Female Therapists in Ridgewood, NJ

Welcome! I'm Amanda Atkinson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to empowering you on your journey towards positive growth and self-discovery. With a passion for fostering resilience and promoting positive change, I specialize in working with adolescents and adults facing various life challenges. My approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and that every person’s journey is different and should be treated as such. I believe in the power of a positive mindset and the importance of cultivating self-awareness and self-compassion.

I am an open and sensitive person and clients feel very comfortable with me from the outset. I work well with individuals and families and can assist with a wide variety of problems that people face throughout their lives; marital/relationship difficulties, learning and school challenges, parenting struggles, major life events, and the depression and anxiety that often accompany all of life's ups and downs. By helping people gain some clarity of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, they can hopefully achieve a greater sense of control in their lives-- thereby leading to a greater sense of peace and wellness.

As a Licensed Professional and Creative Arts Therapist, I utilize various modalities within a somatic approach. These include guided visualization alongside bilateral drawing techniques for trauma incorporating the polyvagal theory and parts to whole relationships. Restoring the body, mind, and spirit aid's in increasing one's self-esteem, resolving conflict, healing trauma, grief and loss, and addressing underlying layers causing stress, illness, and psychological ailments. I'm passionate about supporting clients through life's challenges with intuition, empathy, and skillful understanding weaving old narratives to greater health.

Having had a diversity of experiences allows me a unique ability to approach helping others. I provide neuropsychological assessment as well as a variety of treatment services, using an mix of various orientations and modalities. I understand how cognitive and emotional difficulties can impact not just school/work functioning but also personal relationships and family life. I appreciate that parents and families can play an important role in treatment and include them when appropriate. I work with a variety of emotional and neurological issues with the ultimate goal of helping my clients get the most they can from their lives.

Our team of professionals includes psychotherapists and neuropsychologists. Our team of therapists focus on providing cognitive behavior therapy, which is an approach that helps clients to identify unhealthy ways of thinking so that they can learn to change those patterns and develop healthier coping skills. We have clinicians that focus on supporting the emotional needs of children as well as those who work with adults. Our neuropsychological services assess for learning differences which may result from a range of challenges, including but not limited to ADHD, brain injuries, learning disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

My work with individuals and couples includes a specialization in communication, relationship issues, shame, vulnerability, self-esteem issues, anxiety/depression, and any barrier to fulfilling one's full potential. I use cognitive behavioral and solution-focused therapies, and take a strengths-based approach to encourage and promote self-awareness and empowerment. My style combines clinical techniques with a holistic perspective that takes into account a body-mind-heart connection. I describe this connection as awareness of health, thoughts, and emotions.

I have over 30 years of experience as a practicing clinician who uses a variety of treatment approaches, in order to provide you with the best possible outcome. My goal is to help you to navigate in any of the life experiences or situations that have created an impasse. I am interested in supporting you to achieve your best possible way of living. I work in a psychodynamic manner as well as a more direct solution focused paradigm. This can include using DBT, CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness. I see individuals and/or couples. I am strength based, in working with you to navigate towards healing.

At the center, clients can expect to learn how to live their best life. As a therapist and being involved in the field for 16 years, I've worked with adolescents, women and families through individual, family and group therapy. My expertise is working with individuals experiencing depression, self-esteem issues, history of abuse, generalized and social anxiety, anger management, stress management and trauma. I also provide coaching for women in their 20's -60's and help clients gain work/ life balance whether they're struggling in intimate or social relationship or in their careers. My approach is to not just to treat the symptoms, but get to the root of the problem.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, working in the field of mental health for 20 years. I received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. I hold a Post-Master’s certificate in Clinical Practice with Adolescents at New York University. I am specialized in the area of substance abuse, holding a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification. I have significant experience in adolescent mental health and family conflict, working with both the adolescent individually and family collectively.

