Find a Therapist in Clinton, NJ

LMFT

I offer therapy for individuals, couples, and parents & children. I’ve enjoyed 30 years of helping clients resolve challenges such as; anxiety, depression, anger, codependency, narcissistic tendencies, life transitions, performance & success barriers, career & work stressors, family of origin concerns, and relationship difficulties. In individual therapy you can express your thoughts and feelings openly and without judgment in a confidential and safe space. I’ll work with you to help you understand yourself better, heal past traumas, and cope with the stressors of life. You’ll learn better ways of interacting with others, gain a strong sense of hope for the future, increase self-esteem, and improve your relationships and overall mental health. In couples therapy you will learn to improve communication, understand each other’s needs better, address ongoing negative patterns, learn to resolve conflicts, strengthen the friendship, and deepen the connection and intimacy between you and your partner. I am particularly adept at divorce prevention and helping couples work through infidelity. My goal is to help you stay together. If you have angry or unproductive arguments, I can help you avoid getting angry in the first place. If you struggle with infidelity, I will help you find the tools you need to repair your relationship and restore communication, connection, and trust.

I work with adults and young adults that desire change in their lives. My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, perfectionism, stress and life transitions. I specialize in helping my clients develop the tools needed to manage difficult emotions and create a healthier way of thinking. In my virtual practice I prominently use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) as my treatment approach. I help you develop coping skills to manage emotions that are interfering with your day-to-day life. We simultaneously explore your underlying thoughts to create an understanding of why these emotions exist and how they can be overcome.

My treatment approach begins with understanding what you would like to accomplish, what works for you, and how we can do that. This is done within the parameters of maintaining your uniqueness as a person. I like to think of an old American Indian expression: If I give you a fish, you eat for today. If I teach you how to fish, you eat forever. I like to address the concerns that you bring to treatment to be resolved first. Then, if you choose, I will provide a working model to manage future issues. I do not try to fit you into a theoretical modality. Treatment modalities are tools in a toolbox of help. Together, we decide which tools to take out of the box and use. This is the development of a significant working therapeutic relationship. It is paramount to obtain success with your treatment goals. With over twenty-five years of experience as a therapist, supervisor, teacher of psychology, and business consultant, I have a large base of knowledge and experience to draw from to help you. I work with all ages, from age four through adolescence, adulthood, and elder years. I am trained as an eclectic modern psychoanalyst. I hope that the following will help you with an improved understanding of my treatment process. Modern psychoanalytic therapy Who can it help? Modern analytic therapy helps people experiencing emotional pain. This can be depression, anxiety, fears, restlessness, an inability to work effectively, or feeling overwhelmed with anger. Some feel weighted down with responsibilities or feel devoid of goals or ties. They may have difficulty playing or being able to have a meaningful relationship. They may be entangled with parents, spouses, or children. Resolution of emotional trauma and growth are part of the analytic process. People come to psychoanalytic therapy to be happy. Analytic therapy also helps people who may not have significant emotional issues but who simply wish to improve their lives. I have worked with many business executives, professional athletes, and recording artists who chose analysis with the purpose of increasing their efficiency. Children may have difficulty playing, relationships with peers, defiance and authority figures, or difficulty with maintaining attention and focus in school. Modifications in the modern analytic approach are implemented to accommodate a child's age. What is modern psychoanalytic therapy like? The client talks and is listened to by the analyst. Past, current, and future life goals are discussed. Analyst and client share a confidential relationship. The analyst helps the client speak of their life and be understanding of all of its parts. Buried feelings that were never resolved come to the surface and are worked through. They talk about work, play, intimacy, and relationships. They uncover memories and look at frustration, anxiety, loneliness, loss, pain, and love. They look at how past patterns that may have been replayed in the present are no longer effective. Analyst and client develop better ways for the client to make more effective choices. The analyst provides choices. What does the psychoanalytic therapist do? The modern analyst asks questions, listens carefully, searches, and comprehends with intellect, feelings, and knowledge. The analyst develops a picture of what the client may be unaware of that is affecting their life. This is done with an understanding of those things that are within awareness that affect choices. The client accepts the responsibility to work hard with the analyst. Together, they develop an approach to provide relief to the concerns that brought the person to treatment. How long does it take? The person comes to treatment with issues of concern. When these problems can be dealt with effectively, treatment may conclude. Treatment sessions are scheduled according to the person. People attend treatment anywhere from once a month to three times per week. It is individually based. How is a psychoanalyst trained? A candidate for training can only be accepted into a training institute through a board of senior psychoanalysts. The program consists of rigorous intellectual and emotional training. 1) Intensive coursework is four years in length post-master's or doctorate, including treatment practice, supervision, and personal analysis, and may total much longer. 2) All candidates must undergo a deep personal analysis during the entire length of their training to resolve any obstacles that may interfere with the treatment process. 3) Long-term individual and group supervision with numerous case study presentations is required. One should note that this training is in addition to any academic degree received, such as MSW, PhD, MD, etc. What do psychoanalysts learn? The analyst learns simple to complex theories of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of emotional development and challenges. Training is usually five to ten years. Each analyst treats a wide range of emotional issues under the close supervision of senior analysts. Each candidate for certification is carefully evaluated by a panel of senior analysts. The modern psychoanalyst is evaluated and must show superior understanding, skill, and emotional balance needed to treat people. Certification is granted after coursework, personal analysis, supervised analysis of clients, successful case presentations, and the exam are completed.

