+ Anxiety

• I have worked with many clients to address anxiety since the beginning of my career. I assist clients in identifying the origins of their anxiety, triggers, and ways to address these factors through the use of multiple therapeutic approaches.
• I believe it is essential to identify the unique needs, goals, and expectations of each individual client and incorporate the most appropriate combination of clinically-proven treatment approaches to address those areas. In utilizing this eclectic orientation, I tailor the therapeutic process to each client to facilitate change and work toward goals.

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+ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy as one of the foundational elements of the therapy process. I work with clients to identify the connection between thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and how they reinforce one another to create patterns. I will then assist clients in developing ways to modify these thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns to produce the change they are seeking.

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+ COUPLES COUNSELING

• Couples therapy can be beneficial at any stage of the relationship. Relationships take a lot of work and understanding to deal with stressful life situations. Whether you are struggling with communication, infidelity, loss of intimacy, or just feeling plain stuck, couples therapy can be a great tool to help you move forward. You and your partner will be able to better understand the problem, learn how to improve communication, and change problem behaviors in a healthy way. No matter the current situation, counseling can help a couple better understand each other’s needs and learn how to maintain a life of satisfaction and teamwork.

• A recently engaged couple might find it a great opportunity to openly discuss future goals, hopes, and fears for the future, while a couple of many years can use therapy to find ways to help their relationship maintain its excitement and romance. I have worked with couples from all backgrounds including the LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous communities, and work to develop a strategy that best fits the needs of each couple. Couples counseling is a great way to strengthen your relationship so you can come together during times of major life change and transition.

• Common areas of concern addressed in couples counseling include issues with:
  • Money
  • Parenting
  • Sex
  • Infidelity
  • In-laws
  • Chronic health issues
  • Infertility
  • Gambling
  • Substance use
  • Emotional distance
  • Frequent conflict

+ Depression

• I have worked with many clients to address depression since the beginning of my career. I assist clients in identifying the origins of their anxiety, triggers, and ways to address these factors through the use of multiple therapeutic approaches.

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+ LGBTQIA+ POPULATION

• I see many LGBTQIA+ clients who are in need of support. I not only treat individuals, but also couples within the LGBTQIA+ community as well. I also have experience in helping polyamorous couples. Some issues I help with includes helping clients with their coming out process, parenting a child who came out, gender or sexual identity questioning, experiencing discrimination/bullying, relationship issues, transitioning, and any other stressors that may arise. While your identity may not even be a stressor, some people are looking for a therapist who they can feel comfortable seeing which is why I think it’s important to express my comfort and knowledge in working with this population. I prefer He/His pronouns, and prefer to be called Antonio. I am part of the LGBTQ+ community.

+ Mindfulness-based Interventions

• I believe that it is essential to understand the connection between physical, mental, and emotional health by being in the present moment in the most nonjudgmental way possible to develop increased awareness of thoughts and feelings. I work to assist clients in developing skills to enhance this awareness and nurture a sense of inner peace.

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+ Self-esteem

• I have worked with many clients to address self-esteem since the beginning of my career. I believe that addressing self-esteem is essential to many aspects of life and mental health. I assist clients in working to identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors to enhance mood, decrease worry, improve confidence, manage stress, and develop healthy relationships.

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+ substance abuse counseling

• I have extensive experience working with people who have unhealthy addictions, such as substance abuse. Often people turn to substances as a way of dealing with their stress. Therapy can provide you with healthier coping tools that will not only help you better manage your stress, but also will guide you in decreasing your substance use. Through this process you will be able to feel happier and more productive.
• You may have noticed over time that your one glass of wine or one joint at night after a stressful day has increased overtime. Your drinking or drug use may have reached a point that others around you are commenting about it. You may also find yourself feeling worse emotionally and/or physically after using. Drugs or alcohol are no longer helping you to relax at the end of your day and have become a problem in your life. You have reached a point that you cannot go a day without substances or you are finding yourself indulging more than you feel you should.
• Instead of focusing most of your energy on when the next time you will get to use or drink again will be, I will help you use this energy to focus on staying sober.
• I can help you identify the stressors that lead you to using so that we can then prepare a step-by-step plan of the healthy coping techniques you will use to get through that day. I am here to help you figure out what will help you the most and to help keep you accountable through this process.
• Once you are sober, then we will be able to strengthen other parts of your life including your relationships, job/school, health and self-care.

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+ TEENS

• Being a teen can be extremely stressful as you have a lot to worry about. Teens are experiencing an increase in anxiety and depression symptoms which parents have to look out for. It’s common for teens to feel a low self-esteem due to what others say on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, anonymous app’s, etc. There may be changes in friendships and relationships which cause stress, anxiety, and sadness. The application process to get into high school in Hudson County can be as stressful as applying to colleges.
• I personally think every teen could use therapy as it’s such a stressful time in anyone’s life. It is a time they’re trying to figure out their identity, which is stressful enough. I have a great bond with all of the teen clients I see and really enjoy my work with them. I keep up-to-date with social media, pop culture, TV shows, and movies they’re watching so that we can speak the same language. I genuinely enjoy seeing the progress a teen client can make in therapy and find it so rewarding once they “graduate” from therapy with more confidence.

+ TELEHEALTH

• Are you looking for the option of virtual therapy? I offer the option of telehealth sessions (video and phone counseling). If you are residing in New Jersey or Florida then you are eligible for telehealth services with me. Telehealth sessions are great if you have a sick child at home, you’re sick yourself, there’s a snow storm, you’re stuck at work, you’re traveling, or you just prefer to do a session while in your pajamas in the comfort of your own home. I treat telehealth sessions as the same as in-person and find them just as beneficial in our work together. The ability to do telehealth sessions also comes with more flexibility in scheduling.

+ TRAUMA COUNSELING

• I have extensive experience working with people who have suffered from various forms of trauma. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Trauma can leave you feeling lost and confused because it effects the body and mind in different ways. You may have difficulty sleeping at night or feel like your thoughts and emotions are out of your control. Whether it occurred last week or years prior, trauma symptoms can be triggered at any time.

• High rates of depression and anxiety are also common, which sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish from other mental health issues. I use trauma-informed care to help my clients identify and understand the situations in their lives that damaged their sense of safety and wellbeing. I utilize mindfulness, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and trauma focused tools to help work through the trauma and regain a sense of control. A wide range of life events can cause trauma, and some are easier to recognize than others.

• Trauma-informed therapy is not just for people with an obvious source of trauma such as violence and abuse, but also applies to those with a history of loss or difficulties that have impacted the way you experience the world. Once you are able to learn healthy coping skills, you will be able to see the future with a new outlook.

+ YOUNG Adults

• Young adults have a hard time adjusting to change as their life transitions. Either you’re in college and having a hard time balancing school and relationships or you are transitioning into the working world and finding that it is not everything you’d hope it’d be. You may find that you’ve found success in your career, but continue to experience relationship issues, anxiety, or depression. Whenever there’s a life event, such as graduating from college, getting married, having a baby, a breakup, a career change, etc., you will feel some form of stress. I help my clients by coming up with ways they can cope with this stress in a healthy way. This is a time in your life where there are constant decisions that need to be made. You may fear that you’re making the wrong decisions and don’t know what your future holds. That’s a common fear for young adults, or young professionals, to experience.

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