Life can get better. Change can happen. I treat individuals and couples struggling with depression and anxiety who are seeking to free themselves from continued suffering. Reaching out for help is an action of strength. My approach is empathic and nonjudgemental. The right professional guidance can help you feel better and potentially change your life. Many of my patients have found greater happiness and fulfillment. I specialize in treatment for anxiety and depression as well as relationship issues. Call today to set up an initial consultation.

My practice focuses on enhancing wellness and cultivating joy. There is nothing more important than tuning into your authentic self and taking care of YOU. We know that we have to engage in self-care to be most effective in our lives, but it is not uncommon to put others first. When we avoid self-care, especially during times of stress, loss or transition, it manifests in our mood, relationships and health. Despite our best intentions, we may notice ourselves engaging in familiar patterns that leave us feeling less than satisfied. You are here because you want to feel better. You deserve better than better... YOU deserve joy.

My goal in working with those who entrust me with their concerns and vulnerabilities is to enable them to find creative solutions to life dilemmas. My clients seek a confidential space where they can feel heard and understood without judgment. If you are feeling overwhelmed with fear, sadness, and anger--moving through it to relief is possible. The trusting partnership of the therapeutic relationship is key. https://headway.co/providers/suzanne-goodwin?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=19689

I enjoy my work as a therapist. The cornerstone of my success is my ability to provide a safe environment, listen intently, and genuinely engage with the individuals and families that I meet. Perhaps you are on the precipice of change, and you just can't take the first step. Maybe you are taking inventory of your life, and you need guidance on how to sum up your past and learn how to make new decisions in this moment with your eyes wide open. Together, we can sort out the transition and help you move toward positive transformation.

The most important thing to me as a therapist is to create a safe, warm, and comfortable environment where you can feel free to share whatever is on your mind without judgement. My goal is to provide you with the support, guidance and the tools necessary in order to make lasting change and find the answers you seek.

Anxiety, depression, trauma and addiction can be enormously challenging. They are often intertwined with physical issues and can disrupt lives, including the lives of the people around them. As a therapist with over 30 years of experience I can share the good news that healing is possible when given the right care. My expertise is helping people with complex issues get strong and move beyond the their past. I offer a deeply compassionate, non-judgmental presence, so clients can feel safe, hopeful and heal. My experience as clinical director, clinician and supervisor allow me to bring you the highest level of evidenced based care.

I am a certified perinatal and postpartum mental health therapist, and specialize in working with women through planning for pregnancy, pregnancy, and the postpartum time. I offer therapy for women dealing with postpartum depression, anxiety, reproductive complications, miscarriage, termination, grief, loss and parenting needs. Becoming a mother for the first time, or growing your family can be the most transformative experience of a mother’s life. You don’t have to experience motherhood alone. I look forward to helping you navigate this time in your life and will guide you toward achieving wellness.

As a specialist in supporting adults and teens with High-Functioning Autism, ADHD/ADD, and emotional regulation challenges, I believe in a collaborative approach that honors your unique experiences and strengths. From in-depth diagnostic evaluation and testing of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder to individual therapy and supportive groups, I offer a wide range of options to help you manage frustrations, explore emotions, and build the skills you need for a calmer mind, healthier relationships, and a life on your terms.

I am a highly experienced, warm, NJ and NY licensed psychologist trained at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Treatment specialties include: Women's Issues (incl. Relationships, Career, Family Issues), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder), Anxiety Disorders (Panic Disorder, OCD), Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Impulse Control Difficulties (cutting, self-harm, oppositionality), Trauma, PTSD, and Sexual Abuse, Relationship Issues, and Gay/Lesbian issues.

Throughout life, we go through many different phases. Some phases come with their own set of challenges and make us feel stuck, powerless, and unsure of what to do next. No one should have to experience these feelings alone. The key to overcoming feeling lost is to understand how your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors impact one another. Using a safe, respectful and non-judgmental approach, my goal is to give you the tools you need to find your inner strength and feel validated, empowered, and ready to tackle whatever obstacles you face in the future.