Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Westfield, NJ

My ideal client is at a place where they are ready and willing to accept their issues and want to do therapeutic work. They may have issues with depression, anxiety, or substance use. They may need to work on self-acceptance, medication management, or developing and implementing coping skills.

My ideal client is curious about themselves and the world and actively participates in the therapeutic process. I enjoy working with young adults and older adults, but I'm not limited to these populations. My ideal client is at a place of feeling "stuck" in their life. Whether that be a career transition, deciding on a college major, feeling lost in a relationship, or a new onset of symptoms. I am also comfortable with helping individuals unpack their past to understand their current habits. My ideal client wants to understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to develop self-awareness and self-compassion along the way.

Break old patterns, heal from the past, and move forward with better, healthier relationships with yourself and others. Using evidence-based practice, you'll develop resilience, find your focus and free yourself from old beliefs and expectations and make conscious, positive decisions to move you closer to a life with more ease, self-awareness, acceptance and growth.

I welcome individuals who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction, maladaptive coping, chronic pain, low self-esteem, complex trauma, and grief. Formal training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and EMDR 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.

I provide behavioral consultation and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children and their families. My focus is on clients with behavioral challenges, ADHD, anxiety symptoms, and ASD, as well as common challenge areas, such as tantrums, feeding, toileting, and sleep. I work with families to improve the skills and overall quality of life of their child and other family members through pragmatic, evidence-based treatment and coaching, infusing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into ABA. I also help families with Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), program evaluations, IEP reviews, and home program consultation.

We live in a world of uncertainty and with that often comes a feeling of uneasiness or increase in anxiety. This feeling can often make people feel alone. I am here to help this process not seem as lonely and help you to get on a better path. I have extensive experience working in the field of oncology and helping individuals work through challenging, life-altering experiences. I help individuals cope with the many challenges that arise during these major life transitions. Having someone involved to help you navigate the many emotions that arise during this time can make the process less overwhelming.

Are you feeling stuck? Is it starting to impact the relationship with yourself or others? My clients are caring, well-intentioned, and often overextended individuals dealing with various responsibilities (career, education, relationships, health, friendship, family, financial stress, etc.) I help my clients establish healthy coping strategies for their stress and anxieties to restore their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. My office is a safe space to be human. It's truly an honor to walk alongside my clients as they work through their challenges and embrace the aspects of life that are most important to them.

Are you living an anxious, depressed, or angry life? Are you feeling lost, insecure, or struggling to find your place in the world? Do you wish you had better relationships, better self esteem, or a more fulfilling career? I understand how difficult it can be when you aren’t living the life you want but I’ve seen in countless cases how the therapeutic process can be transformational in helping you achieve the change you so desperately seek.

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 . . .

Living life with a chronic illness is often lonely and difficult. Having worked as a chronic illness mental health provider for the last 7 years, I can truly understand and support individuals who live their lives with a disease that is often invisible to others. I also work with parents and other caregivers who have a child with a chronic illness, or other unique challenges. I also have many years of experience counseling adults with depression, anxiety, high functioning autism spectrum disorder, and mood disorders.

Dr. Pete approaches clinical work from a cognitive orientation, including a variety of evidence-based treatments while creating an open dialogue about treatment techniques, goals and culture. The main focus is on improving wellbeing and reducing stress including integration of Eastern traditions such as Buddhism and Yoga. This has lead to the authorship of several books and research articles on the utilization of mindfulness for effective leadership, building effective teams, and improving the wellness of high performing professionals (athletes and executives).

I am a clinical psychologist experienced in working with individuals around a variety of emotional and life challenges, including anxiety, depression, parenting, postpartum adjustment, relationship issues, health issues, and grief. I believe therapy is a creative process in which a therapist must utilize a variety of techniques to create a unique treatment plan for each patient. I am trained in many different modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Theory, ACT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Do you struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, intrusive thoughts, or overthinking? Have you tried talk therapy before but didn't feel that it gave you practical ways to cope with these issues? It can be terrifying to share your inner thoughts and fears with another person, but I assure you that I am here to offer my non-judgmental support, warmth, and expertise to help you see tangible improvements in your anxiety and in your life.

I'm glad you are here! Its the first step in improving your life. If you are feeling weighed down by anxious thoughts or sad feelings or just having difficulty dealing with life's stressors then you are in the right place. "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." -William James.

I thrive when working with young women. Whether they’re struggling with school-related stress or struggling to process a breakup, I can quickly build rapport with folks in this demographic. My treatment plans include goals dedicated to helping people identify their triggers for emotional dysregulation. I believe in the importance of somatic and cognitive level wellness strategies and work to have my clients learn and implement both sets of skills. I have enjoyed working with a variety of diagnoses, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.

Parenting feels hard because it is hard! It can feel isolating and like no matter what books you read, webinars you watch, podcasts you listen to, and strategies you try, nothing seems to work or have a lasting impact. This can drain your cup and leave you feeling exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed. While you love your child with all of your being, it can be hard to find moments of joy and connection. Therapy can help you understand yourself and your child in new ways to rebuild a positive relationship.

Finding the right therapist can be quite stressful and exhausting. I’m dedicated to making my clients feel comfortable and understood from the start. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults from a variety of backgrounds to overcome many difficulties such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, relationship issues, and complex trauma. I see every potential client as unique with their own strengths and life story.

My ideal clients are people who have been unable to find someone they can pull back the veil covering their heart because of past betrayals, lack of trust, cultural roadblocks, or some other barrier that keeps the true source of their burden hidden. You are looking for a space where you can be honest, not with me, but with yourself. You're looking for someone who can listen without judgment and accompany you on your healing journey. You are seeking someone to either walk with you through your journey and hold you accountable for the goals you set for yourself or for someone who can simply listen with an open mind.

My ideal client would be someone who is trying to make connections from their past to the present, not to relive their past, but to understand why they may be struggling in the present. Learning to let go of old habits, old ways of thinking that were dysfunctional, is key to living mindfully in the present. Changing the response to the narrative is important to be able to move forward from your past experiences.