LCSW, 15 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Alece Coleman—a wife, mother of three, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Supervisor in New Jersey, and a woman whose life and work are deeply rooted in faith. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and I am licensed to practice in New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida. I also have postgraduate training and certification in perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, pregnancy-related mental health, Narrative Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I hold a firm belief that clients should never feel they have to leave their faith, culture, or identity outside the therapy room. These parts of who we are can be essential to understanding our struggles, building resilience, and experiencing lasting healing.
Your first session is a welcoming space for us to begin understanding your story and what you hope to gain from therapy. As an LCSW using Narrative Therapy and integrating faith-based principles when appropriate, I focus on seeing you as the expert of your own life while helping you explore new possibilities for healing. During this session, you can expect: • A thorough assessment of your concerns We’ll talk about the issues that brought you to therapy and how they’re currently affecting your life. • Space to share your story You’ll have plenty of time to express why you’re seeking support right now and what feels most important for you to address. • Clarifying how you want to feel Together, we’ll explore how you want to feel during treatment and what you hope life will look like when therapy is complete. • Setting expectations We’ll discuss what you can expect from me as your therapist, as well as what your role looks like in the therapeutic process. This helps us build a clear and collaborative foundation. • Initial baseline assessments I may use brief assessment questions or tools to help identify where you’re starting emotionally, mentally, and if you choose—spiritually. These baselines help guide our work and track progress. • Respect for your values and faith If your faith or spirituality is important to you, we can integrate those principles in a way that supports your healing. If not, therapy remains fully centered on your preferences and worldview. Your first session is simply the start of a supportive, collaborative journey. My goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered as we work together toward meaningful change.
I intentionally create a therapeutic environment that honors the spiritual and cultural values each client brings. Whether you identify deeply with your faith tradition or are exploring what spirituality means to you, your beliefs are welcomed as an integral part of the healing process. In my clinical work, I integrate evidence-based treatments with a faith-affirming and culturally respectful approach. My goal is to support the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—while providing grounded, compassionate, and competent care. I’m truly grateful you’re here, and I look forward to walking alongside you as you pursue healing, clarity, and hope.
My ideal client is someone who feels stuck in patterns of emotional pain, anxiety, depression, or relationship struggles and is ready to make meaningful change. They may be carrying the weight of past trauma, navigating a difficult season, or seeking a deeper sense of peace and purpose. They value both psychological insight and spiritual growth, desiring a space where their faith is respected and integrated into the healing process. They want to understand their story, build emotional resilience, and live with greater balance and confidence.
Narrative therapy allows clients to separate themselves from their problems and explore how their personal stories have been shaped by experiences, relationships, and cultural influences. I help clients identify dominant narratives that may limit their sense of possibility and assist them in developing alternative stories grounded in their strengths, values, and preferred identities.
When it feels appropriate and is aligned with a client’s personal beliefs, I also integrate a biblical framework into our work. This may include exploring faith-based themes such as grace, hope, identity, forgiveness, and purpose, offering biblical perspectives that can support healing and meaning-making. I ensure that any use of biblical material is client-led, respectful, and tailored to their comfort level, so that spiritual integration enhances, rather than directs the therapeutic process.