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Girl in Therapy

About Psychotherapy

In my private practice, I have been offering psychotherapy, consultation, and assessment services to children, adolescents, and adults for over 24 years. As a clinical/school psychologist, I have trained and worked in hospitals, schools, and other service agencies. This breadth of experience provides me with insight into a great variety of individuals at many phases of life, and in various settings as well.

My approach to treatment focuses on YOU, the individual.  Making a strong, supportive and positive connection, providing a comprehensive intake to help determine your unique needs, developing a relevant yet effective treatment plan, and forming a positive relationship with you, enables us to work successfully toward reaching your goals. Together, we can take your therapy experience as far as you would like it to go, empowering you to reach your fullest potential.

Individual, small group, family, and couples therapy are available, depending on your specific needs. Special groups exist in social skills (friendship) group therapy and women’s issues. New groups may form upon request.

About Psychotherapy

Forms of Psychotherapy

Individual Adult

Working in a collaborative capacity, we initially establish a treatment plan that encompasses your needs. We then define more clearly what you hope to accomplish, and how I may help you achieve your goals. The work of therapy follows, during which time we explore your issues, feelings, behaviors, thoughts, relationships – whatever we need to address to help you reach your goals.  Once you achieve your goals and determine that the changes you experience are not transient but truly lasting, we explore options regarding treatment termination, the process of ending your therapy.

Individual Child

Whether parents initiate therapy for their children or children request therapy on their own, the parents play a pivotal role in their children’s treatment.  From the start, parents provide critical background information and insights in the Intake session. During this introductory session, the psychologist will formulate a working treatment plan.  The initial phase of treatment may include classroom observation, consultation with teachers or other professionals involved with the child, a few individual sessions with the child, family sessions including the child, completion of psychological surveys by parents and/or teachers, or formal assessment using standardized test materials. Following the initial phase of treatment, the parents meet with the psychologist to discuss her impressions and recommendations.  If the psychologist recommends therapy, she will discuss goal(s) of therapy and methods of attaining these goals.  If the psychologist does not recommend therapy, she may propose alternative modalities of treatment such as a neurological consultation, and she may recommend following up with the psychologist in a proscribed period of time, such as four to eight weeks. Ongoing and regular contact with parents remains crucial to successful treatment outcomes, as parents provide important support for therapeutic endeavors and interventions.

Individual Adolescent

Young people between puberty and roughly 20 or more years of age constitute the adolescent phase of development. This exciting but often very stressful life phase presents unique challenges to the individual…and also to his/her psychologist. Cast somewhere in the vast wasteland between childhood and adulthood, the teenager vacillates between dependence and independence in the quest for his/her own unique identity. Adolescents frequently have difficulty understanding themselves, and so do their parents!  Therapy can play a vital role in this crucial time in development by fostering an environment in which a young person can safely explore personal issues without fear of judgment or condemnation by parents.  Parental involvement in therapy shifts from full involvement for younger children, to minimal involvement with older adolescents. Guided by the psychologist, the adolescent in therapy can grow to become more self-aware, mature, confident, ­insightful, and communicative with parents, peers, and others.

Group Therapy

An exciting alternative to individual psychotherapy, group therapy introduces a safe therapeutic setting to a unique set of individuals who have similar treatment goals. Working together in a group, participants benefit from the therapeutic interventions and recommendations of the psychologist, but participants also benefit from the insights and life experience available from other group members. Being in a group can be more powerful than individual therapy and can also be more lively and mutually supportive, allowing group members to connect with one another in a close therapeutic bond.

Family Therapy

Sometimes a person’s emotional issues interfere with the life of the family, not just the individual. One person may be the “identified patient” within the family, or the whole family system may require therapeutic intervention. Family therapy provides the vehicle for the family to address its issues among family members.  Working together as one unit, family members can challenge each other, and can also support one another when appropriate.

Couples' Therapy

When the relationship existing for a couple becomes strained, couples’ therapy offers solutions to the individuals who make up that couple.  In couples’ therapy, it is not two individuals seeking therapy that defines treatment; rather it is the relationship itself that is the subject of the therapy. Matters such as communication, respect, boundaries, control, and independence are frequent topics in couples’ therapy. Other issues might include effective expression of anger, working through infidelity, co-parenting children, and contemplating separation and divorce.

Forms of Psychology

Group Psychotherapy

In my office, Group Psychotherapy provides a small group environment for therapy. For individuals experiencing similar challenges, Group Psychotherapy offers mutual support in a safe environment. Under my careful supervision, Group Psychotherapy participants may work toward their individual goals while accessing support from others who offer compassion from an experienced peer. A key benefit to Group Psychotherapy is the dual role of participants, whereby one person can both receive and also offer support to other group members.

