Child Therapy Services in New Jersey
Are you struggling with how to help?
At this time in your child’s life, they are being faced with daily stressors and unfamiliar situations.
Unfortunately, they are ill-equipped at this stage in their development to be fully able to identify and process these complex experiences.
What Behaviors Your Child May Be Exhibiting
Aggressive behavior towards self and others
Anxiety when separating from friends and family
Constantly seeking reassurance
Difficulty making and maintaining social connections
Inability to identify and communicate feelings
Irrational thoughts and worries
Minimal ability to tolerate frustration
Pediatric Therapy Services
Whether at home or at school, children are faced with adversities on a daily basis. For many youngsters, the negative feelings associated with these moments can feel overwhelming. Without the proper tools, these experiences can have a lasting on their ability to overcome adversities throughout their lifetime.
With the appropriate assistance, your child can become better equipped to successful overcome the obstacles that stand in their way; gaining greater awareness, understanding and compassion for themselves and others.
Support Services For Parents
Although we as parents want to be there when our children are experiencing any adverse emotions, it can be difficult separating ourselves enough from the problem to be able to provide appropriate insight and guidance. Through the utilization of our support services, parents can gain a deeper understanding of their child’s intricacies and establish a healthy approach to be of assistance when your child is in need.
Our Work Together Will Address The Most Common Goals For Children
Becoming better equipped to tolerate frustration and uncertainty
Celebrating one’s own unique strengths and capabilities
Creating healthy boundaries with others to ensure that you are safeguarded both physically and emotionally
Establishing a stronger sense of self identity and independence
Finding an inner voice that promotes self advocacy and confidence
Gaining an understanding of the connection between thoughts and behaviors
Identify and label adverse emotions and experiences
Improving relationship with parents and establishing a more cohesive dynamic within the household
Initiating interaction and maintaining healthy relationships with peers
Mastering how to manage internal and external pressures
Strengthening one’s self awareness, confidence and esteem
Understanding the inner workings of the body and establishing more successful and productive techniques to self regulate
Recent Publications
Meet The Team
Nikki P. Woods, MSW, LCSW
Founder of NWC & Psychotherapist
Nikki Woods is a highly-sought after licensed clinical psychotherapist and founder of the Navesink Wellness Center. After earning her Masters Degree at New York University, Nikki dedicated her career to studying the intricacies of the developing female mind. In her practice (both locally and globally), she empowers mothers to better support their daughters’ development, and assists young women in channeling their own voice – one built on self awareness, acceptance and love.
Nikki’s advice and insight has been featured in publications worldwide, including Forbes, Thrive Global and Inc.com.
Her intuitive and insightful approach helps clients gain a greater sense of self worth, pursue life goals, improve relationship dysfunction, establish a more defined identity, and celebrate their own unique assets and capabilities. Her work has been featured in top publications such as Forbes and Inc. She works with patients both locally in Rumson, New Jersey as well as globally via her remote psychotherapy offerings.
Andrea Cernero, MA, LPC
Andrea is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Towson University and Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University. In addition, Andrea completed a Post Master’s Program in Advanced Counseling at Montclair State University. Andrea has experience working as a counselor in the school setting at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as in the clinical setting providing intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient counseling services.
Andrea is passionate about providing therapy to clients who would like to explore personal difficulties that impact their sense of well-being. Andrea has extensive experience working specifically with children and adolescents. Among her areas of expertise are assisting clients with anxiety, depression, self harm, family changes, and suicide prevention.
Andrea has utilized the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model to facilitate counseling groups for teens focusing of teaching interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, & distress tolerance skills to reduce their symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additional Training: Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Lifelines Suicide Prevention Trainer, & Mindfulness Fundamentals Program.
Stephanie Conti, MS, LAC, NCC
Stephanie is a Licensed Associate Counselor with clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric, dual diagnosis, trauma, developmental, and behavioral health issues. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, Stephanie achieved her Master of Science Degree from Monmouth University.
Stephanie’s counseling experience ranges from Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient clinical settings to in-home and nonprofit organization settings. As therapist, she delivered crisis intervention, individual, and group counseling services for clients in recovery from trauma, substance abuse, and general mental health illnesses. She also provided individual and family counseling services to children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as, in-home therapeutic interventions for preteens with developmental disabilities. Stephanie applies research-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help clients. Furthermore, her certifications include Trauma Informed-Approach, Telehealth, and Sand Play Therapy.
Michele Newman, MSW, LCSW
Michele is a licensed clinical psychotherapist who specializes in working with children, adolescents and adults as they navigate through life’s challenges and transitions. Michele has earned her Master’s Degree from Adelphi University, and has dedicated the past ten years to working with individuals and their families. Michele has extensive experience treating anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, impulse control and trauma. She has a comprehensive understanding of utilizing sensory play activities to address social and emotional distress associated with trauma
Michele’s approach to therapy is client centered, as she assists individuals to determine the direction and depth of therapy. Michele is highly skilled at offering her clients the tools needed to reframe thought processes to not only increase self actualization and identity, but to also optimize individual strengths needed to achieve personal goals. Michele welcomes the opportunity to facilitate this experience for anyone who is ready to make meaningful change in their lives.
Christiana Rutkowski, MS, LAC, NCC
Christiana is a Licensed Associate Counselor who specializes in working with adolescents, teenagers, and adults. Christiana received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Seton Hall University and Master of Science degree from Monmouth University.
Christiana has experience working in both private practice and outpatient settings, using interventions based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Christiana also loves incorporating journaling, art therapy, and ecotherapy into the therapeutic experience, and prioritizes the therapeutic relationship throughout the process.