LCSW, 20 years of experience
Frequently rebooked
Hi! My name is Gila, and I am a NJ state-licensed clinical psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience assisting individuals with a wide array of concerns. I am truly excited that you are here seeking support. Therapy is one of the most effective ways to help manage difficult emotions and circumstances. Whether you are just seeking support from a professional with an objective stance or are seeking practical tools to manage difficult emotions and situations, you are in the right place. I have many years of experience working with individuals with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, grief and trauma. When meeting with you, I want you to feel supported, respected, and accepted without judgment. My primary goal is to help you gain clarity about what you really want for yourself and develop new effective approaches to manage life’s challenges.
During our first meeting, we would discuss what you are hoping to get out of therapy, and I would also begin obtaining some important history.
I enjoy working with individuals between the ages of 30 and 60 years since I find that my life experience lends itself well to help people within this range. As an older adult (55+), I understand major life transitions in addition to relationship issues, anxiety, depression and trauma.
I love working with individuals who want to understand themselves better and are open to viewing themselves and their issues from a new perspective. Also, those who are willing and ready to put new ideas into practice between sessions.
Cognitive therapy is my first "go-to" method as I have found it to be so effective with many clients. I start by providing psychoeducation on the basic concepts before beginning to apply principals in session. CBT offers tools that can be applied in all areas of our life.
I obtained training in conducting EMDR via telehealth two years ago and have found it to be very helpful in processing stressful events. Before using EMDR with any client, I assess severity of the trauma and whether or not it would be appropriate to use this process via telehealth.