a little bit about me
AN APPROACH TO therapy THAT’S rooted IN TRUTH
& if we may be a good fit
I don’t see physical, mental & spiritual health as separate, but rather meant to work harmoniously together.
HI THERE, I’M TARA
I see the therapeutic process as relational and collaborative.
Therapy isn’t a space where I tell you how to live your life but rather to help you in working through challenges that arise, notice patterns, and find techniques to assist in coping with the hard stuff.
Therapy also won’t make all of your problems go away or make you feel happy all of the time as that wouldn’t be realistic because as humans, were going to struggle and will experience a range of emotions. Having said that, therapy can help you to identify stuck thought patterns, help you gain a deeper sense of your values, and create a more meaningful life.
I utilize a Thomistic frameowork which is truly wholistic. Basically, I believe in the integration of mind, body, and spirit and believe that exploring the mind/body connection is relevant in the therapeutic process.
IS MY APPROACH right FOR YOU?
Possibly if:
You want an exploratory approach to therapy with cognitive approaches infused into sessions (ACT and CBT).
You plan to work on your goals between session with the help of occasional homework tasks provided during sessions.
You are looking to collaborate with your therapist as a team towards a common goal.
You want an online approach to therapy from the comfort of your home.
You value various approaches to therapy and are interested in trying different modalities.
You appreciate a therapist with a bit of a sense of humor and who isn’t afraid to call you out at times.
You are prepared to show up weekly for sessions.
You are a woman or mother who is having a hard time in your stage of life and needing some help with coping.
Possibly not if:
You want a therapist who accepts insurance or who provides a super bill.
You want someone to tell you exactly what you need to do to “fix” the “problem”.
You are seeking an in person therapy option.
You are currently having a mental health crisis.
You don’t want a therapist who is praying for you outside of session.
You are seeking couples or family therapy, as I work with individuals.
You’re mainly looking for a space to share weekly updates without a specific focus or goal.
MY VALUES
authenticity
I try to show up authentically in session. What this means is that I try to remain self-aware, transparent, and open. It also means that I aim to take responsibility for mistakes that I may make. My authenticity exists so that we can establish and nurture a trusting therapeutic relationship.
trust
Trust is critical for both of us in session, but I don’t expect you to trust me immediately, or even all at once. It’s something that we will work towards in therapy so that you can share your genuine feelings, fears, and emotions with the goal of helping you to heal.
spirituality
As you have probably come to know by now, I am a practicing and unapologetic Catholic who believes that you can’t separate spirit from the therapeutic process. As a convert to the faith, I did for many years try to keep spirituality away from the therapeutic process but it often felt flat, meaningless. Without getting into my very long journey, it’s important for you to know that God is very much so a part of this process.
A BIT ABOUT MY TRAINING & EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
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B.A Psychology Minor in Social Work, Rider University
MSW Clinical Social Work, Area of Emphasis in Loss, Trauma and Grief, Rutgers University
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, NJ/ 44SC05672100
Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, NJ/ 37LC00269800
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, PA/ CW021327
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Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C)
Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Perinatal Loss & Grief
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
Motivational Interviewing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Certificate in Aging & Health
ACT in perinatal mental health