Family Therapy 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.

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.

Making the decision to start therapy can be one of the most difficult steps in the therapeutic process so first I'd like to commend you. Reaching out for professional support is a direct indication of your strength, your courage and your resilience. Part of my philosophy, as a therapist, has to do with helping folks attain their own personal goals. Whether you are dealing with individual, family or relationship oriented challenges we can work together to attain a vision created by you.

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.

I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with the organization Journey Clinical. Please call for more information about how KAP may be appropriate for you. I work with people who may be experiencing a major life transition, sudden stressful situation or ongoing family /work difficulties. My clients sometimes feel chronic sadness, anxiety or excessive worry about money, school pressures, marital stress and other relationship issues. My focus is to assist you in restoring happiness, clarity and vitality to your life. My style is warm, practical and often challenging.

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.

The majority of my clients are adults who are seeking ways to manage depression and anxiety, which may be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). The most common issues are associated with relationships, family dynamics, adjustment to new situations, bereavement and end-of-life care. I also work with those caring for loved ones with dementia and other long-term illnesses.

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.

I am a licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist (MA, LPC, NCC) / Certified Life-Coach, with a background in fine art/art therapy. I have been working in the mental health field for the past 6 years at various settings: inpatient/outpatient level of care, and private practice as well as utilize individual, family and group therapy to enhance overall treatment.

My specialty is difficult life transitions. Perhaps you have just received a serious illness diagnosis for yourself or someone in your family . Or you have recently lost someone you love. Maybe you're a parent struggling to balance family , work and self-care. You may feel too discouraged, too overwhelmed, or too exhausted to make a change. As an experienced hospice social worker and birth doula, I have witnessed pain and suffering, as well as the growth, strength and joy that become possible amidst difficult circumstances.

Taking the first step towards making a change is the most challenging part of any process. I foster a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental space so that you can begin to work and process through what has brought you to therapy. Whether you are looking to work through anxiety, depression, a recent/past trauma, or substance use issues, I am here to listen and help you to improve your overall well-being. I believe you already have the capacity for healing - I can help you to tap into this part of yourself. I will help you gain greater insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

I welcome all clients who would like to improve their well being and their family , intimate, or work relationships. I will help you gain greater insight into your behaviors and feelings so that you may ultimately make choices to live a more free, fulfilled, happy life.

Therapy is about feeling better. It's a learning process. It requires a comfortable atmosphere, conducive to talking and expressing inner feelings. I try to create this environment by offering respect, sensitivity and compassion. I bring enthusiasm, and hope to the therapeutic process, as well as insight and creativity. This, in turn, helps one to develop an understanding of one's self and one's circumstances, and thus, the process of change begins, where one can acquire an ability to tackle whatever the challenge may be.

For many children and teenagers, it’s difficult to talk about feelings and disappointments.  In psychotherapy, they learn to identify and express their emotions verbally or through the way they play, to gain insight into how their behaviors are affected by their feelings.  The increased awareness of their emotions in response to life events will help to build confidence that they can cope with whatever life brings their way.  ​ Psychotherapy can help patients cope with Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, School Refusal, Anger, Resentment, Phobias, Social Isolation, Bullying, and Family Conflict. 

Have you ever said: "No one ever taught me how to be a parent or spouse?" Perhaps navigating the relationships at work is posing a challenge. I help clients look at patterns of communication and behaviors that aren't working and help them understand their origins. Together, we develop an understanding of what is causing the difficulties so that we may address them successfully. I've been a psychologist for 25 years, helping clients enhance their relationships with family members, friends and colleagues. While much of my work is with adults, I am also a child psychologist.

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).