Hi! I am a licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)based in NJ. I have received a Masters in psychology from West Chester University, PA. I have been working as a therapist for about 20 years. For the first 8 years I was working in community mental health settings. The last 12 years I have been working in private practice. I help clients deal with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma related disorders, relationship issues, retirement issues, job or school related issues, as well as parenting issues.
In our first session we have to go over some of your bio-social back ground and complete some paperwork. But then we start with some of your specific challenges, concerns, and goals. Then we can go over a plan how to achieve your goals.
Having been working in this profession for many years, I can say my strengths are: genuine interest in others, empathy, patience, experience with various mental/behavioral health issues, flexibility, and sense of humor.
I am well positioned to serve clients across the lifespan, from adolescence through older adulthood. I also love to work with the client population over 55 years who might be struggeling with transitioning into retirement, or dealing with living in retirement. For the first 10 years, I have worked in community mental health, where I received comprehensive training to support individuals from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. My experience includes working with clients presenting with a wide range of concerns, including emotional, relational, and personal challenges, as well as severe and persistent mental illness. My approach is grounded in empathy, cultural humility, and a nonjudgmental, client-centered framework, with the goal of fostering a safe and supportive environment for growth. Treatment planning emphasizes actionable and meaningful change, including improved emotional regulation, symptom reduction, behavioral change, increased self-awareness, and the development of healthy coping strategies. Goals are often structured using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I try to support clients in developing greater acceptance of their experiences, while fostering commitment to meaningful change. I also try to teach clients to identify their negative thougth patterns, challenge them and replace them with more realistic thoughts. In sessions, we explore their goals, review past efforts to achieve them, and examine strategies they might use to avoid discomfort or difficult emotions. My primary treatment approaches include: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). For clients who are motivated to engage in regular homework assignments, I often incorporate CPT as part of the treatment. I have completed professional training in all of these evidence based treatment approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I try to teach clients to recognize their negative thoughts and behaviors and how they can trap them in a cycle of negativity. Then we work on challenging these thought patterns and replace them with more adaptive thoughts and behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
This is a more involved technique and it requires more homework and active participation from clients. I try to help clients learn skills to help them improve their lives and make positive changes and to help them accept themselves and their emotions without judgment.
Family Therapy
I use a vairety of techniques to help families improve communication, resolve conflict, and address other issues.
Psychoeducation
Sometimes it is necessary to provide information about mental health illnesses, coping skills and resources.