My Approach to Helping
I'm an experienced & compassionate Licensed Professional Counselor in Wall Township, NJ. I speak English & Portuguese; I'm skilled in Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Family Therapy & Behavioral Modifications. I have experience working with clients suffering from anxiety, depression, and other emotional conditions. I graduated from Wake Forest University Graduate School in North Carolina & hold a Master's Degree focused on Clinical Mental Health. I am passionate about helping adolescents, adults & families achieve a higher quality of life through a "no judgment, no criticism" counseling philosophy, fostering a safe environment for you to be yourself.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
Do I need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties, there's nothing wrong with seeking extra support when you need it. Therapy is for people with enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, which is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting your position and committing to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process
What is therapy like? It's a journey, and we help you return to the driver's seat.
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. You can generally expect to discuss the current events and your personal history relevant to your issue and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term for a particular issue, longer-term to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, scheduling regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly) is the most common.
It is essential to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes, open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What Makes up a Problem?
Why do people go to therapy, and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.) or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing other issues, such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much-needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and prepared to make changes in their lives.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.
