Licensed to practice in New Jersey and accepts 11 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Grief, Serious Mental Illness and 10 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
Hello and Welcome! If you are here, that means you have taken a huge step and a quite courageous one! You may even be looking for a therapist for a loved one which requires courage and bravery as well... My name is Chris Ecochard I have worked in many therapeutic settings ranging from Inpatient Detox, Short/Long-Term Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and Standard Outpatient. I have seen the transformation of countless individuals in their journeys of recovery whether it be from drugs/alcohol, mental health, loss, trauma, etc. Being a part of your journey is an honor and a privilege. Your therapeutic space is a sacred space for healing and growth.
Your first session will consist of getting to know you and hearing your story. We will visit the past, present, and even begin to look towards the future which will all be at your comfort level and pace. The therapeutic relationship and alliance can take time to develop and evolve as that is also part of the process of healing and growth. I will get to know what interests you, what motivates you, what you love and what you do not love. The initial session will be a bit more formal and directive to obtain important historical information. Subsequent sessions will free flowing and directive at times as where "I will go, where you go..." Also importantly, do not add unnecessary pressure on yourself by disclosing what you may not be ready to disclose. Therapy is like getting to the center of an onion; layer by layer.
My approach stands out because it does not come across as formal or dry. I am very much an active listener during sessions where I will engaging and interactive while at other times, I will use silence to hold space for you to experience and process. I use humor, metaphors, music lyrics, movie characters, creative writing, homework assignments (not boring ones), and sometimes some light sarcasm in session depending on your needs and preferences; one size never fits all in therapy. I am also a musician and will likely use music as a tool in therapy as I have been playing and writing music all of my life. Music heals and saves lives. So please, tell me your favorite musical artists and why... I will ask questions that will enable you to think differently than you typically do. We will explore solutions that maybe you have not explored or considered yet. I do not judge. We are all unique with our perceptions and how we interact in our environments. Past clients have said that I am warm, nurturing, and soothing with my approaches while also being assertive, direct, and motivating.
I am here to help my clients become who they were always meant to be. If you are motivated, GREAT! If you are somewhat or not motivated, I can work with that. I am here to meet you where you are at and aid in finding ways to improve your overall quality of life. This can be from improving your self-esteem, setting boundaries, overcoming trauma, and preventing relapse on substances or other maladaptive behaviors.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize this technique to aid in identifying troubling thoughts and ways to challenge those thoughts by putting them "On Trial" as well as providing assignments to focus on in between sessions.
Eclectic
I utilize various approaches to fit each client uniquely based on their needs. Please tell me what you are looking for in a therapist...
Grief Therapy
Loss is a natural and inevitable part of life as well as confusing and complicated ones. I am here to help navigate the array feelings associated with grief. I am here to help make some sort meaning from these losses.
Psychoeducation
I utilize this technique as knowledge can facilitate change. I will use psychoeducation to provide you with information about various topics from medication adherence, learning about your diagnosis, and acquiring knowledge about coping skills and behavioral patterns.
Existential
What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose? What is your purpose? These are questions that will be asked when employing this technique.