Our counselors provide therapy in Jersey City, NJ

My go-to approach for helping people in individual therapy is building a strong therapeutic rapport with my clients. I find the best benefit in building this connection and rapport with them is it allows my clients to feel safe and heard.

I teach the following tools in individual therapy:

• Relaxation tools: breathing exercises, practicing gratitude, positive self-talk.
• Mindfulness tools: guided imagery, creating a safe space, body scanning, progressive muscle tension, and relaxation, leaves on a stream.
• Challenging automatic negative thinking tools: utilizing a log to track negative thoughts/triggers.
• Breathing exercises: diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing.
• Learning and implementing coping skills: physical activity exploration/hobbies and interests, unhealthy vs. healthy coping skills.
• Organizational tools.
• Time management tools.
• Self-confidence tools: self-esteem exercises, assertiveness skills.
• Social skills: eye contact, healthy communication, and patterns of negative behaviors in communication.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they are able to better manage their symptoms independently, put in the work outside of their sessions to utilize skills, and have a higher quality of functioning.

Clients can supplement their time in individual therapy with self-care, getting some type of physical activity, practicing gratitude, and engaging in social and mental stimulation.

To prepare for your first individual therapy session, you can reflect on whether you feel ready for the time and work necessary to invest in individual therapy requires, as well as being patient with yourself to build that professional rapport with your therapist, which will allow you to get to the vulnerability needed to heal.