Therapists in Westfield, NJ

Welcome. I specialize in the treatment of a variety of family issues. I treat children and teens struggling with emotional and/or behavioral issues and parents coping with these challenges, infertility and family-building through assisted reproduction or adoption and grief counseling for miscarriage and pregnancy loss. I offer a safe and supportive space to explore the many and often difficult choices and feelings associated with family building options such as IVF, donor sperm/egg, gestational carrier and adoption. I can help you manage the stress inherent in the process and help you work through couples and parenting issues.

Are you tired of experiencing the same patterns and want to heal at the root of your symptoms? I specialize in treating trauma, addictions, and self esteem issues - in particularly with women and teenagers. When my clients first come in, their lives are overrun by fear and insecurities. They carry around deep shame about who they are and never feel quite “good enough”. They want to be confident and heal the patterns that are holding them back but do not know where to start.

I welcome individuals who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction, maladaptive coping, chronic pain, low self-esteem, relationship issues, and grief. Formal training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy have been integral tools in my development as a therapist. I have the ability to engage with clients who are in distress, and my goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment where growth and solutions can emerge. I also have extensive experience in training mental health and other healthcare providers in a variety of therapeutic approaches.

My ideal client is someone who is motivated for change in the way they think, feel, and perceive the world to increase self-empowerment, self-concept, deepen their awareness, and gain insight to live a fulfilled life. In addition to their goals above, they will discover how to implement healthy boundaries for themselves in order to sustain healthy relationships in multiple areas of their life. As they learn about yourself, I learn with them and provide the tools to gain confidence, insight, and belief within themselves that only they can choose how they want to live their life.

Working with children, adolescents, and young adults is my passion. In working with my clients, my goal is to establish a connection, trusting therapeutic relationship, and a safe environment that can encourage emotional growth. Each client is unique, so treatment will be tailored to each individual and varying needs. My approach is eclectic, incorporating various therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, psychodynamic, and solution-focused therapy. My areas of expertise include working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families.

I am a Licensed Social Worker with a passion for decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health and promoting the health and well being of my clients. For my undergraduate degree, I moved from Central Jersey (Yes! It exists!) to South Jersey to attend Stockton University. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work with a Minor in Behavioral Neuroscience from Stockton, and then moved on to attend graduate school in Philadelphia. I received my Master of Social Work Degree with a clinical concentration from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice in May of 2020.

Relationships challenge us to grow and are vital to our well-being. Whether that be with a partner, spouse, parent, child or other family member, we often experience our greatest pains and joys in the context of our relationships with others. Do your interactions with family members and significant others cause you distress? Do you ever feel like you are not good enough or what you do for others isn’t enough? Do you feel isolated because there is no one to speak to? You are not alone. With curiosity and empathy, I can help you find your way to a life of greater satisfaction, fulfillment, and meaning.

Healing and change come from awareness, understanding and self-compassion. Therapy will help deepen your understanding of what makes you who you are. This process is empowering and will be the driving force in making positive changes in your life. I have a rich clinical history working with children, adults and couples facing an array of challenges. With extensive experience treating trauma survivors I have been trained in EMDR and incorporate a mindfulness approach into my practice.

I am passionate about helping people feel good about themselves and giving them the necessary tools to lead a happier, more fulfilling life. Through empathic listening, focusing on strengths, and facilitating behavior change, we will develop a plan to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, and poor self-esteem, can worsen over time, and have a dramatic effect on your emotional wellness and physical health. These emotional experiences can impact our ability to achieve the goals of change we have set for ourselves.

My ideal clients are people who are open to learning about new perspectives and ways of thinking with the intention of creating healthier inner dialogues and approaches to life stressors. Clients dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and life transitions may or may not know the root cause/s of their suffering, but taking this first step towards healing is a journey I feel privileged to participate in. Each person is the expert on themselves, and if we form an open and honest working relationship, the possibilities for transformation, growth, and lasting change are within certain reach.

Have you lost the spark in your relationship? Do you long for the sexual intimacy and companionship you once enjoyed? Do you struggle to communicate over even the simplest matters? Has your bond together been assaulted by addiction, infidelity or an emotional affair, and you are seeking to heal? Or have the ordinary stressors of everyday life, work, home, kids and finances driven a wedge between you and your significant other? You are not alone . . .

Beginning therapy can be a difficult process, and selecting the “right” therapist is an important and positive first step. In a safe and supportive environment, I bring 30-plus years of experience and ongoing training in cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, parenting and family therapies. I work in a highly effective results-oriented manner with children (4 years and older), adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, developmental disorders, relationship difficulties, parenting challenges and performance-related stress in the workplace, classroom or home.

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity". I work with children, adolescents, and young adults to provide psychosocial and therapeutic support and to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and/or difficulties associated with learning and/or behavioral disabilities. My focus is to create a positive, collaborative and thought-provoking environment for my clients. We will work together to create goals to help achieve your individual/family needs. I emphasize the importance of meeting the client where they are and taking into consideration the complexity of their situation.

Richard is licensed by the State of New Jersey as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and is a National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC). Richard has over eight years of experience working with a wide range of adults and families in the mental health field settings at the Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Residential, Intensive In-Community Settings. Richard has experience with various issues, including Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Grief, Stress, Substance Abuse, Peer Relationships, Anger Management, Men’s Issues, and Domestic Violence.

As a licensed professional counselor, I aim to help individuals identify their unique inner strengths and facilitate personal growth dealing with a variety of issues such as substance use and addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, and adjusting to transitions of everyday life. I strive to create a warm, supportive, genuine, and nonthreatening atmosphere where individuals can feel that they are being listened to and understood as well as feeling safe to explore those areas most important to them.

Imagine that you are engaged in a battle of tug-of-war. In between is a dark bottomless pit that you struggle against falling into. Some days it looks like maybe you are winning the battle; other days you are barely avoiding falling in to the pit. Humans are hardwired for pain and suffering. The good news is that rooted deep within us is also the capacity for growth and transcendence. Readiness for therapy involves an opening up to new possibilities and experience and a willingness to learn more supportive ways of relating and responding to life’s challenges, or in other words, learning to drop the rope.

I have been in private practice in Westfield since 1995 with an emphasis on adolescents and adults in need of help coping with life's stressors. These stressors include, but are certainly not limited to depression and anxiety, developmental issues,school anxiety and school refusal, women's issues, parenting difficulties and social issues to name a few. Women in particular often cope with a great deal of stress related to work, family,loss and from time to time, serious illness. These strains can become overwhelming and coping may become difficult and sometimes impossible to do alone.