Therapists in Princeton, NJ

My treatment approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapy for individuals suffering from various disorders and psychological distress including but not limited to eating disorders, depression, anxiety, LGBTQ, suicidal ideation, and family issues. In addition to psychotherapy, I conduct psychological evaluations/testing, psychoeducational testing, and biopsychosocial evaluations. I conduct testing for ADHD, gifted/talented, and special education services. I provide a compassionate, holistic, and caring atmosphere in order to provide my clients a trusting and supportive therapeutic experience.

I have been providing counseling and consulting services for over 35 years. My office is conveniently located in the Princeton area. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of New Jersey, offering counseling to individuals seeking help for emotional issues that are affecting their sense of satisfaction and well-being in their lives. My priority in treatment is to provide a safe, relaxing, non-threatening atmosphere, where individuals will feel "listened to/really understood", in examining whatever issues or concerns might be preventing them from experiencing happy, peaceful, and fulfilling lives.

Many of us struggle with everyday stressors. Whether stemming from family dynamics, work difficulties, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, low self esteem, identity confusion or a combination of contributors, these stressors can have a profound effect on our quality of life. Finding change and accepting support is a journey that takes time, compassion and patience. I offer psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families with a strengths-based approach, aimed at making clients feel engaged and vested in their treatment process. Through self reflection and collaborative efforts, I work with clients to balance these life stressors and make them more manageable.

I have had the pleasure of working with a varied clientele. For many years I have built rapport with and facilitated the progress of youth who are on the spectrum, who have attention disorders, who struggled with emotion regulation, who are mute, who are transgender, and have exhibited self-harming behaviors. I have also worked with families as a parent coach and as a provider of psycho-education. Many of my adult clients have had issues with abandonment, attachment, trauma, and self-harm. The goals I have facilitated my clients progression in are myriad. However, one goal most of my clients aspire to attain is self-love.

I believe therapy can help one learn to navigate strong emotions and better regulate one's responses to life's challenges. Feeling understood and validated by one's therapist can allow one to develop insight into thoughts, feelings and behaviors. In knowing the context and meaning that underlies how we relate to the self, to others and to the world, we have greater choice in breaking free from distressing patterns that may be keeping us stuck. Over time, the therapeutic relationship becomes the vehicle that allows one to carve a personal and professional life that feels satisfying and deeply meaningful.

Major life transitions can result in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and coping problems. Whether it's a breakup, divorce, death, job change, becoming a parent, retirement, going to college, or a new empty nest - change is constant. That's where I can help, as symptoms can be debilitating, making the day-to-day feel impossible. As Therapist and Founder of The Nine Therapy Studio, I offer a different approach to therapy. My unique skillset in marriage, parenting, and work qualify me to help you learn practical tools, whether it's therapy for individuals, families, infidelity, career change, sexuality issues, or marital discord.

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.

I have 30 years of experience in a range of settings with people of many different backgrounds. My professional experience in concert with my personal journey enable me to focus on the person in the room and strive to understand their unique needs, goals and how psychotherapy can help in this process. I believe that the psychotherapy relationship provides an ideal forum for helping people move towards optimal functioning framed by their values and goals. I provide a safe place to address issues of mood, thinking, behavior, transition, adjustment, interpersonal conflict, anxiety, trauma and any other life challenge.

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.

A meaningful and attuned connection between therapist and client is the best predictor of a successful treatment. My first goal in our therapy is to develop a good understanding of your perspective, concerns and needs. I believe in working collaboratively with you to move in the direction you most wish to go. My areas of practice include psychotherapy for adolescents, adults, couples and families. I also provide consultation to study abroad programs and supervision for mental health professionals.

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.

Princeton Center for DBT and Counseling is a private group practice specializing in comprehensive DBT services for adults and adolescents, as well as other forms of psychotherapy including EMDR and trauma therapies, supportive counseling, family therapy, and parent consultation and support.Our mission is to provide the highest standard of mental health treatment while maintaining an approach that is flexible and customized to meet the unique needs of each individual in the process of achieving meaningful and lasting change. Lona Stranieri, LCSW is the Director and is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician

At Princeton Family Institute we provide psychotherapy to families, couples and individuals from a culturally sensitive collaborative family systems perspective. I work with a range of problems:depression, anxiety, school refusal, child behavior problems, arrested emotional independence, substance abuse recovery, anorexia, and family and couples' conflict. In child-focused issues, I believe children should not alone bear the burden of change. I enlist family members as a resource in problem-solving. Parents and I work as a team to help their children. I welcome individuals, couples, and families whose problems have not been successfully addressed through other therapeutic approaches.

My approach to therapy is compassionate and respectful. In addition to gaining greater understanding of your self, therapy is an opportunity to learn specific skills and techniques for meeting your goals and feeling better. I value therapy as a time to face difficulties and break free from unsatisfying ways of feeling, thinking, or being in relationships with others. As a clinical psychologist, I am experienced in helping clients struggling with anxiety, low mood, painful or intense emotions, problems in close relationships, and self-criticism.

The ideal client is anyone who is ready to talk. Just by starting the search for a therapist is setting off on the right foot. My goal is to work with you, build a healthy working relationship, establish your goals and work towards them together. You are not in this alone!

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” I believe that every individual has within themselves the resources they need to take actions towards creating the changes that will align with their values and purpose. Being a bicultural individual, I am able to see things from two different perspectives, which helps me remain open and adaptable to various personal values and ways of life. I pride myself on my ability to create a space where you would feel comfortable and understood to express your concerns and emotions freely.

I have over 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals and couples from different backgrounds. Mental health can be compromised by chronic stress that negatively affects our mind and body. Stress can result from living challenging workplace environments, family difficulties, personal emotional problems, the experience loss or trauma. I have particular expertise in helping those living in intense high pressure environments stressors that may have caused depression and anxiety, identity concerns, relationship problems, workplace conflicts or academic difficulties, family problems, and serious mental health challenges.

Finally deciding to seek out therapy can sometimes feel overwhelming and even increase uncomfortable feelings. Finding the "right fit" with a therapist means taking emotional risks to get the support you deserve. For many years I have worked to help individuals regain or perhaps even discover for the first time, a sense of inner peace. My practice incorporates holistic, somatic & integrative approaches to treat a wide range of mental health challenges. I believe "theory" is invaluable, however, experience and research shows that successful therapy is closely connected to the relationship that develops between therapist and client.

As a psychologist, I appreciate the opportunity to witness peoples’ capacity for not only surviving, but also thriving in today’s complicated world. My experience over the past decade has brought me to understand the many ways a therapist’s role is akin to that of a gardener tending to a lotus. Just as the young lotus needs tender care and stillness, I provide a safe, nurturing and collaborative environment. Respecting the lotus’s need for sunlight, I approach therapy with warmth, openness and humor. As a Confucian scholar once said, “I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained.”