Find a Therapist in West Orange, New Jersey.

For the past 12 years, I have been helping individuals, couples and families heal themselves, their relationships and childhood hurts. I facilitate this by being compassionate, creating a safe environment and caring about my clients. I help my clients build higher self-worth and strengthen their relationships. In a very short time, I can provide you with the tools to communicate effectively, manage difficult feelings and not take others' behavior personally.

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.

Although I am licensed as a psychoanalyst in New York, over my 37 years of practice I have also trained in Gestalt therapy, bioenergetics, art therapy, psychodrama, group therapy, couples therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Thus I am eclectic and I apply whatever modality is needed in each case. Over the years I have developed a reputation as a psychotherapist who genuinely cares; and those clients who make a commitment to therapy make real progress.

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.

Unhappy uncooperative children and teens often do not want to go to psychotherapy because it focuses on their negatives behaviors. I have developed child-friendly techniques that are highly effective because they are fun and entertaining. When children enjoy coming to therapy they are open to constructive criticism and are willing to try new patterns of behavior. The success that results raises self-esteem and fosters empathy for others.

Our credentialed music therapists tailor sessions to each individual, utilizing personalized music exercises and interventions to address each person's unique symptoms or concerns. Our music therapists work with each client using musical elements like songwriting, processing, and guided imagery to help clients find their own voice and path on the journey to mental wellness.

I care deeply about the people I work with and offer a personable and warm approach to psychotherapy. I integrate a variety of therapeutic techniques, including CBT and Insight Oriented Therapies, and I tailor my sessions to meet your unique needs. My clients learn coping skills to address daily stressors, and how to alter negative self-talk that exacerbates anxiety, depression, and feeling out of control of their life. I help my clients explore patterns of thoughts and behaviors, and to address the root of what is troubling them. I center our work on building a strong therapeutic relationship where clients feel at ease, and are fully seen, without fear of judgement or rejection.

My approach to psychotherapy and counseling is to form an alliance with the client where they feel safe to share thoughts feelings, and behaviors. While providing psychotherapy to numerous clients In Westchester and Putnam County, they feel empathy and caring that I'm trying to help. Solutions oriented counseling helps clients achieve their goals. Whether its individual or couples psychotherapy, Chris Colasuonno, LCSW-R, MBA, CASASC has treated numerous clients with diverse issues such as couples therapy, mental health, addiction, anger and stress.

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 a safe place in which you learn to tell your truth. Psychotherapy has been called the "talking cure" because it has demonstrated, again and again, that telling your truth, your story, to someone who is empathetic and neutral reliefs symptoms such as depression and anxiety. However, psychotherapy is much more that just telling your truth; as a therapist, I am listening to what you are saying and what you are not saying, and I will make connections between "dots" in your life and share them with you. This process will help you look at your life, your relational patterns and your reactions from a different perspective allowing you make long lasting change.

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.

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.

I recognize that no two people are alike and there is no one size fits all for treatment. I work collaboratively with clients to identify the specific needs and challenges that they would like to address. Together, we then determine which interventions will likely be most helpful for achieving one’s goals. I have extensive experience helping clients with a variety of challenges, including managing acute and chronic stressors, overcoming mood and anxiety symptoms, managing relational stress, gaining control of self-defeating habits and behaviors, and coping with sudden and expected losses.