Life can be pretty overwhelming at times. During the stressful times, you may have difficulty finding a way to cope and make the changes necessary to improve your life. The great thing about therapy is that it serves as a way to help you cope with the stressors in your life and helps you make the changes you desire.

I have been in private practice for over twenty years. During those years I have counseled both individual clients and couples with a variety of issues. These issues include relationship issues, life transitions, abuse, depression, eating disorders, grief, stress, anxiety, sexual identity, and parenting issues. I believe we all go through difficult periods in our lives where we need someone to talk to who can give understanding, support, guidance, tools, and suggestions. I believe that counseling can often help our lives become less painful but instead become more hopeful and fulfilling.

You may find the life you are living isn't healthy, or is in need of some change. With 19+ years in private practice, I have had the opportunity to help men and women make significant improvements in their relationships and in their life direction. If you are an individual needing to make a significant change, or a couple needing relationship help, I offer an individualized and practical approach. First, we will find what isn't working for you and identify the core changes you want to make. Then, together we will map out realistic steps to make that change happen.

We are not meant to live life alone, but rather deeply involved in relationships. Some of these relationships are highly successful, while others have come with great loss, significant struggle or just the every day difficulty of learning to live and enjoy life with another person. I believe in the value of working through personal problems in the context of building stronger relationships. I will help you work through this on a personal level or with whomever you are needing to have a restored relationship with.

Let's be honest, sometimes you just want to talk. Ok, you just need to talk! That's it, just talk! So let's do just that.... TALK.

I believe that most people at some time can benefit from talking with a professional about emotional problems that they are encountering, although many persons I see worry that there is something "wrong" with them and feel they should be able to improve their situations thembselves. Difficulties in relationships, problems concerning work or recovering from bad experiences can be painful parts of life and talking about them can hasten change and improvement. As we develop a relationship with one another and reflect about the problems together, over time, I have found that people discover new ways of meeting the challenges that brought them to me.

All people have strengths and challenges. Therapy is a process of using those strengths and resources to address problems people face. I'm interested in understanding you and helping you develop a plan to work with your problems and to build on your strengths.

Mental health is part of your physical health. You cannot have one without the other. No one is exempt from facing mental health struggles at one time or another in their life. It is not uncommon during times of mental health struggles, either it be an isolated incident of panic, short-term and long-term anxiety, tragedy, situational depression, or circumstances that were out of your control that caused you to have a "new normal." Therapy will alleviate these stressors through a process of personal insight, change, and opening your eyes to a new way of seeing your life and how you react to it.

Would you like to feel more connected and valued in your life and relationships? Together we can enter your world as you see it, including what you believe about yourself, both good and bad. Behaviors and emotions make sense when we see them clearly from the perspective of the person, given their history and the lessons they have learned. I enjoying meeting people who want more from their life and are willing to put in the work to get there. My goal is to provide a trusting environment where you, the client, can feel valued and free to share yourself without the worry of judgement.

Do you find yourself repeating the same patterns expecting different results? Rather than being "the definition of insanity," it's a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances. If you're in need of significant change but feel stuck, you may benefit from collaboration with a professional to help you move forward. I offer an individualized, practical and evidence-based approach. Together, we will examine your core values and beliefs, behavior patterns and relationship dynamics, to address how they work together to affect your daily life.

My clients generally reach out for help when struggling with an adjustment, a loss, or a relationship that has problems. I most often see women, during pregnancy or postpartum, or at other times of crisis or difficulty during their lives. The relationship that I form with my clients is the most important aspect of the therapy, as it is the trust and emotional safety that is the foundation for the work we will do. It is within that therapeutic relationship that a deeper understanding of oneself and change can occur.

I believe that each of us are not only wired for struggle, but, even more importantly, we are also wired to overcome those struggles. The active support, care, and skills available through a counseling relationship can be the most effective tools we use to battle against life's adversities. I value the courage and vulnerability it takes to enter into a counseling relationship. As someone who has experienced 'bad' counseling, I place high value on the individuality of each client and view them as the expert of their experience. I can help you explore new perspectives, offer new skills, and challenge you towards your goals.

Dr. Benito brings with her a wealth of experience. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker originating from New York City with 10+ years of experience working with culturally diverse and at risk populations across multiple settings. Dr. Benito earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California focusing her capstone work on designing innovative healthcare solutions that combine the power of behavioral health and advancements in neuroscience to address the lifelong, adverse effects of childhood adversity and developmental trauma.

I'm very easy to talk to. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Are you sometimes distracted by concerning issues that interfere with work or family time? Are you sometimes overwhelmed? Do you have a sense of doom? Have friends and/or family commented on the amount of alcohol or drugs you can take? If so, you may benefit from seeing me. Since 1996, I have worked extensively with people struggling with Substance Use Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Grief. If you have struggled with any of these issues, I can definitely help.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to find solutions leading to greater peace of mind and contentment? I provide you a compassionate, safe environment to speak freely about your unique situation. Although we can address together any life issue, my specialties include couples counseling, premarital preparation for marriage, caregiver stress, and grief therapy. I can also teach you mindfulness techniques to handle daily stress and bring clarity of thought. Having studied world religions, I can help you use your religious and spiritual beliefs to facilitate your life journey, regardless of your path. Sessions are available daytime, evenings, and Saturdays.

The clients I have worked with have a variety of issues. Usually these are related to their self confidence and can be impacted by their relationships with parents, teammates, coaches, teachers and competitors. They typically want assistance at guiding them to understand their goals, strengths, weaknesses, fears, distractions and stressors. We will work thru their communication with others, their preparation, focus, attitude and self confidence. Most clients want to understand where their issues started, find solutions to them and ways to be more confident and happy with themselves and accomplishing their personal goals.

*****I am Not accepting New Clients at this time***** Life can be easier said than done! If you're reading this, you've already made the first courageous step to seek help. My overarching goal is to provide safety along the journey of healing and ultimately to you experiencing a fuller, more joyful life. Choosing to share your story can be difficult, but rewriting that story can alter the way you live, lead, and love. I've personally been in the trenches, and it's my passion to walk through the pain and beauty of life with others.

Counseling is about helping you navigate your way through pain & about helping you to grow so that you can become even stronger than you were before. Life can hurt & it can knock you down hard but when you come in for counseling you will find compassion, grace & mercy so that you can learn new tools & solutions that can get you get back on track. My experiences include working with clients who suffer from depression, anxiety & trauma that has led to PTSD including domestic violence & work with our veterans & first-responders. I also have experience working with substance use disorders & enjoy doing premarital & marital counseling.

I have 12 years of experience in helping people through a wide array of struggles, with a primary focus on addictions, trauma, depression, anxiety, self-esteem and family relationships. I work with individuals of all ages, though my principal expertise and passion lie in working with teenagers and families.