Therapists in Kendall Park, NJ

Being human isn't always easy. Sometimes it feels impossible. The foundation of my work with people centers on emotional expression, being able to talk about anything, say everything. The process of talking and being heard leads to tension release and allows thoughts and feelings to be expressed.

I am assisting couples (of any ethnic or racial background, gender identity, or sexual orientation) to preserve intimacy and satisfaction during a lifetime together, even after infidelity; I am assisting families to weather the storms of adolescence and to maintain familial closeness; I am accompanying people diagnosed with "mental illness" or addiction on their journey back to wholeness and well being. I welcoming victims of trauma and racial oppression. I am available for phone consultations before or between sessions. I do assessments for immigration and prison release purposes and serve as expert in complex custody trials.

In my therapeutic practice, I blend psychodynamic and attachment theories with pragmatic behavioral approaches to treatment. My understanding of the human experience is informed by my studies in literature and 20 years' experience managing people and using systemic approaches to problem solving.

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 not feeling or functioning the way you used to? Are you having trouble explaining what you're feeling to others? Has someone told you that you could use some help and support? I am helpful with the process of entering therapy because I respect the significance of that decision and see it as an opportunity for positive change.

I have often had the best success with clients seeking a symptom relief or crisis resolution, in combination with a desire to change lifestyles. Personal growth is more than learning new coping skills, requiring a commitment to self exploration and changing orientations. Breaking old patterns of thought and behavior can be accomplished via changing what we pay attention to,how we treat ourselves and others and broadening our view of the world. I focus on the life directions, passions and strengths of people. I am informed by the belief that we are all unique beings.

I understand that life can be hard. Some days can be incredibly enjoyable, rewarding, and simply beautiful, yet other days can be painful. Figuring out how to navigate life without losing ourselves, is one of the greatest challenges we will endure. My goal is to help you navigate your journey, find and speak your truth, and help you live the life you are happy and at peace with.

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 am also particularly sensitive to the needs of often undiagnosed adults with ADHD and how trauma and the ADHD brain are interconnected.

Welcome to my practice. I am a licensed psychologist over 25 years of experience in clinical practice and over 10 years of experience in psychological research and teaching. I specialize in helping people through recovery from trauma. In addition, I treat depression and anxiety, and I have unique experience in helping individuals and their families cope with life threatening food allergies, complex medical issues, and diagnoses of genetic disorders. My compassionate approach to cognitive-behavioral techniques, breathing, relaxation, mindfulness, EMDR, plus ample education will help you better understand yourself and your responses.

We’re pleased you’ve made your first step towards healing. We understand that seeking help, whether for yourself or for your children isn’t always easy. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a user’s manual, and when times get tough, many of us are left feeling confused, angry, depressed and helpless. While we can’t provide you with a magical user’s manual to life, we can offer you an ancient symbol of peace, an olive branch. We want to help you extend that olive branch to not only the important relationships in your life but to yourself as well. Because at the end of the day, we all deserve inner peace.

I consider myself a compassionate, skilled and intuitive therapist with 20+ year's experience in clinical and educational settings. My approach to therapy blends traditional methods (Cognitive/Behavioral, Family Therapy) with alternative methodologies (Psychodrama, Gestalt, Humanistic, Creative Arts Therapies and Advanced Integrative Therapy-a transpersonal energy psychology particularly beneficial for clients with trauma induced issues). I also bring a life-long appreciation of Eastern Philosophies to my practice. As an extension to working with couples in crisis, I am a member of the Mid-Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance (www.mjcla.org). In this capacity, I function as a Certified Divorce Coach/Child Specialist.

You have had days that make you feel like switching off the sun, crawling underneath your skin, and checking out from this catastrophic cantankerous world. You have been emotionally shipwrecked by life, fragmented by negative experiences, and you feel broken beyond repair. Yesterday was too much, today you're drowning in the sea of despair; and, tomorrow should not see the light of day. Existing feels like too much to ask, survival seems impossible, and you're thinking, "I can't do this..." Maybe you can't, but we can, and we will. You may feel alone, but you are not alone. You may sway and bend, but you will never break.

I am an experienced licensed clinical social worker trained by the IFS institute. I take an integrative approach to therapy, emphasizing healing mind, body, and soul. I believe that therapy should be enjoyable and non-judgmental. I am told that I create a collaborative and compassionate environment where my clients and I are able to tap into deep inner wisdom, provide insight, and apply concrete methods to heal and move forward. The result? Becoming brave enough to build a deep connection to your truest self and live authentically. Spirituality is incorporated, as desired.

My practice specializes in helping people deal with life's increasingly complex challenges with special focus on the psychological demands of finding joy and happiness in one's life. Treatment includes finding one's inner authentic self which gets lost in the face of life's problems. My focus includes helping people cope with emotional isolation and loneliness as well as developing and maintaining one's personal life to find happiness, fulfillment and intimacy in primary relationships. My practice also includes helping women find pleasure and satisfaction in dealing with the impossible balance of work, home and relationship life.

Life is a journey that can sometimes seem overwhelming with no supports. You feel stuck in patterns or behaviors, wanting new ways to meet life's difficulties. Feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability understandably lead to distress, impacting relationships you have with your partner, children, friends or coworkers. I believe we live in, and are a product of our relationships - not only with others, but with our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is my belief that to operate authentically in connection to those around us, we must work to strengthen the most integral relationship we hold; the one we have with ourselves.