Out of Network Therapists in West Milford, NJ

I graduated from NYU in 1981 and have had a clinical practice in Social Work since 1986. My treatment approach is eclectic. However, I am a certified EMDR therapist, and that, along with, Supportive Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral techniques inform the manner in which I work with my clients. In my years of practice in the field, I have developed an honest respect for the therapy process and a confidence in the resiliency of the people that I have had the opportunity to work with.

I am a dedicated and compassionate professional with over a decade-long journey in recovery, fueled by a passion for helping individuals transform their own lives. Originally hailing from Northeast Pennsylvania, I have grown my roots of recovery in Northern New Jersey, where I've proudly called home ever since. My personal journey of recovery has been a transformative and enlightening experience. Through my own challenges and victories, I've come to better understand the complexities of substance use and the importance of resilience.

Hi, my name is Amy Banko, an Licensed Associate Counselor who uses and eclectic approach to support my clients on their wellness journey...wherever that may take them.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to go from here? You’ve taken the first step by seeking out the person who best fits your needs in your journey of self-discovery. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults.

I am a dedicated and compassionate clinical social worker with a passion for helping individuals and families with mental health and addiction. With over 10 years of experience in the field, I have become a trusted professional in addiction and mental health treatment. I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including addiction treatment centers, mental health clinics, and private practice. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. My approach is holistic and person-centered. I have experience with cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

My passion is helping you on your journey towards a more fulfilling life. I aim to empower and support the people that I work with in taking control over their lives and achieving their goals in a relaxed and non-judgmental environment. Therapy is a collaborative process where we combine my knowledge of evidenced-based treatments together with your expertise and insight about yourself. I believe that effective therapy must include creating a safe, supportive, and validating environment that amplifies your strengths while addressing any obstacles in your way of making the changes that you wish to see.

To me, it's a privilege to work with my clients to find the solutions that help them cope with the struggles in their lives. I work with individuals, couples and families to help them overcome struggles, achieve goals, and establish better communication. Although I help my clients work through a broad range of issues, I specialize in DBT, personality disorders and performing interventions. Additionally, I am a fitness enthusiast and love to encourage my clients to lead healthy lives in all aspects.

We are dedicated team of clinicians serving children, adolescents, adults, couples and families from diverse and multicultural backgrounds. We utilize various evidenced-based approaches to address challenges while meeting patients where they are to collaborate and assist them along the change process. We assist in uplifting families, couples and individuals who struggle with Anger Management, Low Motivation, Co-Occurring Disorders, Mood Disorders ( PTSD, Depression, Conduct Disorder, Anxiety), Issues with Intimate Partner Violence, Athlete Stressors, Couples Therapy and Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.

Hello. I am a seasoned psychotherapist with 38 years of humbling and varied experience. My style is engaging and kind. Please know that when you initially call, together we will schedule an initial one session consultation with no pressure to continue/or not. The purpose of this initial meeting is for me to get enough information to get a sense of you and what you are looking for and for you to get a sense of me and to ask any questions you might have. After this session, I will give you my impressions. Based on the information shared, I will make specific recommendations. Together, we will figure out which direction is best.

I believe that my clients have an innate sense for identifying problem areas and the ability to move in positive directions. I am originally from California where I earned a Masters' degree in counseling and shortly thereafter relocated to NJ where I continued working as a therapist for the Mental Health Clinic of Passaic. Most recently my professional goals have focused on my bipolar research which lead to the completion of my PhD in clinical psychology and the development of specialized treatment for mood disorders as well as obtaining the highest level of trauma training available: certification in EMDR trauma treatment.

Many years ago, in a college library, I stumbled across a very early psychology book, printed in the early 1900's. Inside the front cover I found a Taoist inscription that I believe holds great truth, and best summarizes my philosophy of treatment: "....he who knows how to cleanse the current of a stream begins by clearing out it's source. And he who would strengthen the end of a process must commence with making it's beginning correct."

We strive to address your issues, meet your needs and work with you to meet your goals. We have over 15 years of experience treating ADHD/ADD, Grief, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Psychosis, Dementia, and other related conditions.. Visits are conducted in person or by video. We have interpreters for most languages and ASL available. We want you to feel that you are being heard, that your concerns are being addressed, and that you are treated appropriately.

The purpose of counseling is to help people cope with problems in daily living and to deal with inner conflicts which hinder various aspects of their personal satisfaction and functioning. This purpose is usually accomplished by increasing the client's personal awareness, increasing the client's acceptance of self and others, and having the client make behavioral and cognitive changes to attain personal goals. To achieve this, I utilize a combination of research-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, reality therapy, motivational interviewing, and client-centered therapy.

Areas of specialty include: Depression,, Anxiety Disorders, alcohol abuse,Couples Therapy. Experienced, feedback oriented Psychologist . Works with adults,couples, adolescents, and families, Family Therapy, OCD, Anger Management, Addictive Illness, Domestic Violence, etc.

Love working with families to help with learning acquisition and behavioral issues, peer relationships and parent training. We also run a social skills group, currently 9-11 year olds and an adult special needs group (18+ years, 21+ years DDD will cover). Feel free to inquire about either.

I work from a person centered approach, promoting the strengths and skills clients already have. Building and using skills from modalities such as CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, and others, we will find ways to manage and improve difficult situations in your life. As a therapist specializing in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, I also offer a unique and effective approach to treating a range of mental health conditions. If you are looking to make a change, I am confident that together we can help create it!

Have you recently been experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues that are causing you worry in your daily life? You are NOT alone. Finding a therapist you can build a rapport with and trust in order to share personal and intimate details of your life can be a very important part of the healing process. My goal is to work together with you to create a more fulfilling life you can enjoy.

Life can be overwhelming, and we all can benefit from space to process, and grow from it. Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of NJ with 15 years of work experience in the mental health field working with teens, adults, first responders, healers and spiritual healers. She has experience working with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, anger, marital/ relationship stress, narcissistic abuse recovery, addictions, co-dependency, selflove deficit, people pleasing, disconnection from self, self-esteem, and generational challenges.

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Life can become challenging and cause us to lose focus on where we're going and what we need. I can help you get your life back on track and focused on what's most important to you. I have been working in the counseling field for almost 30 years and have worked with individuals with a variety life's issues.