Borderline Personality (BPD) Therapists in Highland Park, NJ

Welcome! I am the founder of Meraki Psychology Center (MPC). Whether you’re looking to start therapy for the first time or try something new, I am here to help you rewrite your story and work towards the life you want. At MPC, we strive to embody our name in the services we provide. Everything we do is with 'meraki' or passion. We hope to instill this passion in each of you. We provide individual, couples, parenting & family therapy for adolescents & adults. Each of your identities influence who you are & our treatments are adapted to fit your individualized needs.

I am a licensed psychologist and DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician(tm) at the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy with expertise in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and trauma. I have extensive experience providing evidence-based treatments to children, adolescents, and adults with trauma, depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, as well as complex psychosocial stressors. I am devoted to providing exceptional treatment to children, adolescents, and families, empowering them with tools to enhance their relationships and navigate life’s challenges effectively.

When you are overwhelmed with emotions like doubt, anxiety or even emptiness, it may feel as though you are drowning in an ocean of despair. You’ve probably told the closest people in your life about what you’re experiencing, but you fear being a burden to someone else and you can’t seem to shut off the negative thoughts that continue to invade your brain. The worry and loss of control you feel may manifest into eating disorders, OCD, and various anxiety disorders in order to temporarily relieve pain. That's when a mental health professional can help!

You may be looking at this profile because you feel you've run out of options. Maybe you've been wrestling with overwhelming anxiety or depression, or you feel trapped in your mind and spiraling in ways you know aren't healthy. Perhaps you feel pressure--from within yourself or from the people around you--to be "put together," but you find yourself hiding the real turmoil going on under the surface. No matter the reason, I have a deep respect for the courage it takes to enter this space and begin this work.

I focus on helping clients of all ages and backgrounds heal their pain, overcome their challenges, develop their strengths, resources and resilience and accomplish their goals. I provide a positive, integrative, comprehensive approach, treating a broad range of mood, behavioral and relationship challenges. I have 30 years experience with children and adults in individual, couples, family and parent/child modalities.

The things we experience affect us more than we think. Maybe you felt neglected as a child, are experiencing bullying, lost a family member, or are in an emotionally and/or physically abusive relationship. Maybe you have signs of unhealed trauma (depression, anxiety, low self-worth, relationship trouble, substance abuse, etc.) but don't realize you've experienced trauma. You could feel uncertain about why you feel this way and want to explore that. Trauma is very subjective. Every person is affected by and reacts to adverse events differently. This can lead you to feeling hopeless for the future and can be incredibly isolating.

If you’ve made it to this profile, you can take a deep breath and relax a little because you’ve taken the first, and probably most difficult, step in your healing journey. Anxiety and depression may tell us we’re okay on our own or that we may be a burden to others, but it can be helpful to let someone else provide guidance and help navigate the difficult things life throws our way.

We all want happiness. But at some point in our lives we may feel stuck or face certain challenges and having the support of a caring therapist can help you understand more clearly what is going on and create new ways to think about yourself and your relationship with others. Therapy should be as unique as you are. While struggle is universal, people respond differently to different types of interventions; so I will tailor your treatment to respond to your specific needs, personality, situation, relationship, and comfort level. In addition to therapy I also provide Life Coaching.

Imagine being able to feel calm and at ease. To have peace of mind and not having to worry about so many different things. Imagine not worrying about what will be in the future and having guilt and regret of the past.

Trust is the most important part of any relationship. It's important to be able to trust others but more importantly to trust yourself. “The true key is trust in self, for when I trust myself I fear no one else, I took control of my life, just as anyone can, I want everyone to see it’s in the palm of your hand, the past is gone, the future yet unborn, but right here and now is where it all goes on”-MCA Beastie Boys. With trust you can increase your connection to others as well as increase your ability to tolerate life’s ups and downs and enjoy life in the moment.

You’re aware that time is running out. You think about this more than others, which can get very lonely. You seek that which is meaningful, authentic, sacred. You’ve put time, money and energy into this quest. You’re exhausted. You’ve been disappointed so many times. Don’t settle. This is your life, your therapy. You know you need the courage to live by your convictions, but it’s hard to clarify exactly what you believe in. You know you need partnership and community, but when things go sideways in your relationships, at work, with family and friends, they’re not telling you what you’re doing wrong.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship problems or issues related to substance use? Maybe you have suffered a loss or been through a traumatic experience and are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, stuck, or just numb? You are not alone. Everybody needs help sometimes to cope in a healthy and skillful way with life’s challenges and changes. If you want to feel better, learn more about yourself, and identify patterns of behavior & thinking that no longer serve you well, therapy may help. Tap into your innate strengths, find new meaning from your experiences, or simply get some extra support and perspective.

My goal: your being the most you can be in a life you can embrace, celebrate and be at peace with. To this process, I bring my knowledge, skill, respect and humanity, offering understanding, validation, support, and therapeutic interventions geared to increasing your self-awareness, and helping you find new and more rewarding ways of meeting the challenges and opportunities of life, as well as recovering from its assaults. Call and let's talk.

*If you are looking for my family business consulting practice, go to: www.blumandsavlov.com.* I have many years of experience helping people to find relief from anxiety, depression and relationship problems. Also, I find it very rewarding to guide people in creating the best life possible by helping them to develop greater confidence, improve friendships and intimate relationships (dating, marriage, long-term life partnerships), get more satisfaction out of work and have more fun and meaningful lives. My style is interactive and conversational and an in-person meeting is the best way to find out if we are a good match to work together.

Self esteem in the dumps? Moods driving you "nuts"? Arguments, bickering and frustration in your relationships? Sex an "issue"? Whatever you are struggling with; relationships, anxiety, depression, women's issues, men's issues, teenagers, I will work with you to help you and those you love, feel better and function better. I will listen carefully to your story and work with you to recognize and change patterns of behaving and feeling that lead to difficulties. I offer you empathy and understanding and my depth and breadth of life and educational experience. We will work together to meet your goals.