Therapists in Toms River, NJ

To me, therapy should be something in your life that is positive, flexible, and uniquely yours. That is why I strive to work with my clients to provide therapy that works on their time and schedule and utilize skills that fit into their day-to-day routines. My greatest belief is that everyone is capable of living their most authentic life and to go on that journey with clients is rewarding. Everyone handles things differently, from anxiety to trauma, and the key is finding what works for you. I look forward to going on this journey with you.

Life is full of transitions: Marriages, divorces, change of career, retirement, mid life crisis, illness. At times we feel overwhelmed. But no matter how hopeless things may appear at a time, I believe that there is a wholeness and healthiness within. I help men and women to get in touch with the part of them that is well, to heal the part that is hurting.Happiness in life comes through knowing what to hold onto, what to let go of and what to change and how. Things we perceive as negative gain a new meaning when viewed from a place of power, when new skills are learned. See what my patients say about me in Yelp, under Mena Urban

Se sta pensando di chiamarmi, è per almeno una di queste ragioni: ha dedicato senza successo considerevole energia e tempo a risolvere la sua ansia, le sue paure, le sue ossessioni, le sue perdite e il suo trauma, la sua tristezza, i suoi fallimenti nelle sue relazioni o nella sua produttività; é stanco di ripetere gli stessi errori e comportamenti e non é stato in grado di cambiare; é stato respinto, ha sperimentato di non essere amato, compreso, preso nella sua unicità; o non ha fatto tutto ciò che desidera per essere più coraggioso, creativo, per essere più come persona.

"Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit." ~B.K.S. Iyengar * * * A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body and a healthy soul. My goal is to partner with you in looking at your life-story, and identifying and overcoming the blockages to a peaceful way of being. Psychotherapy is a wonderful opportunity to find balance and restore a sense of wholeness and perspective on our purpose in life. I provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space in my practice for this to occur.

In my professional capacity as a licensed social worker and psychotherapist, I have had the honor to accompany persons of all ages and backgrounds in their quest for insight and self-discovery. I believe that trust and vulnerability are at the core of the client-therapist relationship and that the client’s innate wisdom and judgment rule supreme. With that in mind, strategies and interventions in achieving clearly defined yet dynamic goals arise through a process of critical inquiry. In this process, I have witnessed individuals redefine and recreate who they are as they move toward greater lucidity and self-fulfillment.

Now that you have taken the first step in seeking help, together we can take the second step towards addressing the presenting problem. Let’s develop a deeper understanding of yourself through recognizing & understanding patterns that may be causing you emotional distress. Let's explore the thought-emotion-behavior connection so that you can rewrite the narrative, improve your emotional state, change your behavioral response, & improve upon coping skills. Therapeutic interventions include the evidence-based practices of: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Certified CBT Practitioner) and Motivational Interviewing.

Do you find yourself constantly feeling anxious and spending a lot of time overthinking? Are you struggling in your career or relationships? Maybe you don't feel good enough and identify as an over-achiever? Are you going through a big life change or loss, and feeling completely overwhelmed? You’re not alone. I am passionate about working with adults with anxiety, self-esteem and major life changes. My belief is that our relationship with ourselves deeply effects how we navigate day to day stressors and major life transitions. You are your biggest asset.

We all struggle to improve our lives - to change and grow in ways that make us feel more fulfilled. As a psychotherapist for over 20 years, I often see people who are stuck, in unsatisfying relationships or jobs, alcohol/drug dependence or struggling with anxiety, depression or fears that hold them back from living more fully. My background in fine arts and personal experience as a painter has made me especially attuned to issues of artists who feel blocked in their creativity. Helping people with inhibitions in expressing feelings and asserting themselves is another area of interest.

Many of my clients come in to address anxiety, depression and life transitions. I am particularly passionate about helping women in different phases of their lives (adolescence, womanhood, motherhood, menopause). I also have experience in the treatment of Anxiety, Depression and Adjustment Disorders. I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness. I use the therapeutic relationship to look at how patterns of interaction have developed and can be used to strengthen connections outside of our sessions.

Wanting to be happy is often a way of saying “I want peace”. Life’s difficulties test us and sometimes we feel defeated but it doesn’t have to be that way. Often, we suffer needlessly because we treat the symptom rather than the cure, we entertain the story rather than the truth and we give full rein to our personality rather than to our heart and soul. If this resonates with you, I invite you to ask yourself, "Am I living as fully as I can?" or, "Am I feeling powerless, stuck and not enjoying life?" If so, I can guide and support you to look inside for deeper truths that will allow you to grow and to find peace in your life.

I view each client as an individual who deserves respect, empathy, and support. Therapy should be place where you feel seen and heard in a genuine way. Perhaps you have issues that are overwhelming. I have discovered it is never to late to change, to live a more positive and happy life. Together we can develop a plan and work through your stressful situations to recovery and healing. When life gets hard, we need a place where we can talk about difficult topics. I am here to guide you to work through these difficult topics.

I enjoy working with couples to help them communicate and rediscover a love that builds beyond barriers. I also enjoy helping families learn to relate to one another and tackle problems as a team. I strive to equip clients with tools to cultivate greater self-awareness and overcome whatever obstacles they face. My approach takes into account counseling techniques that are incredibly useful in multicultural communities, helping clients to break free from old patterns and navigate new meaning in their life and relationships.

As a licensed clinical social worker, I strive to create a comfortable and safe environment for you.  A space that is judgement free and where you have the ability to truly express yourself.
 Since opening my practice in 2018, my therapeutic services have helped people get through stressful times through challenging negative thoughts and understanding the source of specific behaviors and emotional patterns. With the right tools and a better approach to situations, I will help encourage a better outlook on any issues that life brings your way.

As an Italian-American immigrant and expatriate with extensive training in Social Work and Psychotherapy, as well as over 20 years in the Corporate world, I bring a lot of life experience to my work as a therapist. We will work together to confront the roots of anxiety, depression, lack of self-esteem and confidence, and self-destructive behaviors. I can help you with anxiety and depression, relationships, immigration issues, sexuality, emotional impact of student loans, and addictive compulsive behavior. Career counseling.

For over 30 years I have maintained a private practice woking with adults, children, couples, families and groups. I am also a certified divorce mediator. I have a degree in Special and Elementary Education.and have taught courses in assertiveness training and a divorce workshop for many years. I supervised the out patient department in Catholic Community Services for Six years. I also have worked in an eating disorders clinic and am familiar with 12 step programs. At this time, due to the amount of people who are in need of counseling, I am limiting my practice and am not working with young children or Anyone with eating disorders.

to examine deeply and thoroughly motivations, emotions and behavior, especially interpersonal; focused on positive changes leading to long-lasting existential and transformational life improvements and increased self-awareness; responsible in accepting that these changes will affect-for the better- lives of loved ones, friends and other significant persons (including those that are not yet around) ; increased openness towards life-changes ; to take calculated, rational risks, mindful of other persons; serious commitment to longer-term therapy when indicated to be necessary, in order to achieve the above desired results.