Pacific Islander Therapists in Woodcliff Lake, NJ

Hello, I'd like to introduce myself. I am Sarah Gwen. I go by Sarah or Gwen. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Master Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), and I am almost ready to apply to be a Certified Sex Therapist (CST). I really enjoy learning, helping, connecting, and facing challenges. I also love animals, music, nature, tattoos,and food. I am Native Hawaiian, raised in San Diego. I have been here in the Finger Lakes for 13 years. I am a mother of three, ranging from 25 to 11 yrs. I consider myself warm, casual and intelligent. I would love to meet and see if I can help. No pressure.

I am a Licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist with experience working with a broad range of client populations. Creating a safe & welcoming space, as well as, developing a relationship and building rapport with my clients before beginning treatment is extremely important to me.

Life, as we know it, can throw us off-kilter and unbalanced. The path to change can sometimes be obscure. Seeking support takes courage. And I am so glad you are here!

Often when people are faced with life's challenges, they do not realize how strong they can be. I work with children and families who are struggling with the impact of divorce, learning disabilities, sudden or chronic illness, disability, trauma, loss, neglect or abuse. Challenges can be difficult but they can also lead us to new emotional growth. My strength-based approach will help you and/or your children grow closer together, heal emotionally and find inner resiliency. I am committed to navigating with you, side by side, to help you be the best you can be!

Although I obtained a significant amount of knowledge as a therapeutic provider and underwent professional training, I myself do not claim to be an expert on my clients. I ultimately view clients as the true experts on themselves and I, as the therapist, am their creative partner in becoming the “best” version of themselves. Not only do I believe clients are the experts on themselves, but I also believe that clients are the heroes of their own stories. During the course of the journey, the hero often has to integrate parts of themselves and the world that surrounds them to become an agent of better change.

I practice from a strength-based, insight-oriented, and collaborative approach individualized to meet the unique needs of each client. I offer an empathetic, supportive, and accepting environment for my clients to feel heard and understood while also challenged and inspired to take on new perspectives, ways of thinking, and daily practices. Therapy is a process that can provide tools to relieve immediate stress, but also an opportunity to explore the underlying meanings, behavioral patterns, and relationship dynamics in order to lead a life of authenticity and genuine fulfillment. My clients also strive to positively impact society.

As a licensed psychologist in NY and NJ, I offer remote individual psychotherapy to adults (Mon-Thurs: 9am-5pm). My approach is collaborative, and you are an active partner in designing your personal goals. I individualize treatment based on your presenting concerns/needs, as well as your unique background and history. Based on my training and experience in a variety of treatment modalities, including CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, I use an integrative approach to help you reach your personal goals, which may involve learning skills to manage life’s difficulties and developing greater understanding of yourself.

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or weighed down by depression? Do you find yourself struggling to connect meaningfully with others, longing for deeper, more fulfilling relationships? Have you ever wished for effective tools to manage the racing thoughts and crippling worry that anxiety brings? Or perhaps you're seeking a way to lift the weight of depression and rediscover a sense of joy? Are you craving deeper connections with those around you? Do you yearn for communication and understanding in your relationships? I understand how these challenges can take a toll on your emotional well-being, and I'm here to support

Pornography addiction can significantly impact your life and relationships but there is hope for recovery. I’m not just a mental health professional, I’ve been “you” for many years. I understand firsthand the personal struggles in your life and committed relationships that come with uncontrollable pornography use. The endless stream of attractive women a few clicks away on Pornhub, Onlyfan or Social Media is hard to quit even with all your willpower and promise to quit for the sake of your relationship

I am a trauma specialist who can help you recover from childhood trauma, sexual abuse, addiction, depression, and anxiety using talk therapy or EMDR (an effective approach that reduces the triggering power of traumatic memories). My clients have often had challenging childhoods, and may currently be navigating relationship breakup, divorce, family conflict, or abuses within a faith community. Many also want to change their relationship with alcohol or drugs, or to process the impact of a loved one’s addiction. You can see if I'm accepting new clients and book a first appointment online at www.resolutioncc.com/team.

Are you struggling to manage your inner feelings and all of the stressors in your life? You can overcome your obstacles with the right therapist. I enjoy working with people who, like myself, are trying to face the many feelings that are sometimes difficult to stay present with.

I am experienced in treating depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, unresolved issues, life-transition difficulties, family/relational problems, and grief and loss. While I have extensive experience working with individuals of Asian decent, they comprise only 30% of my clientele and I am well-rounded in treating individuals from various cultural and religious backgrounds. I am dedicated to bring genuine, compassionate, and evidence-based care to my clients. After a thorough assessment of my client's presenting concern and history, I collaborate with my client to formulate a treatment plan that is highly individualized.

Whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, starting therapy can be one of the most taxing and anxiety provoking things we can imagine. Many of us live day by day worried about what may happen or what has happened, and eventually it starts to consume how we think and behave. We start to lie to ourselves and others about what is happening, and we start to feel trapped and hopeless. Everyday seems to be a battle and we crave a release.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and have worked in a variety of settings including partial hospitalization, Children’s Mobile Response, addiction recovery services, school based counseling, and in-home therapy. As a multiculturally competent and bilingual therapist, I am most passionate about serving marginalized communities and those who often struggle to seek mental health treatment due to stigma. While I specialize in working with adolescents and adults in areas such as trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and substance abuse, I am also well-versed in targeting areas related to racial and cultural identity and trauma.

Are you dealing with anxiety, depression, or life transitions? When meeting these challenges, we might struggle to understand and manage our emotions or to gain clarity in our personal and professional lives. My approach to helping clients work through these concerns is collaborative, supportive, and empathic. With my clients, through exploration and practical problem-solving, we develop effective coping strategies and explore their feelings and experiences. We all strive for a balanced and fulfilling life; and we do not have to do it alone.

Speaking from personal and professional experience, I understand how difficult it can be to reach out for help. Asking for support can sometimes come with feelings of shame, guilt, or fear, especially within our communities or culture where going to therapy might still carry a stigma. But let me reassure you - recognizing when you need help is a testament to your resilience and wisdom. Perhaps you are feeling the pressure of familial/societal expectations while trying to show up and live authentically yourself. You're the main character in your story, and you deserve to live it fully, and I would love to help.

I am dedicated to working with clients whose personality and life experience were shaped by more than one culture: You might be an international student or in your 20's or 30's navigating anxiety. You might have been raised by 1st generation Asian parents or one and half or 2nd generation immigrants. You might be struggling in a relationship where you and your partner come from different cultural backgrounds not feeling understood. You are in the relationship but you both feel alone in the relationship. I love to help. I work with clients individually and as couples.

You may feel lost and confused. You don’t know what happened exactly, but you know you are unhappy, and you want your life to get better. Maybe a lot of things make you worried; maybe you are stressed; maybe you want to achieve certain things, but you simply can’t (yet). Or you may come to therapy somehow knowing what you want.

The phrase "That's what Mom's do" has become the unwanted mantra that forces you to go, go, go. Good sleep, what's that, and it's hard to find the energy to keep going. Day after day, there’s a long to-do list that keeps you on the hamster wheel. Emotions have been all over the place, but you've been pushing through them every week. However, the pressure is building, and being overwhelmed and feeling alone makes it increasingly more difficult to keep up with everyday life and relationships when feeling this way. All you want to do is hide away and hope it doesn't all come crashing down.