes licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers and substance abuse specialists.

You, like so many of us who have survived sexual abuse, often find yourself struggling to create and keep healthy relationships. More often than not, you have a hard time standing up for yourself. You have worked so hard to make yourself feel safe, confident, steady, and worthy. You seek peace at each sunset and hope at each sunrise. Still, there are times when the nightmares haunt you in your sleep, and the flashbacks freeze you when awake. You seek escape from the trauma of your past, but rarely find long-lasting relief. You want to emerge from the turmoil of your past and find your Paths to Healing.

My strengths-based approach combines cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused techniques and holistic ways to treat your entire being including mind, body, and spirit. My approach also embraces a positive view of queer identities and relationships while addressing the negative influences that homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism have on the lives of the LGBTQ community. I personally understand there can be complicated feelings towards your own sexuality/gender identity along with the struggles of being a queer person of color, and can help you navigate these adversities.

Are you going through a major life transition that is leaving you feeling overwhelmed and alone? Maybe there is an issue that you have been facing for some time, and you can’t seem to find a solution. Regardless of what your specific situation may be, it is clear that you are ready to take the practical steps to seek assistance. Whether you are an adolescent/teenager, preteen/tween, or adult man or woman, I am the right person to guide your process of healing and self-empowerment.

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.

In my experience as a therapist, I find that many people are looking for someone who will provide a safe space to talk, listen, and support them. My goal is to provide children, preteens/tweens, adolescents/teenagers, adults, and elders, as well as, families and couples with the skills and tools to help them reach their own personal goals. With these skills, you will become a better communicator, develop confidence, and utilize positive responses to daily life problems.

I have over a decade's worth of experience assisting diverse populations of children, adolescents, teens in crisis, adults, couples, families and individuals with advanced illnesses in managing and overcoming a wide array of issues including: emotional, physical and sexual abuse; trauma; adjustment difficulties; emotional, behavioral and relational disturbances; substance abuse; and gender/sexuality issues. Through my experience and training I have gained a strong understanding of diverse identities, including gender and sexual identities, as well as sexual and relational issues. Therefore, I am able to provide gender therapy for transgender and gender-expansive individuals from a non-pathological perspective.

If you grew up with emotionally unhealthy parents, experienced trauma, or abuse, you might know you need therapy but feel afraid of taking that first step. Starting therapy can feel scary and uncertain. You might not be sure if you will be able to open up and receive the help you need. Through the work we do together, we can find a way through the stuck spaces inside so that you can allow yourself to feel intimacy in healthy relationships, know your power to make choices in your life, fully experience your positive emotions, and trust your ability to know that you are finally safe.

You want to improve your communication skills, decrease reactivity, and bring intention to your daily life and relationships. You have experienced trauma and want a safe space to unpack it's impact. You are ready to grow, but finding a therapist that can relate to you is a challenge. As a queer, polyamorous, first-generation American woman, I know what it is like to feel misunderstood, underrepresented, and unheard in a therapy room. I welcome individuals with intersectional identities and work hard to provide affirming care to LGBTQIA, BIPOC, BDSM/kink, and consensual non-monogamous individuals, relationships, and communities.

Accepting NEW Clients for individual therapy through insurance and private pay! Some consider putting others needs before your own needs a weakness but I consider this a strength. My ideal client is someone willing to put themselves first even if they may not understand how to at the moment. Deciding to seek therapy can feel scary and uncertain. Together we can provide a safe space where you will feel supported and encouraged. With so much uncertainty in the world I am here to listen. Whether you are returning to therapy or beginning for the first time, together we can identify what is holding you back and how to overcome it.

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.