I believe that we begin our lives in relationship with others whether it is your natal parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, a group home as humans we don't live in isolation. Therefore, I work from the perspective that relationships are the origin of our greatest growth, yet can also be the source of our greatest challenges. My goal in our work together is to help you as an Individual, Couple, or Family to better understand these multifaceted relationships. Often these complicated relationships come intertwined with other issues which we can also examine together. As your therapist, I provide empathy, compassion and guidance to help you andor your family work through your challenges. I work with individuals suffering from depression and low self esteem, anxiety and anxiety disorders (fears, phobias, panic attacks, and obsessions), general life stress, the challenge of entering or exiting a relationship (singles and couples), divorce, parenting, career and money dilemmas, sexual concerns and sexual identity issues, addictions, anger management, family problems, step and blended families, body image, sexual abuse, trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, bereavement, and more.

I was trained in the 1980's in Transpersonal Psychology. It is a model that focuses on the interplay of Western Psychology and Eastern Religion and Philosophy. As a Transpersonal Therapist, I recognize that each person has the power to heal and transform their own life. My role as a therapist is to help facilitate this process. Sometimes our life experiences negatively impact the way we think and behave. By co-creating a safe environment where you will feel comfortable sharing your story, we will examine the thoughts and feelings you are struggling with and develop different more healthy ways of relating to them. As you become more skillful with relating to your feeling and thoughts, you will begin to make more healthy choices; thus creating the life you desire.

Are you searching for more meaning to your life? Have you come to a decision that involves living your life more authentically? Our personal experiences may contribute to patterns of behaviors or thoughts that leave us constantly feeling emotionally tired. At some point, we may begin to feel that there is something missing from our lives. I provide psychotherapy for people experiencing difficulties related to life transitions, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, anger, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship conflicts, and trauma. I also work with patients to find meaning through dreamwork and Jungian sandplay therapy. Throughout this journey, I will provide a safe space for you express your thoughts and feelings. I see adults, children (10+), and adolescent patients. Children express themselves through play, this is why I utilize play therapy for younger patients. Children have opportunities to play games, create art, and participate in sandplay therapy by creating their world in a sand tray. I understand that the process to find a psychotherapist may feel like an overwhelming task. The positive is that there are so many therapists to choose from. The challenge is to find the right one for you or your child. This is one of the reasons that I provide a free phone consultation prior to scheduling an initial appointment. This time will allow you to ask questions about my practice, and I will be able to learn a bit more about your needs. Please go to my website to book your 15-minute phone consultation today.

My ideal client is a teenager or young adult who is struggling with self-identity, transitional life periods, or relationship challenges. They may feel lost or overwhelmed by the pressures of school or family expectations. They may feel the need to gain confidence, build emotional resilience, and learn healthy coping strategies. Their goal is to feel more secure in who they are, develop stronger communication skills, and create meaningful connections with others, all while managing stress and improving their overall mental well-being. With over 8 years of experience working with adolescents and young adults, I can help my clients navigate the different difficulties that come up in this phase of life. I help my clients by providing a non-judgmental and collaborative space to explore thoughts and emotions. I use evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed care to foster self-awareness, promote personal growth, and build emotional regulation.

At Keene Murray Therapy, our approach to helping people is: Creative. Our work is shaped both by our immersion in creative arts and by our extensive background in a variety of psychological approaches. Respectful. We recognize that our clients are the only ones who can truly tell their story. Our function is to help clients identify and achieve their goals. Non-pathologizing. We believe that most problems are simply former solutions that no longer work. We help clients discover more adaptive means to meet life's challenges. Collaborative. We value the interpersonal quality of a therapeutic relationship that acknowledges the effects and influences that both client and therapist contribute. Depth-oriented. Experience has shown us that significant change has its roots in the multi-layered interconnectedness of a person's inner life. We accompany clients as they explore and learn to navigate this strange and exciting territory.

I have been a creative arts somatic psychotherapist since 1982. I was trained and also completed certification in Rubenfeld Synergy wity Ilana Rubenfeld Hakomi Mindfulness based Somatic Psychotherapy with Ron Kurtz and Pat Ogden and faculty. Somatic Experiencing with Peter Levine phd. Family Constellations with Bert Hellinger Pre and peri natal Birth processing with Ray Castellino and Myrna Martin Jungian Professional Enrichment with Don Kalshed Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy with Michael Shea. Modern Group Analysis with Dr. Louis Ormont. And Recovery PiT training with Pia Melody. I am also in recovery for co- dependency and I presently specialize in the integration of the spiritual realms with kinesthetic awareness. I assist my clients in finding a secure attachment with their essence of BEING and developing ongoing emotional resilience while on the path of LOVE and embodiment.

Congratulations on beginning the journey of therapy. My name is Zachary Gausland and I am a telehealth therapist accepting new clients who are residents of New York and Massachusetts. I believe in the intrinsic strength of each individual and work with my clients to develop a path so they can achieve their goals, no matter what that may be. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I recognize the challenges facing different diverse communities and how this can affect the mental health of an individual. Whether struggling with life transitions, depression or you desire a space for you to process your inner thought processes, I offer a space that encourages growth and highlights resilience. I utilize various techniques during the therapeutic process including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, narrative, strengths-based and trauma informed care. I recognize the challenges of beginning the therapeutic process. I offer a judgement free zone and welcome you to see if I am a good fit for you. I look forward to the possibility of connecting and until then encourage you to show yourself grace.

I have a passion for guiding others through some of their toughest times and assisting in their recovery. I also have a strength-based approach, which has assisted in the success of my clients. Some of my strengths are in processing subject matter such as victims-survivors of narcissistic abuse, anxiety management, healthy relationship development, self-esteem, perfectionism, life transitions, life goal processing, adolescent matters, bereavement, families affected by addiction, and the complexity of working in the educational and medical working environments.