Current groups available in my office include Friendship Group Therapy for children and teenagers. This group experience helps promote social awareness, build self-confidence and pro-social behavior, develop insight into relationships that can help enhance meaningful friendships. Women’s Group Psychotherapy offers women the opportunity to explore women’s issues in a safe and nurturing environment with other women. Topics may include identity, work issues, family relationships, and more.

A new group experience coming soon to my practice is a Walking Group, which I tentatively call Walk with a Psychologist. Once I select a date, time, and location, I will begin promoting this group that will combine the opportunity to speak with a psychologist with walking in the beautiful community we share.

Another group under consideration would be for young adults who have difficulty transitioning from college to post-collegiate life. Today’s twenty-something adults experience heightened anxiety that may be due to difficulties finding a job, moving away from home (or returning home!), and forging adult relationships.

If you are interested in any of these groups, please contact me at

908-222-1099 with any questions, to discuss your situation, or to schedule an appointment.

Sunset
Group Psychotherapy
Friendship Group Psychotherapy

Friendship Group Therapy (Formerly known as Social Skills Groups)

Today more than ever, young people need critical social skills to effectively navigate through interpersonal exchanges in order to successfully relate to peers and adults as well.  Be it in the classroom, on the playground, when applying to college or jobs, and even when dating, young people need competent social skills to compete in a new global world.  Kids who lack social skills are at a distinct disadvantage that may not be balanced by intelligence, wealth, or good looks.

Social skills include a set of behaviors, postures, vocal styles, and personal qualities that promote successful interactions with others.  While some children seem to have a natural ability to interact well and build friendships, others have more difficulty with such tasks.  These children might feel shy, awkward, or unsure around their peers.  Sometimes children are simply unaware of how to conduct themselves properly, or they may lack the self-control to effectively execute pro-social behaviors.  Shyness or anxiety might hinder socialization for others.  Regardless of the cause, many children experience difficulty making and keeping friends.

By grouping children according to age and ability to gel with one another, the goal of my Friendship Therapy Groups is to heighten each child’s self-awareness and to foster the development of adaptive skills that ultimately promote effective communicating and relating with others.  These groups create the opportunity for children and teens to develop social skills and adaptive behaviors that promote harmonious, more satisfying relationships with peers, siblings, and adults.  Friendship Group Therapy is available to children ranging in age from 8 through 18.  When I formulate each group, I personally select no more than 6 children who are close in age (there are typically 18 months or less between the oldest and youngest group members).  Children in any single group will always come from different communities, ensuring each participant has a fresh start with the other children in my group.  All group participants have individual strengths and challenges so that they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills while observing others demonstrate their own skills.  My experience shows that not only do children benefit by learning from each other, they truly enjoy each other’s presence, and feel more comfortable sharing insights and experiences; consequently, they build stronger relationships within the group.  The group experience offers children the chance to share feelings and ideas in a safe and comfortable environment.  In a group format, children are eager to hear each other’s opinions and tend to respect their peers’ feedback far more than the feedback offered by parents or teachers.

Typically, all youth groups, regardless of the age of the participants, are structured in weekly hour-long sessions.  First children begin the session with a warm-up activity, geared to drawing children toward sharing and exploring themselves and each other. Next, there will be an activity geared toward a particular theme.  Activities may include role-playing, guided communicating, game playing, behavioral rehearsal, and open sharing.  Opportunities exist for participants to discuss relevant issues and concerns of their own.  Finally, group members process the group session aloud and then offer feedback regarding themselves other children in the group.

Personalized parent feedback sessions occur approximately every 6 to 8 weeks, or upon parental request.  This affords the opportunity for parents to provide feedback regarding their children’s progress, and for the psychologist to offer insights and feedback based on in-session behavior and overall performance.  Individual and/or family therapy is also available when such needs arise.  For children who participate in outside psychotherapy with another psychologist, consultation is available to effectively coordinate the therapies.

Friendship Therapy Groups meet on a weekly basis, occurring at the same time for an hour each week.  Groups will most likely take place somewhere between the hours of 4:00 to 8:00, Monday through Thursday.  The success of the group, and the success of each and every participant, is highly contingent upon your child’s regular attendance.  Each child plays an integral role in the group’s dynamics as well as the maintenance of continuity for the whole group experience.  For these reasons, attendance is mandatory.

To explore the social skills group therapy experience further, to discuss your child, or to schedule an appointment, please contact me at 908-222-1099.

