My communication style is direct along with a helpful challenging hand to help move you toward the healthy change and restoring the life balance you seek.

My name is Matt Sandford and I have been practicing as a Licensed Professional Counselor for 14 years now, with 16 years of total experience. I believe that creating a safe space enables people to explore and process the stuff on their minds and in their hearts, which can lead to healthiness, strength, and growth. I have a variety of experiences, but I specialize in stress and anxiety, relationship challenges, marriage, self-worth challenges, and spiritual challenges. In therapy, my approach is to find an approach that meets the client where they are at. I am familiar with CBT, Rogerian, Adlerian, Psychodynamic, and Gestalt theories. I have worked with a wide range of people in terms of age, presenting challenge(s), cultural background, and beliefs. I have particularly strong experience with folks struggling with anxiety and stress, depression, shame, self-esteem or self-worth, relationship difficulties, marital concerns, and spiritual concerns. Also, I have strong experience working with grief issues, parenting challenges, coaching, and life transitions. My style is to listen, empathize, and seek to understand, with pursuing questions to gain clarity about the concerns you bring and get to the heart of the matter. For me, the heart of the matter is not just circumstances or feelings, but how you are affected on the inside - what does it mean to you and in you. Out of my own personal struggles with shame and anxiety, I finally found myself in therapy. I discovered that it was life-changing for me, and I wanted to be involved in helping others in the same way. I have a firm belief that we all need to grow through our lives and that, for the larger things, we cannot just grow ourselves on our own. Help from others is how we all grow. I believe goal setting is worked out through collaboration, together, with you the client, and I understand that goals may be evolving as we go along. During a first session, we will go over some background information and then have time for you to share about what brought you to therapy. We can talk about expectations you may have or questions you have for me. And I will ask more about your experience to help me to develop a conceptualization of your concerns and the direction for us to go. But, I believe that we can begin working on things in the first session, so my intention is that we can begin to explore your concern and discuss some ideas on how to approach it.

Welcome! I’m so glad you are reaching out! Finding a therapist who is able to listen and understand your particular needs is key. When I meet with you for the first time, I want to learn who you are as a person. In addition to diagnosis and issues of concern, I want to know your life story. Are there patterns that recur in your life? What are your strengths? What matters to you? Once I have a good understanding, we can decide jointly what approach is likely to help you most. When you come for counseling, you want to start to feel better right away. By incorporating evidence-based coping skills from the first session, I help folks get some immediate stress relief. At the same time, we will also address any underlying issues to achieve more long-term gains.

I’m Francesca Wehr, LCSW, and I believe that healing is a collaborative process. My approach is compassionate, personalized, and evidence-based, helping individuals, couples, and families navigate trauma, anxiety, and depression. With a background in private practice, non-profits, and New Jersey’s System of Care, I provide tailored support that meets you where you are. I specialize in trauma-focused therapy, integrating EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, mindfulness, and somatic techniques to regulate the nervous system, process emotions, and foster resilience. Whether you're looking to manage triggers, improve emotional connection in your relationship, or better understand your experiences through psychoeducation, we’ll work together to develop strategies that support long-term healing. As a certified Nurtured Heart Parent Coach and NJ School Social Worker, I also support children, adolescents, and families in strengthening emotional regulation and communication. For couples, I incorporate the Gottman Method to break unhealthy patterns and create deeper, more fulfilling relationships. No matter where you are in your journey, I’m here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I am continually inspired by the transformative moment that happens in the counseling process. There is a sacredness in being present to another as a guide on this journey we call life. Whether it is exploring inner resources for healing and growth or the possibilities for deep and lasting change, it is an honor to work with people that are desiring a better way to be themselves in the world. My own journey has taught me that being truly present and engaged allows space for the unknown to be revealed, acknowledged, and eventually integrated into the service of the whole self. I weave together various mind-body modalities to create opportunities for you to step into the experience of your own sense of well-being, wisdom, and inner trust. In providing an affirming space for all clients, I also have expertise in working with LGBTQ+ persons, those in recovery, spiritual and religious questioners, and writers, artists, and musicians. Mary Oliver wrote in the poem “Wild Geese”: “Meanwhile, the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” If you are looking for a place to come home to yourself, I invite you to email or call to schedule an initial appointment. I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions.

No matter how much you do, that inner voice insists, “You could be doing more.” You convince yourself you just need to work harder, sleep a little less, and spread yourself more thin. Then you’ll finally feel that sense of accomplishment. But the more you do, the louder the voice gets. The weight of the constant stress is exhausting. The tension headache at the base of your skull won’t go away. You can’t control your emotions– the other day you blew up at your best friend. Your mother keeps calling; she’s worried about you. You’ve sacrificed so much, but don’t know what it’s all for. This can’t go on. It’s time to try something different. Using talk therapy with Internal Family Systems, we’ll explore the root causes of your issues and identify the patterns that no longer serve you. Utilizing Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR, you’ll learn to listen to your body’s wisdom and use it as a guide for healing. Together, let’s access your inner power and strength to create lasting change. Don’t waste another minute feeling lost and alone. Find your footing again. Take back control and start living as your true self. Untangle these big emotions so you can have more clarity and confidence. A life of peace and calm is possible, and you deserve it. Click the links to call me now for your free 20-minute consultation, and let’s take the next step together.

I provide individual and couples psychotherapy to adults and adolescents. I use an integration of various treatment modalities within a psychodynamic framework, providing my clients with the flexibility of treatment specific techniques while maintaining a focus on the therapeutic relationship and treatment alliance. Having healthy, positive relationships is integral to all aspects of our lives. I treat clients with mild to severe disorders and work in collaborative relationships with psychiatrists when medications are needed. I specialize in treating mood issues, anxiety issues, relationship, family issues, trauma, and sport psychology (performance enhancement, injury recovery, etc.). Deciding to begin therapy and selecting a therapist can feel like a daunting task. Whenever we step outside of our comfort zones, it feels awkward and sometimes even scary. However, the old cliché is true, we cannot grow without change. Finding a therapist who can support you on your path towards growth is possible. If you are ready to receive the support and accountability needed in getting unstuck, feel free to contact me via phone or email.