Find a Therapist in Middletown, DE

Andrea provides a safe, calm, non-judgmental space for engaging in therapy. Although very straightforward, Andrea is validating and approachable.

My communication style is calm and personable. I create a warm environment where clients can feel comfortable expressing themselves and feel supported and encouraged.

I believe that the best way to help you is to listen to the changes that you would like to make, and develop a treatment plan specific to your concerns and your personality. In many cases, no one therapeutic approach fits every one or every issue, so my goal is to make a you feel comfortable and understand more about your personal journey. The decision to pursue therapy can be difficult for many people, but it indicates that you want to change or improve certain aspects of your life, creating stronger relationships, a higher level of self-confidence, more focus and direction and many other areas for improvement.

My goal is to listen well and make you feel understood in a supportive environment. By my reinforcing your stengths and resiliency, you can develop skills to cope with change. I will help you transition from feelings of sadness, hopelessness,helplessness and anger, to believing in yourself. I help clients discover their self-worth so they can develop healthy relationships. Allow me to help you with a brief therapycognitive or coaching approach. I am skilled in motivating people, and I can help you put in the effort to make shifts and positive changes in your thinking and decision-making so you will regain self-worth.

People enter therapy for many different reasons, but often underneath those reasons is a sense of being stuck in a physical, mental, or emotional place they don't want to be in. For relationships, people often feel stuck in negative patterns of interacting with each other or stuck in a place of pain which they blame on the other. I see myself as partnering with my clients to help them get unstuck and reach their goals for themselves or their relationships. I am active in the therapy session by helping people process more deeply what they are going through, offering new perspectives on the situation, and challenging patterns of thought or behavior that may be contributing to what's happening. I do not see people who come into therapy as sick or weak. I think it takes a lot of strength to reach out for help when times are tough. Therefore, I have respect for those who walk into my office, and I try to do everything I can to get them to where they want to be in life.

My goal is to provide counseling, psychotherapy and treatment for individuals, couples and families struggling with a variety of psychological and mental health issues including stress, relationships, marital problems, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol, eating disorders, learning disability attention problems etc... As the Coordinator of Campus Alcohol and Substance Awareness at Temple University and as the past Assistant Director of Student Health and Counseling at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia I have a lot of experience working with clients facing all the above issues and more. I believe that counseling is a collaborative process where clients sort out their thoughts and feelings in order to get a better understanding of who they are. My approach is eclectic or integrative but I use many psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches in my work. I trust that clients know deep down what should be talked about in therapy and that they mostly need help knowing how to access these thoughts and feelings in order to realize what it is they want and need from others and their lives. I am very open to sharing my personal thoughts and experiences as a way of helping others. I find that it often helps patients to know that their therapist is a human being too and much can be learned from the relationship of therapy. Many clients come to a therapists office because they struggling in their relationships. Paying attention to how your relationship develops with your therapist can help you understand how the really important relationships in your life outside of the therapeutic relationship work.

I began working in this field almost 30 years ago because I wanted to make a tangible difference in people's lives. Over the years, I have worked with countless individuals, couples, families, and groups to help them improve their quality of life. Through my experience, I have learned that: Although many may appear to be similar demographically in terms of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, etc., everyone brings hisher own individual histories to therapy -- histories that distinguish each client as a unique individual. As a result, I welcome all clients, and I recognize that each client will bring hisher own history and values to therapy. I commit to working within each individual's system of values as I try to help the individual draw from hisher history to improve hisher quality of life. My two primary metrics are: a) tangible improvements in an individual's life, and b) the individual's feelings and understanding regarding change and the process of change. Like physical therapists and coaches who are willing to challenge their athletes to perform at full potential, I am willing to challenge my clients to reach their full potential in life. But my guiding philosophy is: "challenge by choice" -- I will only as far and as fast as my clients are comfortable.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Virginia. Born and raised in Iowa, I attended Iowa State University, graduating with a double major in Child, Adult, and Family Services and Spanish. I have traveled and lived in many places throughout the world, and have developed an appreciation for the differences we all have, but also the similarities that unite us. I received my master’s degree from Rutgers University. In my 18 years of work experience, I have worked supporting children, adolescents, and families. That experience includes working with trauma, depression, anxiety, school related anxiety and refusal, conflict between parents and children, involvement in the juvenile justice system, immigration stress and trauma, and crisis intervention. I have experience in child and adolescent therapy, family therapy, parenting, group therapy, and school-based mental health. I meet the child and family where they are on their journey and works collaboratively to develop realistic goals that will improve functioning in all environments. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused and family systems approach. I encourage children and families to share their culture and integrate the unique cultural experiences of families into treatment. I enjoy spending time outside, watching movies, reading books, and crocheting. I also enjoy various forms of exercise, like weightlifting and yoga. I enjoy watching (and sometimes playing) sports. I bring creativity and energy to my practice and am mindful and strategic about interventions used when working with children and families. Mental health is an important part of our being. Just like we eat food to feed our physical body, we must also get what we need to be mentally and emotionally resilient.

