Licensed to practice in Connecticut and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Couples Counseling, Depression and 10 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges with compassion and evidence-based care. With experience treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship issues, and caregiver stress, I provide a supportive, collaborative environment where clients feel heard, empowered, and equipped to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and achieve lasting emotional well-being.
During our first session, we will focus on getting to know one another and developing a clear understanding of what brings you to therapy. I will complete a comprehensive evaluation to learn about your concerns, personal history, strengths, and the challenges you are currently facing. Together, we will identify your goals for therapy, discuss what you hope to achieve, and develop a personalized treatment plan outlining the strategies and interventions that will help you reach those goals. My priority is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where you feel comfortable sharing at your own pace.
Johanna Berberena is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals, couples, families, and older adults. With a diverse clinical background in outpatient behavioral health, medical settings, and community mental health, she helps clients navigate life’s challenges with empathy, respect, and practical strategies for lasting change. For more than four years, Johanna has worked extensively with couples, helping partners strengthen communication, rebuild trust, resolve conflict, and deepen emotional connection. She provides a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where couples can address relationship challenges, improve intimacy, navigate life transitions, and develop healthier patterns of interaction. Whether couples are experiencing ongoing conflict, recovering from betrayal, or seeking to strengthen their relationship, Johanna collaborates with them to foster lasting growth and meaningful change. Johanna also specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, caregiver stress, chronic medical conditions, and relationship concerns. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), she has extensive experience supporting individuals living with dementia and their families, helping them cope with the emotional and practical challenges associated with cognitive decline. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, person-centered, and culturally responsive. She integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based interventions, and other relationship-focused techniques, tailoring treatment to each client’s unique needs, values, and goals. Johanna believes healing begins in a safe, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. She is passionate about helping individuals and couples build resilience, strengthen relationships, develop healthy coping skills, and achieve meaningful personal growth. Her commitment is to provide compassionate, high-quality care while honoring each client’s unique journey toward emotional wellness.
I work best with individuals and couples who are ready to better understand themselves, overcome life’s challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change. I frequently help clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship and family conflict, life transitions, grief, and unresolved trauma. My ideal clients are open to self-reflection and recognize that personal growth involves both strengths and vulnerabilities. I believe our weaknesses do not define us—they are part of being human and, when explored with compassion, can become opportunities for healing, resilience, and transformation rather than sources of shame. I also work with clients who understand that true healing often comes from within. Many emotional wounds and traumatic experiences remain buried for years, influencing thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors. Together, we create a safe space to uncover these patterns, process painful experiences, and develop the tools needed to move forward with greater confidence, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.
Other specialties
I identify as
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
In my practice, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients learn how to better manage difficult thoughts and emotions instead of fighting or avoiding them. I guide clients in building awareness of the present moment, identifying what truly matters to them (their values), and taking small, meaningful steps toward those values even when challenges arise. The goal is to increase psychological flexibility so clients can live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
Christian Counseling
In my practice, I integrate Christian counseling by incorporating faith, prayer (when welcomed by the client), and biblical principles alongside evidence-based therapy. I support clients in exploring how their spiritual beliefs can provide strength, meaning, and guidance during difficult seasons such as anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, or trauma. Sessions remain client-centered, and faith is used as a supportive resource to promote healing, hope, and emotional growth in alignment with the client’s values.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We work together to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge them, and replace them with more balanced and realistic thoughts. I also support clients in developing practical coping skills and behavioral strategies they can use in daily life to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and improve overall functioning.
Gottman method
In my practice, I use Gottman Method principles to help couples strengthen their relationship through improved communication, emotional connection, and conflict resolution. I help partners identify negative interaction patterns, build healthier ways of expressing needs, and increase understanding and respect. Couples also learn practical tools to manage conflict constructively, deepen friendship, and rebuild trust, with the goal of creating a more stable, supportive, and fulfilling relationship.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In my practice, I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and reducing unhealthy coping behaviors. I teach practical tools in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The goal is to help clients stay grounded in the present moment, respond to stress in healthier ways, and create more balance and stability in their emotional and relational lives.