UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH Therapists in Highland Park, NJ

"Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Learning to center ourselves in the here and now and be truly present in the moment is where we begin to connect with who we are beyond the influences and complications of the world around us. From there, we begin the journey to find peace no matter what in our lives may trouble us.

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.

Imagine you're in a brightly lit, comfortable and spacious room with lots of natural light pouring in. It's very easy to see and feel safe. Suddenly the windows go black blocking the sun light, the lights in the room go off and you can't see a thing. The sense of spaciousness gives way to pitch black darkness and you since you can't see you're too scared to move. The first thing you need to do is calm down if you feel fear or anger. If you feel paralyzed you need to start believing in yourself. Once you can think straight, you can start taking steps towards finding a way to create light and dispel the darkness.

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.

If you're reading this, I invite you to take a moment and breathe. May you receive this affirmation: "I am glad that you are here." It may have been a long journey: painful and lonely, confusing and frustating, and maybe even scary and hopeless. That you have made it here, is something to uplift. It is not easy to be known by those around you, and sometimes most of all, to be known to yourself.

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.

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.

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 are some thoughts about two of my specialties, individual therapy and couple therapy: Individual Therapy: In the therapeutic relationship, you feel free to begin to discuss your hopes and fears in a safe environment. As the process develops, you and the therapist discover themes in your life. This leads to an exploration of repetitive patterns of behavior as well as of their associated thoughts and feelings. The goal of this journey is to gain a sense of mastery and self-esteem.

Hello, my name is Sarah, and I am a licensed associate marriage and family therapist. I have experience with supporting individuals, couples, and families in improving communication, setting boundaries, and managing challenging life transitions. I am passionate about helping clients explore complex family dynamics, as well as the impact those dynamics have on their physical and mental health. I strive to support clients by providing them with the tools needed to create healthy and long-lasting relationships with both themselves and others.

"Aging is Inevitable but Growth is a Function of Choice." These are trying times and making time for yourself and your needs may be the first step towards growth, change, and a peace of mind. I have been treating individuals,couples, and families for over 20 years in a variety of settings including in-home based therapies, private community clinics, outpatient hospital based clinics, and private practice. The first step can be the most difficult. The fit between therapist and client is critical.

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.

Experienced Clinician Supporting Those Struggling with Grief and Trauma: Grief, loss and feeling lost is something everyone experiences. The pain of loss shows us our love for those we miss. Yet we may struggle with emotions we don’t understand, blame, guilt, anger among many others, but you're not alone. You may be looking to reimagine the relationship with your person, understand the “why”, or overcome guilt of moving forward and feel joy again. Your grief is your own and no one can tell you how to grieve, but finding support to cope, heal and grow in your journey can help integrate your loss story into your life story.

Hello! Taking the first step into therapy can be a difficult one, and I want to commend you for taking that first step. We all face many different stressors in our lives. Between work, school, our friends and families and other relationships, it can become overwhelming to deal with it all. As we learn and grow, we may also discover new emotions or parts of ourselves that we are unfamiliar with, or we may recognize issues and struggles we have pushed off for far too long.

Life can be challenging. We all go through difficult times, get confused, feel stressed, experience loss. Some of us seek therapy because we suffer from depression, anxiety, illness and relationship problems; others may simply feel 'stuck" in some way. As a therapist with over 30 years of experience, my goal is to create a safe and supportive environment to guide clients to explore their needs, identify their strengths, gain a better understanding of what is and is not working in their lives, and to provide strategies to help them solve problems and achieve a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

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!