Find a Therapist in Haworth, New Jersey.

My patients benefit from psychotherapy with me because I show them not only how to feel better but get better. Getting better means learning how they make themselves upset and how to stop doing this even when life and people are blocking them. I teach skills for directly changing self-defeating behavior. I give patients tools for self-direction and emotional responsibility. I send my patients emails to prompt them to think differently between sessions. I help them to transfer the skills I teach from my office to their home and work environments. I teach people how to maintain and extend treatment gains so that they do not need to be in psychotherapy forever.

In my continued endeavor to help and guide my patients, I embrace the Integrative Psychotherapy approach. In short, Integrative Psychotherapy is a “big picture” approach which seeks to bring together the therapeutic elements from the different schools of psychotherapy into the process of positive and wholesome change for the patient. Working in the Integrative Psychotherapy approach we can embrace and affirm your inherent values and your own inner healing ability. It is unifying and balancing.

I am a trauma specialist who loves supporting college students, post-college grads navigating early adulthood, and adult children of emotionally immature parents. I focus on: -EMDR for trauma and PTSD -Overcoming depression and anxiety -Clinical Hypnosis -Recovering from abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) -Dealing with emotionally immature parents In addition to talk therapy, I offer an integrated approach to trauma healing that can include EMDR and clinical hypnosis for clients who want to try alternative treatments to reduce traumatic memories, get to know their healthier adult self, set boundaries others, and build more rewarding intimate relationships.

My approach to psychotherapy integrates several different theoretical orientations. This includes cognitive behavioral, experiential, positive psychology, family systems, and psychodynamic therapies. Therefore treatment with me will likely involve both a detailed exploration of your background and at the same time provide practical solution oriented interventions. By developing a comprehensive understanding of your unique personality I can determine which combination of approaches is most appropriate for you at different points throughout your treatment to most effectively assist you.

Psychotherapy is an umbrella term for the work I do with clients. With couples psychotherapy involves the Gottman method and with individuals it involves many different approaches that are best suited for the individual at hand. Through psychotherapy, I provide a safe space for clients to share what they've been going through as well as their goals and guide them in reaching those goals.

I believe that an attuned and empathic relationship is the basis for effective therapy. Therapy can provide the space to address difficult life issues with support and guidance. I work to create an atmosphere of safety and respect in which issues can emerge, be understood and resolved. Psychotherapy can lead to deep and lasting change, and empower you to live life to the fullest.

Psychotherapy is the path to self knowledge, to help you find cliarity in not only what you want, but why you feel a certain way that you do. Over the years we endure traumas and life events that impact how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. Through psychotherapy we can explore what it is that you want and who it is that you are.

My practice is based on an Integrative approach to psychotherapy and health and lifestyle. Expanded creativity and general ability for one to make positive changes is the goal. Neuro scientific research has shown that psychoanalysis evokes lasting change. Psychoanalysis makes use of metaphor, dreams, art, writing, and poetry for individual expression.

Psychotherapy also known as talk therapy allows me to enter into a professional and trusting relationship in helping my clients work through, cope and solve their own problems. This relationship with help to facilitate effective communication and change. Once I have established a relationship with my clients and identified their need; I use a mix of clinical interventions such cognitive behavioral, strengths based, solution focused, gestalt, and person-centered.

One of the most life altering actions when seeking to gain traction in the struggle to live a satisfying life is the choice to work with a therapist. It signals a ground-breaking change in our approach to meeting the challenges we face; demonstrating a shift that embraces the possibility of tapping into knowledge and support outside our own skull. Most of us have a better ability to see and understand the actions and motivation of others than our own. We all have personal blind spots. This is evident early in therapy, when one experiences striking progress as a result of new insights gained in therapy.

As experienced, highly-credentialed clinical psychologists and couples counselors, Dr. Joel Stukalin and Dr. Sara Mandelbaum have the necessary background to conduct short-term or psychoanalystic psychotherapy with clients. This means that clients can decide to work on direct symptom-relief or more comprehensive therapy that may lead to a deeper understanding of inner-conflicts, self-aspirations and unconscious processes. In order to do our psychotherapy compassionately and effectively, Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara collaborate closely with clients to understand their initial motives and unfolding goals within the psychotherapy process. Clients often benefit from this higher standard of care.

Couples tell me that I am unlike most other therapists because I work in-office. Many of my clients are high-net-worth individuals and expect a common sense approach tailored to their busy lives. Couples tell me that they feel supported and challenged in our sessions and they like that accountability is part of the process. I have the ability to keep track important details and help you move through our process faster. Our work pays dividends to you as you develop lifelong tools to: manage conflict, increase intimacy and pleasure, improve communication, lower stress, and reduce anxiety and depression.

I am truly honored to work with individuals and couples from all backgrounds and orientations. I am also proud to partner with underserved populations such as those in law enforcement, the military, faith based and LGBTQIA+ communities. I respect and honor you as the expert in your own life and will create a space that is safe, affirming, and authentic.