EMDR Therapists in Highland Park, NJ

IPG PAVED THE WAY for other gay affirmative therapists - we started in 1983 specifically to provide therapy to the gay and lesbian community, back when most practitioners thought it was a mental illness. We're still trailblazers: we work with transgender people, bisexuals/pansexuals, kinky people, couples who practice consensual nonmonogamy, and others who make up the "Q" in LGBTQ. You may not want therapy BECAUSE you are gay, but you definitely 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.

I believe that stress affects us on all levels: mind, body, and spirit. Whether it is depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, loss, or life transitions, a person needs to be treated on all levels. Additionally, each person experiences the interaction between the three in a unique way, and treatment must reflect that difference between clients. In addition to a doctorate in clinical psychology, I have advanced training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (www.sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org) and EMDR (www. emdr .com), both mind/body psychotherapies.

Are you or your loved one experiencing difficulty managing emotions, chaotic relationships, overwhelming stress, or high risk behaviors? Have other treatments been unsuccessful? We offer evidenced based treatments designed to help you gain control of your life and adopt healthy and balanced thinking/behaviors. Individuals will gain greater awareness of self, ability to manage emotions, improve relationships, and build a life worth living. We offer a safe environment, personalized treatment plans, and are dedicated to helping you reach your personal goals.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Are you south/east asian woman struggling with anxiety, self doubt, a need to be perfect or low self esteem? Are you having trouble keeping up with the demands of work, school, family and social life and it feels like a constant balancing act? Do you have trouble being assertive and confident in your relationships? Are you going through a break up, life transition or just have trouble relating to your parents and family who have different expectations for you? Are you a new mom or expecting? Being a woman in today’s modern society is hard, but you don't have to be alone.

Here at IPG, we know it's the connection between therapist and client that is most important. We have around 30 therapists through 3 offices in Freehold, Highland Park, and Jersey City. Since 1983 we've combined compassionate care with high-level expertise. We provide individual, family, child, and relationship counseling for problems ranging from depression to life transitions to marital strife. We also have a large group of certified sex therapists, a special focus on the LGBTQ community, services for transgender youth, therapy for those involved in BDSM and/or consensual non-monogamy, and a group for sex and pornography addicts.

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).

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.

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 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.

Here at IPG, we know it's the connection between therapist and client that is most important. We have around 30 therapists through 3 offices in Freehold, Highland Park, and Jersey City. Since 1983 we've combined compassionate care with high-level expertise. We provide individual, family, child, and relationship counseling for problems ranging from depression to life transitions to marital strife. We also have a large group of certified sex therapists, a special focus on the LGBTQ community, services for transgender youth, therapy for those involved in BDSM and/or consensual non-monogamy, and a group for sex and pornography addicts.

Everyone encounters problems which have the potential to negatively impact our sense of relational, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Often, I work with people who have adopted patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that leave them feeling 'stuck' in repeating faulty problem solutions, With my support as a trained mental health professional, therapy represents an opportunity to slow down, develop an expanded view of 'the problem', understand what happened to block problem resolution to date, renew hope, develop and implement a roadmap to get where you want to go, and, ultimately, achieve the balance essential to realizing one's full potential.

I have been in practice for over 30 years, working with couples, individuals, children and families. I use many therapeutic tools depending on my clients' individual needs. These include: helping clients look at the negative things they tell themselves; discover how their problem(s) arose, which often ends a cycle of shame and self-blame; learn the interpersonal skills they lack and then devise homework assignments to practice new skills. I often use hypnosis to address issues on a deeper level than our conscious will. Finally I help my couples and families to understand and change destructive patterns of interaction.

In my 30 years of treating people with emotional problems, I have worked in-patient, in extended out-patient settings, early recovery from substance abuse. With trauma victims, soldiers returning from Iraq at Fort Dix and also spiritual and Christian counseling. All people with various challenges are welcome. I am also Licensed as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the State of NJ and work with people who have physical challenges. Anger management is a speciality as is addictions counseling. sexual orientation is not a barrier to receiving treatment.

The Institute for Personal Growth (IPG) has been a kink-friendly psychotherapy provider, and we have worked with consensually nonmonogamous relationships, since our inception in 1983. Our team of around 30 psychotherapists across three NJ locations (Highland Park, Jersey City, and Freehold) has personal and professional experience with alternative sexual orientations and lifestyles. You may not even want to talk about your kink or CNM lifestyle, but you definitely want someone who is knowledgeable and affirming of who you are. And if your issues are in fact related to kink or CNM, we understand and can provide support and guidance.

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.