Find a Therapist in Middletown, New Jersey.

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.

Life can be hard. Help is here for you. Challenges and problems are part of life. It's good to reach out for help. You are the expert in your life, in your goals, values and aspirations. I am here to provide tools, accountability, support, encouragement and help in revealing to you all your inner awesomeness. I have unwavering confidence in your capabilities and potential, even when you find it hard to see them. Together we create a place to step back and gain perspective, test ideas, create solutions and move towards a life that is fulfilling, meaningful and connected.

Psychotherapy works best when it goes beyond talking about your problems and into the deeper patterns underneath them. My practice in Stuyvesant Town, Manhattan serves individuals throughout New York City and virtually across New York State. Using EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Cognitive Processing Therapy, we work with the parts of you still living in the past. The goal is not just feeling better — it is understanding yourself at a level where lasting change becomes possible.

At Core Relationships, we are here to guide you towards stronger, more authentic connections that enrich your everyday life. Our therapists understand the heartache involved when issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or relationship conflict are present. Our work is centered around finding the areas where you can touch base with yourself in a more present and authentic manner so that you can navigate your interpersonal relationships with confidence and ease. Whether you’re seeking individual or couples therapy, we’ll work together to find the inner alignment and strategies that empower you to thrive in all of your relationships beyond therapy.

Psychotherapy is about understanding how your past has impacted your present. This is a critical process in understanding deep unconscious motivating forces, you may not be aware of, that can me controlling your life. Uncovering your past and how you came to be who you are today is one of the most important processes you can go through. This can lead to feeling a sense of freedom in ones life and choices you didn't realize you had.

I look at thoughts and feelings what is important to you to give you a clearer approach to your path in life and what may be getting in the way. You may have an idea of how you want to be helped, and I will formulate a specific idea of how I can best help you. The reason that I like doing this kind of therapy is it is deep work that can be life changing.

Psychotherapy is at the core of everything I do. It's a space to slow down, look honestly at what's been driving your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and start making sense of patterns you may not have even noticed before. I draw from a range of evidence-based modalities, including EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, and somatic work, tailoring the approach to what you actually need rather than fitting you into a predetermined framework. Over time, clients develop deeper self-awareness, healthier coping skills, and a stronger sense of who they are and what they want. Real, lasting change is possible. Sometimes you just need the right space to do the work.

I am honored to work with individuals and couples from many different walks of life. My approach is rooted in respect, authenticity, and collaboration — always holding you as the expert in your own story. In our work together, I strive to create a space that feels safe, supportive, and genuinely affirming, where you can explore challenges honestly and move toward healing, growth, and deeper connection.

Like most human experiences, I believe that Psychotherapy is a process. It needs a significant investment of time an energy and can be navigated in three stages: 1. Exploration; 2. Identification; 3. Change. My role as a therapist is to create the space for people to explore and identify some areas within themselves that they want to change and take the risk.

Psychotherapy has been proven to relieve symptoms of stress. Stress comes in many forms, feelings, expressions and feels different for each person. My goal in psychotherapy is to hold a safe space for you to explore what it is that brought you here, so that, together with you, I can help you improve your life, reduce your stress symptoms as well as discover and experience meaning in everyday life.

I am successful. I have what I thought I wanted I should be happy but I feel like a failure and why don’t people understand what I am going through? Does that sound like you? Then you are in the right place. When you feel this way it time to look at your life, relationships and where you want to be. With a free consultation I can get you started.

Psychotherapy will be a collaborative, warm, trauma informed approach. Utilizing different mechanisms in order to explore how to make a better version of yourself and improve your wellness, recovery process, and mental health. Incorporating learning new healthy habits will take place. Increased confidence, self-esteem, and building on your self worth will take place.

Prioritize your wellness with psychotherapy in conjunction with medication management. Psychotherapy can offer a place to look at your current and past experiences from new perspectives and receive support as you move into the next chapter of your life. Let’s look at your wellness beyond just the biology. I want you to feel in control of your own wellness. As your doctor, I am committed to equipping you with the information you need to make clear, informed choices about your health.