Terri DiMatteo, LPC

If you're reading this, something is hurting. Maybe you discovered an affair, and your mind hasn't stopped racing since. Maybe the person you married now feels like a stranger, and you can't remember the last time you felt truly close. Or maybe you're starting to suspect that the partner, parent, or family member you've been trying so hard to please is actually someone who can never be pleased — and you're exhausted from trying. Whatever brought you here, I want you to know two things. First, you are not overreacting. And second, you are not alone in this. I'm Terri DiMatteo, a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, and for more than a decade I've helped individuals and couples find their way back to connection, clarity, and themselves. My specialties are affair recovery, restoring intimacy in long-term relationships, and healing from narcissistic abuse — three of the most painful and disorienting experiences a person can go through. My approach is grounded in attachment theory and shaped by a core belief: romantic love is not a skill to be managed — it's a bond to be protected. Out of more than a decade of clinical work, I developed The Intimacy Bond™, my framework for understanding adult love as a mutual protective attachment built from emotional closeness and physical desire. When that bond is strong, it becomes the safest place in your life. When it weakens, everything feels uncertain. Together, we'll work on restoring it — or, if it can't be restored, helping you walk forward whole. What's it like to work with me? Warm, honest, and grounded. I won't hand you a workbook or a list of communication scripts. Instead, I'll listen closely to what's really happening underneath the words — the longing, the resentment, the fear, the hope — and help you make sense of it. I'll be direct when you need direction, gentle when you need softness, and steady throughout. My goal is for you to leave each session feeling a little more clear, a little more seen, and a little more hopeful than when you arrived. You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to keep waiting for things to magically get better. When you're ready, reach out. Tell me what brought you here today. Together, we'll begin the work of restoring what matters most.

Open Door Therapy is my private practice based in New Jersey, where I work directly with every client I see. When you reach out, you reach me — not an intake coordinator, not a junior associate, and not a rotating cast of clinicians. The work we do together is personal, and I believe the therapeutic relationship should reflect that from the very first conversation. I offer individual therapy, couples counseling, and consulting for clients navigating relationship challenges, affair recovery, and healing from narcissistic abuse. My consulting services are designed for clients who want focused, solutions-oriented support outside the traditional therapy model — whether that's untangling a complicated family dynamic, working through a high-stakes personal decision, or addressing a workplace situation that's affecting your wellbeing. Because life is already demanding, I offer flexible evening and weekend hours to make consistent therapy realistic for working professionals, busy parents, and anyone whose weekdays leave little room for self-care. Sessions are available both in-person and via secure telehealth for clients located anywhere in New Jersey. My clinical work is informed by The Intimacy Bond™, my proprietary framework for understanding romantic love as a mutual protective attachment. I share this framework openly through my blog, LoveBonds, where I write about the deeper structure of romantic relationships — beyond surface-level advice — for readers who want to understand love at its roots. My perspective has also been featured in national outlets including Vogue, The Today Show, and Newsweek, where I'm frequently consulted on infidelity, attachment, and modern relationships. I offer a complimentary initial consultation so you can get a feel for how I work and decide whether we're the right fit before committing to anything. There's no pressure, no script, and no obligation — just a chance for you to share what brought you here and ask any questions on your mind. If you've been carrying this alone for a while, I hope you'll take that first small step. The right support can change everything.