Friendship Groups

Today’s young people struggle more than ever to establish and maintain healthy relationships among peers. Relying heavily on Social Media, children of the millennia fail to develop important 'people’ skills that promote both effective communication and meaningful socialization. Instead of relating to one another in 'real-time,' young people use electronic devices that delay interaction so teens lose important social cues in the translation of spoken words to typed text. There are fewer opportunities to develop social skills, leaving many young people ill-equipped to navigate complex social situations. Anxiety, isolation, and social rejection are the result.

Teens, pre-teens, and younger children all benefit from Friendship Group Therapy. In a small group environment, children and teens learn self- and other-awareness. Group members demonstrate personal skills while helping their peers learn more about themselves. Bonding occurs when group members identify with one another and learn that they can form meaningful connections with other young people. My typical Friendship Group has young people close in age but from different communities, offering every participant the chance to have a fresh beginning with previously unfamiliar peers.

My Friendship Groups provide peer support to develop social insight, confidence, communication skills, and more to children and teenagers who experience Social Anxiety, Low Self Esteem, Insecurity, ADHD, or other issues. By carefully screening candidates for both strengths and challenges, I form cohesive groups that meet weekly offering mutual support while exploring social and relationship issues. I directly lead all groups in a safe and confidential environment. Feedback to parents is available via confidential email and private feedback sessions. Depending on individual clients’ needs, consultation is available (upon parental request and consent) to referring psychologists and psychiatrists, school personnel, and physicians.

Contact me at 908-222-1099 to discuss your child’s needs, the Friendship Groups, or to schedule an appointment.

Other Therapy Groups Available

Current groups available in my office include Friendship Group Therapy for children and teenagers. This group experience helps promote social awareness, build self-confidence and pro-social behavior, develop insight into relationships that can help enhance meaningful friendships. Women’s Group Psychotherapy offers women the opportunity to explore women’s issues in a safe and nurturing environment with other women. Topics may include identity, work issues, family relationships, and more.

A new group experience coming soon to my practice is a Walking Group, which I tentatively call Walk with a Psychologist. In this group, Walk with a Psychologist, you may be invited to walk and talk with me, and together we can enjoy casual conversation about topics related to mental and behavioral health and overall well-being. Dates and times of this exciting new experience are not yet available. Once I select a date, time, and location, I will begin promoting this group that will combine the opportunity to speak with a psychologist with walking in the beautiful community we share.

Another group under consideration would be for young adults who have difficulty transitioning from college to post-collegiate life. Today’s twenty-something adults experience heightened anxiety that may be due to difficulties finding a job, moving away from home (or returning home!), and forging adult relationships.

If you are interested in any of these groups, please contact me at 908-222-1099 with any questions, to discuss your situation, or to schedule an appointment.

Female Patient

Consultation

Consultation services are available to schools, pre-schools, public and private organizations, and businesses. These services are tailored to suit the needs of the organization. Typical consultations vary, based on the nature and population of the organization. In schools, for example, consultation may take the form of supporting teachers, providing presentations to parents, or assessing students’ behavior. In churches or synagogues, consultation may take the form of presentations to staff or the community. Similarly, in businesses, consultation may provide staff development, team building, and other forms of support.

If you are interested in learning more about my consultation services, please contact me at 908-222-1099.

Consultation

Treatment Issues

Area of focus and specialization include:

  • Anxiety, Excessive Worrying, Insecurity, or Panic Disorder

 

  • Obsessions or Compulsions (OCD)

 

  • Depression, Low Self Esteem, Feelings of Inadequacy

 

  • Sleep Difficulties

 

  • Concentration, Executive Function or Organizational Difficulties (ADHD)

 

  • Stress Management

  • School Avoidance, School Phobia, or Separation Anxiety

 

  • Oppositional, Argumentative, or Defiant Behavior

  • Identity Issues

 

  • Self-harm

 

  • Impulsiveness or Control Issues

 

  • Emotion Regulation

 

  • Suicidal Thoughts or Feelings

  • Women’s Issues

  • Social Skills (Friendship Building)

  • LGBTQIAA issues

  • Relationship issues

  • Family issues: parenting, co-parenting, sibling issues,

  • Couples: infidelity, separation, and divorce

Succulent
Treatment Issues
Public Speaking

Mind/Body Health and Zumba

If you are interested in learning more about my consultation services, please contact me at 908-222-1099.

Public Speaking

As an experienced and enthusiastic public speaker, I have spoken on a broad variety of topics including parenting, relationships, current events, and behavior. My audiences have included schools, civic organizations, religious groups, and broadcast media. Whether your group is small, large, or very large, I will tailor my presentations to suit your specific needs. Working together, we can formulate topics that will engage and inform your group.

