Find a Therapist in Montclair, NJ

My approach in therapy is collaborative, supportive, and goal oriented.

As a Rapid Transformational Therapist , I'm passionate about helping individuals rewire their brains to project positive images and words. I believe in the power of beliefs—first you make your beliefs, and then your beliefs make you. My mission is to empower others to break free from limiting beliefs and unlock their true potential. I chose to become an RTT therapist because I find the approach both creative and innovative, and I'm excited to work with clients to help them improve their lives. I can help you identify and overcome negative thought patterns that may be holding you back. By becoming more attuned to your beliefs, you can create a brighter, more positive future for yourself. Let's work together to unleash the best version of you!

I specialize in work with gay men. Are you worried that most therapists will not truly understand you, or that you will have to censor yourself in therapy because you are a gay man? I had these same concerns, and they motivated me to become a psychotherapist who could help others like me. We will work together in a safe and relaxing environment to discover and actualize the solutions you need in order to live a more fulfilling life. With 20 years of clinical experience, I have honed a comprehensive approach that ensures each session addresses your specific needs and goals, helping you achieve meaningful and lasting change. To achieve this, I integrate a variety of therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), internal family systems, and Zen therapy. I am also a certified sex therapist. The foundation of our work together is the strong therapeutic relationship we build.

I work collaboratively with clients to empower them to identify and move through the issues that stand between them and the lives they hope to lead. I bring a unique approach that blends evidence-based, solution oriented strategies with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques to help clients foster connection, community, and meaning. I operate from a strengths based perspective and prioritize a space of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and respect. I am a first-generation Latina fluent in both Spanish and English. I'm looking forward to meeting you!

I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all solution. My therapeutic style is deeply client-centered, meaning the patient and I work as a team. I blend evidence-based techniques with an eclectic mix of methods tailored specifically to your unique life story. These approaches are particularly effective for those processing PTSD or trauma-related challenges. My ultimate goal is to provide a safe, compassionate space where you can regain control of your life. Whether we are working through a difficult season of depression or building resilience against stress, I am here to guide you toward a healthier, more balanced state of well-being. You do not have to walk the path to healing alone and I am looking forward to assisting you in your journey.

Talk therapy can help you become your true self. I have worked extensively with adults and have a good understanding of childhood issues.I also do couples work focusing on improving communication which fosters real intimacy. I work with individuals and families from an interpersonal approach with a focus on emotions.I believe that all people have resources to solve problems.I am easy to talk to and I have great listening skills. I have worked many years with adolescents in public education. I have had great success with them because I understand what it is like being an adolescent today. I also have an extensive background in substance abuse.

I believe growth is not always comfortable, and difficulty does not automatically mean something is wrong. In therapy, I help clients become curious about the patterns, fears, beliefs, and old roles that may be keeping them stuck. Sometimes the obstacle is not a sign to turn around—it is the place where the deeper work begins. We may explore the boundary you are afraid to set, the grief you have postponed, the truth you have softened, the relationship pattern that keeps repeating, or the part of you that still confuses familiarity with safety. I used to think of transformation as the butterfly—the beautiful ending, the freedom, the moment when everything finally makes sense. But transformation is often the part before that. It is the cocoon. It is the dark, uncomfortable, sometimes messy work of making sense of our fortunes and misfortunes, our desires and doubts, our losses, fears, and old ways of surviving. Real change may ask us to sit with discomfort before we feel relief. To grieve what we are leaving behind before we know what comes next. To question beliefs we have carried for years and recognize that what once protected us may now be limiting us. My approach is collaborative, reflective, and practical. I help clients understand where their patterns came from, what those patterns once protected them from, and whether they are still serving them now. The goal is not to force change or pretend healing is easy. It is to help you move through the uncomfortable places with greater awareness, self-trust, and intention—so you can become the person you are ready to become and build a life based on what you choose, rather than only on what you learned to survive.

In therapy with me, you will be welcome, just as you are, as we work together to understand your unique circumstances. We'll look closely at what causes you pain, how you can have a new experience of yourself, and what is possible in your life. You may be coming to therapy because you are suffering, you feel stuck, or you simply want to know yourself better. Here's what you can expect from me: I will listen to you with my whole self. I will challenge your assumptions. I will try to see into some of your blind spots. And I will do my best to help you have a fresh and surprising encounter with yourself, one that you can draw upon long after you leave the session. Therapy can help enormously if there is a good match between the therapist and the client. I invite you to contact me to see if we would work well together.

Do you feel like you don’t have a space that is meant for you in this world? “Normal" has never been where you fit in, and that’s fine with you. But you are more than a little tired of holding up the mask you wear and seeming so resilient when you’re really just exhausted. So you want to explore deeper within yourself and be true to who you are. You want a better relationship with yourself and those you are around, whether friends, family, or romantic partners. You can improve and grow your relationships. You can absolutely learn new skills and strengthen what’s already there. It might be really fucking difficult, but you’ve gotten this far, haven’t you? All of the resources to be the best you are already there. They’re just waiting to be unlocked. But you don’t have to do it all alone. I can help. Not as some high-and-mighty expert, but as your guide. Because I’ve been there too. I know how hard it is to balance all of your competing needs. I’m Latina, autistic, and an ADHDer. I get it. So if you want to start making some changes now, visit my website at kristinajoneslmhc.com or email me at contact@kristinajoneslmhc.com.

I practice a problem focused, short-term, and distinct form of cognitive behavioral therapy. I am an active directive therapist. I teach people how to change what can be changed and to accept what cannot be changed about themselves, others and life. I teach rational thinking. This approach is called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). It was created by Albert Ellis a famous psychologist who I worked with for many years. This is a no nonsense approach to emotional and behavioral health. I actively show you how not to upset yourself when you encounter difficulties so that you can then go about attempting to modify what can be changed. I teach people how to control their emotions and behaviors. I work with individuals and couples. I show people how to adopt sensible beliefs so that they can achieve their potential. Please go to my website and watch my video and read more about this very pragmatic, fast acting and direct form of psychotherapy.

I firmly believe in meeting my clients where they are in their current struggles. I hope to empower them to move toward productive, healthy futures. Whether you want to grow in awareness, resolve relationship challenges, or move beyond depression and anxiety, I can help you. I am skilled at building strong relationships with my clients. I can relate to their challenges & use humor to help them feel comfortable. I help them open up so they can address their needs. I am experienced at helping domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors, as well as adolescents. I also have experience helping couples with relationship concerns.

As a therapist, my approach is centered on your inner-world. Who you are on the inside matters much more than the circumstances of your life, and I am passionate about helping people grow to appreciate and be curious about themselves. Most of us have hidden parts of ourselves that we’ve tucked away because of life, but I’m here to help you explore those things and come more fully into yourself. My philosophy and approach to helping people is based on the goal of integration - helping you develop your whole self together. Feelings and thoughts are not enemies, and I am very interested in helping you connect fully and healthfully with both. I believe that therapy is not just about obtaining symptom relief; it is a way to develop and become a better-integrated person with a greater capacity to enjoy your life, work, relationships, and interests. I am a long-haul therapist. We all have experiences in our lives that were difficult, even traumatic, and that hinder us from experiencing what we need to in order to move on to the next stage of development. I am really interested in helping you remember what you need to - to make sense of and make peace with your past - and move forward. Change (both movement and loss) requires us to learn to let go of the way things were and embrace the new. I am committed to travel with you on this sometimes arduous journey.