Do you have ruminations that are self-critical? Do you avoid going out or joining social activities? Or maybe you become overwhelmed by anger, fear, shame, dread? Life doesn't have to be that hard. I believe that our behavior patterns are old ways of surviving difficult situations. I bring years of personal and professional experiences and training to foster a safe and collaborative relationship to be curious about your responses, update your system, so to speak, and learn and practice new skills.

Are you uncertain about your relationship? Perhaps trust has been broken, feelings have shifted, or another connection is calling your attention. These doubts can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing. Take a step today—explore your feelings, clarify your values, and navigate your decision-making process. Begin your path to insight, peace, and understanding. You don’t have to face this alone.

I’ve been helping teens for 35 yrs and have a good read on the challenges they face and the strategies that are effective in relieving the anxiety, disillusionment, depression, anger, and disconnection that plague so many families. I help teens who are anxious, argumentative, defiant, withdrawn, moody, self-destructive, inattentive, depressed, or doing poorly in school and will help you decide whether the problems you're noticing are part of "typical" teen behavior or a sign of something more serious. I'm also very sensitive to the fact that many children and adolescents aren't interested in counseling and will try to avoid going, even when they themselves know they need help. I believe, however, that by approaching kids with an updated model of therapy offering lively, thought-provoking conversation, genuine contact with a credible adult and a ton of respect, we can get their attention, their engagement, and their willingness to examine things with a fresh eye. That’s what led to my newest book, Therapeutic Conversations with Adolescents: Helping Teens in Therapy Thrive in an Ultra-Competitive, Screen-Saturated World, which reflects my belief that adolescent therapy has needed a new paradigm in order to appeal to today’s kids — something where they wouldn’t be hounded by dumb questions or talked down to, something where they’d find themselves actually wanting to talk. Please visit my website - janetedgette.com - where you'll find many articles on parenting teenagers as well as the free download, "9 Things Your Teenager Wished You Understood Better." You can also check out some of my other books, including Stop Negotiating With Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Moody, Manipulative or Depressed Adolescent and The Last Boys Picked: Helping Boys Who Don't Play Sports Survive Bullies and Boyhood, and my popular article, "Why Teens Hate Therapy." Examples of the problems I treat: academic decline, moody or manipulative behavior, depression, withdrawal from family, anxiety, problems making or keeping friends, poor self-image or self-esteem, unexplained sadness, self-destructive choices, disrespect toward parents, avoiding responsibility, chronic conflict or tension or disagreements at home, emotional distancing from parents, poor conduct (aggressive, evasive, intimidating), among many other types of issues or conditions. Call or write me. Let's see if I'm the right person to work with you and your family.

Entering therapy can be overwhelming and intimidating. Whether it is your first time or 100th time, reflecting on painful experiences, facing your struggles, and sharing your life story with someone else is extremely difficult. I strive to provide a safe, collaborative, judgment-free environment for individuals to gain support in navigating life's ups and downs. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard, validated, and reminded of their strengths, so that they feel empowered to achieve their personal goals. I have been a therapist in the mental health field for over 10 years. I have extensive experience in the treatment of anxiety conditions, mood conditions, trauma-related challenges, personality conditions, and parent-child relational problems. I describe my therapy style as client-centered, strengths-based, and integrative, with a trauma-informed approach. I incorporate many different therapy techniques and evidence-based treatment modalities, with an emphasis on meeting you where you are, and moving along at your pace. I am currently accepting new clients and offering telehealth sessions for individuals 18 years and up. I look forward to meeting you!