Parenting Therapists in Cranford, NJ

Hi! My name is Dr. Ed Callaghan. I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and am fully licensed in the state of New Jersey. I am the co-founder of the Integrative Therapy Institute of NJ and it’s Director of Child Services. I specialize in working with preschool and school-age children as well as adolescents and adults. I am especially proficient at working with children with ADHD, behavioral problems, and school-related difficulties--especially problems related to poor school performance, distractibility, and motivation/drive. I am also VERY SUCCESSFUL at bridging conflictual relationships between teens and their parents.

Life is full of change, both expected and unexpected. Things like marriage, parenting , work, school, adolescence, divorce, illness, and death can feel overwhelming. Sometimes a major event can leave one feeling lost. Other times just coping with the day to day is a challenge. My clients often express that they are feeling scattered, anxious, angry, and sad. I have over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families at different stages of their life-cycles. I specialize in helping them cope with their feelings, as they move through these periods of transition, so they can learn how to be resilient.

As a patient, it is helpful for you to know that I use several approaches to tailor your psychotherapy and work with you in the most effective way to reach your goals. Based on your needs, the focus of therapy may be managing current issues or working more deeply with your underlying history that oftentimes is the root of current pain. Throughout the therapy process, by broadening emotional and cognitive awareness you develop increased coping strategies and tools for personal growth. This helps to diminish emotional pain and conflict and enables you live a more well-adjusted life and have healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

It's a stress filled world, with life often becoming overwhelming. Talking to someone can help you feel less vulnerable. In my work I strive to make that first step easier for you. I understand that even picking up the phone to make an appointment may feel too difficult.

Therapy is different for everyone. I believe that our relationships and experiences fundamentally shape how we feel and act. I use a flexible and integrative model of therapy that draws from Internal Family Systems, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Attachment theories. I adjust the model of therapy to fit the patient's needs, readiness, and personality. I also encourage a collaborative approach and your feedback. I largely see my role as helping you develop a relationship with isolated, vilified, or problematic parts of yourself. My role is not to fix you (-you're not broken), and it is not to solve your problems.

Sometimes life can become overwhelming and you can feel as though you have no where to turn. When going through those times, one of the hardest things you can do is ask for help but it is also one of the bravest things you can do. Congratulations on taking that first step! Seeking out a therapist suggests you have a desire to change. I offer a safe and supportive environment that can facilitate those changes.

You want to be a supportive parent , but deep down you are struggling when you see your child isolating, withdrawn or angry. You may be fed up with feeling helpless, stuck or frustrated with your child. You might not even remember a time things didn't feel this way. But one thing is for sure: you're ready to improve your relationship with your child. You're ready to get them the help they need. Most of all you're ready to be there for them while they learn the tools they need to feel better again.

There are times in your life when you feel stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, scared, confused, lost, or alone. During these times it can be difficult to understand the emotions you are feeling and it can be difficult to verbalize them, especially to family, friends, or loved ones. Therapy is a safe, neutral, and non-judgmental space where you have the freedom to express yourself. I can be a source of guidance and support on your journey of self-exploration.

My practice is a devoted exclusively to children ages 5-17. Attention Deficit Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Asperger's & Autistic Spectrum Disorder, BiPolar Disorder and School Underachievement are my specialties. Social skills, parenting issues and sibling rivalry are additional areas of focus. I also specialize in treating children who have had past treatment failures. Lastly, with parental permission I consult with the child's school to assure the child's interests are best served.

Are you anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed with everyday stressors and responsibilities? Stop putting your emotional well-being on hold and start feeling more satisfied, happier, confident, and balanced. I offer a safe and nurturing environment for you to learn how to live the life you want and deserve in person (if fully vaccinated) or virtually. With over 25 years of clinical experience, my clients learn to effectively cope with life-cycle events (birth, marriage, death), marital and parenting conflicts, complicated relationships, and professional challenges.

I believe that psychotherapy and coaching are gifts you give yourself. For the past 20 years, I have helped many competent, well-educated men and women whose lives, while "good on paper," are unsatisfying. They feel empty despite successes and have difficulties maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones. My clients feel stuck in their lives and want to make productive changes. I help them examine the ways they repeat the patterns which only lead us to disappointment. I can help you identify these roadblocks to happiness and guide you to create the life you want and deserve.

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.

Life is sometimes a difficult process especially when a partner or child needs, but doesn't want therapy. It can become very painful for yourself or the loved one whose behavior is affecting the whole family. You may even be combing these ads trying to sort out where to start. Sometimes you need someone who knows how to allow a person to open up in their own time. Someone who can work with them through their fears. I have experience in: Child Therapy, Addressing resistance, Mandated clients and LGBTQ concerns. I utilize a variety of techniques toward this aim including EMDR and Play (Sandtray) therapy.

Has a recent life event or transition caused you to feel suddenly unstable? Changes of any kind can leave us feeling lonely, confused, afraid, and vulnerable, especially when one's foundation is shaky. I take great care and interest in helping others achieve stability and growth during periods of change and uncertainty. I regard challenges as critical opportunities for exploration and meaning-making. Through gaining deeper understandings and new perspectives in treatment, my patients have reported feeling lighter, stronger, more focused, more connected to others, and more prepared to embrace life's challenges.

You know you slept, but you wake up tired. Morning comes so quickly. You wrangle the kids to school like herding cats. Raising your voice with the same words each day…get your shoes on, where’s your coat, what about your water bottle, where’s your backpack? It’s a victory when you just raise your voice and nag. Then you’ve got the yelling days. Who is the lunatic you become when they’re ignoring you for the 10th time? Certainly not the mother you thought you'd be. You're successful, smart and used to mastering what's put in front of you. This is different. Feeling like a great parent eludes you and that's not okay with you anymore.