Our counselors provide therapy in Paramus, NJ

Jennifer: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is eclectic. I prefer being eclectic because every person is an individual and I don't believe there is one type of approach for everyone.

Lara: My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can be helpful for a lot of people to examine how their thoughts play a role in how they've been feeling, which is often relevant for people facing anxiety, depression, stress, or life transitions.

Jennifer: Some of the tools I teach in individual therapy:

• CBT and reality-based therapy: Challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with more realistic, positive thoughts.
• Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Providing tools of how to be more in the present moment.
• Strength-based therapy and empowerment counseling: I encourage clients to see their own strengths they already have within themselves.
• Compassion-based therapy: Using my empathetic skills to help build connections with my clients, I believe this is one of the best tools to utilize in therapy.

Lara: When providing individual therapy, the tools that I teach will vary greatly depending on what brings the person to therapy. I want each client to feel like they're receiving tools to help them with their unique situation, and I help each client to create personal treatment goals when we first start meeting. Some of the tools that I can teach include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tools to help clients learn how to control their thinking more effectively and manage any unhelpful or negative thoughts. I can also teach mindfulness strategies, which help with keeping our thoughts more centered in the moment and feeling more content with being in the present. I also provide psychoeducation to clients about various topics depending on what's relevant to them, which can include communication-related tools, exploring how to improve interpersonal relationships, and learning other specific coping strategies for managing stress, anxiety, depression, etc.

Jennifer: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they have accepted that they can accomplish the goals they set forth. Mindset and flexibility are important aspects of making lasting changes in therapy.

Lara: I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they are reporting that they are noticing less of their current symptoms and are feeling lighter, happier, or more clearheaded! When clients report that they are using the tools and coping strategies that they've learned in sessions, this is also a great sign that they're actively making changes toward their personal goals for therapy.

Jennifer: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with the coping skills that they have learned in therapy. I believe each individual tailors their own coping skills to fit their own personal wants and needs.

Lara: Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy by spending time prioritizing their own individual needs. This can include practicing more self-care, spending more time focusing on hobbies or interests, spending more time with loved ones, and of course practicing the tools that they've been learning in therapy to help improve their mental health!

Jennifer: To prepare for your first individual session, you can think about what is really important to you and what goals you really want to accomplish.

Lara: To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can identify some of the main reasons that you want to come to therapy at this time. This can include a variety of reasons, but it would help the therapist to know what your motivation is for coming to therapy and what you'd like to see change. Also, keep in mind that your first session will likely involve being asked a lot of questions, but this is not the norm for every session! This is just for the therapist to get the background information that they need to help you move forward and make progress in therapy.