Find a Therapist in Bergenfield, NJ

Change is the only constant in life, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is easy! Pain is an indicator that something isn't working and it is time for change. Like most things worthwhile, change requires hard work. Guiding you through the process of change is my lifework. Whatever your struggle, I'm here to work through it with you --you are not alone! The purpose of psychotherapy is to help you improve your life by making meaningful changes. A good therapist should, first and foremost, be able to help you reduce the immediate distress that has pushed you to look for treatment. Once that initial relief is accomplished, the way is then cleared to focus on the bigger-picture of your life: your beliefs and feelings about yourself and others, your interpersonal style, the usual ways in which you protect yourself from getting hurt, the influence of your childhood experiences, and many other factors, including highlighting and using your hard-won strengths, all with the aim of bringing about changes that lead to lasting improvements in quality of life.

I’m a mental health therapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, providing online therapy in New York and New Jersey. I believe in helping people achieve their best quality of life through support and evidence-based interventions. With nearly a decade of experience as a clinician, I’ve worked with people from all walks of life, religions, cultures, political views, socioeconomic statuses, upbringings and life circumstances. I have experience working with incarcerated teens and adults, families, first responders, and law enforcement. By identifying underlying issues and patterns in behavior and emotions, I aim to offer meaningful guidance that supports personal growth and healing. With a focus on cognitive behavioral therapy, I incorporate techniques from dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic approaches to provide structured and goal-oriented care in a safe, nonjudgmental space. I’m currently accepting new clients. I accept Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna insurance plans.

I offer a unique psychotherapy experience to improve mental health, bring harmony to your relationships, and increase your overall sense of well-being. I believe we each hold the keys to our own healing and counseling to be a process to help you find them. I am experienced working with adults, kids, teens, families, and couples.

My approach to healing is personalized, collaborative, and centered on helping you feel heard and understood. I believe mental health care should address the whole person—not just a diagnosis. Through comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and thoughtful medication management, we’ll work together to develop a treatment plan that supports your goals, daily functioning, and overall well-being. Medication management follow-up visits may also include brief supportive interventions, with a referral for ongoing intensive therapy with a counselor or social worker.

" Real transformation sometimes requires real honesty" - I would love to assist you with finding the path to your true self. Are you trying to find the right therapist? Not knowing what, who or what you need can make a situation worse when you want relief. Let me help you! I enjoy working with individuals who are trying to make meaning of their lives. Whether it involves issues concerning anxiety, depression, stress, anger, life transitions, academic/work performance, or other personal challenges, I will provide you with a supportive and safe space to assist you in gaining insight into your life. My aim is to help you optimize you.

I believe therapy should empower individuals to help them take control and enhance their lives into happy, healthy and successful ones. However, each person has individual struggles and challenges so what this looks like varies from person to person. Providing a collaborative, holistic approach to the treatment for me includes an examination of many different life factors that contribute to emotional well-being. I have a strong cognitive behavioral background. Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that making changes in ones thoughts and behaviors can positively affect how you feel. This treatment modality has been shown to be very effective in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression among other emotional difficulties. Within this framework I may also include work in mindfulness, exposure, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, play therapy, and other possible techniques. If you would like to positively change your life I love to help.

On Course Psychological Counseling, P.C. is a group practice that is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of psychotherapists, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists. We use an eclectic approach to treatment, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, and insight-oriented therapy, to address each client's individual needs, tailor their goals for treatment, and reduce their symptoms.

I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) with six years of experience supporting individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, crises, and life transitions. I help clients explore how past experiences shape their thoughts, emotions, and relationships. My background includes crisis work, inpatient care, and trauma-informed support, and I am passionate about helping clients feel more grounded, confident, and in control of their lives.

You've worked hard to build a successful career and establish yourself as a respected professional. People know you as someone competent, dependable, and always finds a way forward—a person of unwavering integrity. On the outside, you appear calm and in control, but inside, you carry a quiet, invisible burden: the constant pressure to get everything right, hide your fears, and stay productive—even when you're overwhelmed. You rarely give yourself permission to rest, set boundaries, or ask for help—leaving your own needs hidden beneath the surface. The behaviors and emotional patterns that bring you to therapy are not signs that something is wrong with you. They are ways you learned to cope and protect yourself in response to your earliest experiences with caregivers. Healing doesn't come from pushing yourself to do more—it begins with understanding these adaptations with compassion and gently helping your nervous system discover what true safety and connection can feel like. My approach is collaborative and attuned. We'll bring gentle curiosity to your experiences, exploring how your protective patterns once helped you survive and shaped the way you relate to yourself and others—always at a pace that feels safe and supportive. Together, we'll integrate somatic practices, mindfulness, and experiential work to cultivate safety, connection, and self-trust—laying the groundwork for meaningful, lasting change.

Dr. Vanessa Vitiello is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health, offering in-person sessions in New Jersey and New York, as well as online care via the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which makes it easier for clients to find a therapist near them. She works with individuals navigating postpartum anxiety, overwhelm, perfectionism, and the emotional shifts that often accompany new motherhood. Many clients seeking a mental health therapist are thoughtful, high-achieving individuals who feel pressure to “do it all” while managing the mental and emotional load of parenting. Dr. Vitiello provides a warm, collaborative space to explore these experiences, reduce anxiety, and build more supportive ways of coping through counseling. Her approach integrates evidence-based therapy with mindfulness and body-based practices to support both emotional and physical well-being. She is also a certified yoga teacher. That training informs her work in helping clients feel more grounded and regulated during times of stress. It’s a privilege to support individuals during this important transition. Dr. Vitiello is committed to providing care that is compassionate, affirming, and responsive to the unique needs of the perinatal community.