Together, we can determine which topics will suit your needs. Current topics of interest include:

  • Promoting cohesive family relationships

  • Understanding teenagers

  • Positive, effective discipline

  • Raising socially responsible individuals

  • Promoting faith in your family

  • Creating memories that unite a busy family

  • Understanding female aggression in girls and teens

  • Dealing with chronic illness in the family

  • Building resilience to help manage stress

  • Addressing bullying, harassment, and intimidation

If there is a topic that interests you but does not appear in the list above, please contact me at 908-222-1099 to discuss how I can tailor a talk to meet your needs.

Most Recent Presentations

To create an engaging and informative talk, contact me to discuss a presentation that I will create for your exclusive purpose. Choose from the topics below or suggest your own – I am happy to consult with you to design a presentation that will satisfy the needs of your group, school, or organization.

Recent presentations include:

Selective Mutism and Oppositional Students: Two Mini-Workshops with Insights and Strategies for Teachers
Children’s Corner
Bridgewater United Methodist Church
651 Country Club Rd.
Bridgewater, NJ
October 25, 2016

Hoarding: A Mental Health Diagnosis
Learning Session and General Meeting of the
New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials
New Jersey Hospital Association
760 Alexander Rd.
Princeton, NJ
September 15, 2016

Teenage Girls’ Growing Pains:
And other sources of stress, confusion, and aggravation in pursuit of understanding the Teenage Girl
Presentation to Teaching Staff and Administration
Purnell School
51 Pottersville Rd.
Pottersville, NJ
September 6, 2016

Upcoming Presentations

Presentations and workshops are constantly being planned. Please watch for these and other upcoming presentations:

Let’s Get Real: A Candid Discussion with Teenage Girls
Purnell School
December 2016
                                     

Zumba
Media Appearances

Media Appearances

As a special guest psychologist, I have appeared numerous times on both live and pre-recorded cable television broadcasts. I have been interviewed on live radio broadcasts as well. The topics of these programs range from parenting and family issues, managing pitfalls in relationships, dealing with loved ones’ traumatic brain injuries, gun violence, girl to girl aggression, and most recently, pet hoarding and bonding with pets. In addition, I have written or has been quoted in numerous articles of a psychological nature.

If you are looking for a psychologist to appear on television or to participate in an interview, I welcome these opportunities to promote professional psychology and provide valuable insights and information to the public. It is my firm belief that psychologists’ presence in the media helps promote psychologists’ visibility and facilitates the public’s access to psychological services.

You may contact me at (908) 222-1099 to discuss any new broadcast or interview opportunities.

Television Appearances

Enjoying the spotlight in front of the camera, I have appeared on two different cable television broadcasts. Most recently, from 2014 to the present, I appeared as a guest psychologist on Fresh Outlook, an Emmy award-wining show featuring discussion of current events and corresponding footage. Topics covered during these segments include the Slenderman Attack of 2014, Teen Stabbings, Ebola Virus, Treatment of Veterans and PTSD, Fear of Vaccinations, Care for Someone who has Parkinson’s or a Traumatic Brain Injury, and Gun Laws.

Prior to my appearances on Fresh Outlook, I appeared as a frequent guest on the cable television show “Real Life,” a family-oriented call-in show that aired live to approximately six million viewers in eight states.  Topics included Mean Girls: The Social Climate of Today’s Teenage Girls & What You Can Do; Women Trashing Women (Women’s Aggression Toward Other Women); Are you Raising a Brat; War: Anger and Anxiety; Surviving The Affair (Can You Save Your Marriage?); After the Attack: Reactions, Fear, Anger; Terrorist Attack: Live Coverage; Suicide Awareness & Prevention; Bullies; and School Phobia: Getting Children Over Their Fear.

The highlight of my television career thus far has been my live broadcast on September 11, 2001, as the events of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon brought the world to a halt. We broadcast live for over two hours, fielding live phone calls from viewers who were outraged, terrified, and dismayed by the devastation and destruction we witnessed together on that day.

                                                             Dr. Janie on The Pet Stop July 23, 2016: Pet Bonding

      Dr. Janie on The Pet Stop July 16, 2016: Pet Hoarding 

Availability
Green Leaves

Availabilty

To best accommodate your needs, my office hours occur “by appointment only” on weekdays during the day and some evenings. Saturday hours may be available upon request. I personally schedule all of my appointments. Emergency appointments are usually available. While “walk-ins” are unavailable, most emergency appointments will be scheduled within 48 hours of your first phone call. Many of these appointments occur within 24 hours. The usual wait time for non-emergency first appointments is under one week.

Green Leaves
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