where we are all a work in progress…
Emily Conte, LAC
(Parents) You're worried; your once vibrant, outgoing, and enthusiastic teen has become someone you don't recognize. They're moody, irritated, secretive, and are spending more time than ever before alone in their room. You've tried to start a conversation with them about your concerns, but they just say everything is fine. You're not the only one that notices these changes. Teachers have reached out to let you know their grades are slipping and they haven't been attentive in class. They may have even skipped a couple of classes without you realizing. You’re doing your best with them, but it doesn’t feel good enough. You’re at a loss and you feel like you’ve used up your usual resources and strategies. You’re looking for support, but are unsure where to turn...
(Teens) Another day feels wasted as you turn over in bed and realize that you didn't get anything accomplished like you planned to. "I'll save it for tomorrow," plays on a continual loop in your mind as you recognize that your daily functioning has been impacted more than ever before. It feels harder to get even the smallest of tasks done and you easily become overwhelmed at the thought of completing them. You feel exhausted, fatigued, and mentally drained by your own thoughts and you wonder if it's normal to feel this way all of the time. Your school work is suffering and your teachers and parents have started to notice. Your parents have said that you're not "acting like you" and you don't even know what that means anymore. You don't feel close to anyone lately, including your friends. The days have blended together more than you'd like to admit and you just want to feel better. You've tried to talk about how you feel, but you can't seem to get the words out right. It just seems like no one will understand...
(Young Adults) Another night, another anxiety attack. You've tried implementing all of the changes that your relatives, friends, and influencers on social media have said to try to be fixed. You've adjusted your eating habits, started working out more often, decreased your caffeine intake, and limited your cellphone usage before bed. You've even tried that essential oil that's supposed to "cure" anxiety in one sniff! But you're still feeling anxious and you can’t figure out why. There's this constant feeling of edginess that you just can't shake. You often think that you don’t really know what you’re doing and don’t feel like you “fit” anywhere. You start to wonder if you’re making the “right” decisions or if this is just what being an “adult” feels like. You wish you had some guidance, but everyone says that you should know what to do by now or that you’ll just figure it out. But you’re feeling a bit lost.
Here's where talk therapy with me comes in. I help adolescents, teens, and young adults gain insight and understanding into the root of their emotions and discover new ways to handle the uncomfortable and unknown. Together, we can work towards goals that I will help you create for yourself to achieve throughout the therapy process and find creative ways to get you there. There is no one particular way to navigate life's issues; that's why I tailor therapy to the specific needs of my clients incorporating all parts of YOU that are influential in making you who you are.
Therapy doesn't need to be scary, incredibly formal, or uncomfortable. Therapy with me might look like using humor and sarcasm, the occasional game of Uno, catching up on the TikToks that you saved to explain something that you do/feel, reflective worksheets and resources, and most importantly, a supportive counselor dedicated to walking alongside you through your most difficult times.
If you're ready to give therapy a try, contact the office to schedule your initial session. If you're still deciding if therapy is the right fit for you, let's set aside 15 minutes for a virtual consultation so I can gain a better understanding of what you're hoping to gain out of this experience and how I can help.
Here's a little about me:
I am a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state of New Jersey and received my Master’s in Professional Counseling and Education Specialist certificate from Seton Hall University. I am a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychological Association (APA), and am in the process of becoming a nationally certified counselor through NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors, LLC). I currently teach part-time for Seton Hall University’s Graduate Counseling Program in addition to seeing clients. Prior to counseling, I worked in higher education as a student-centered professional serving both undergraduate and graduate students in various administrative and advising roles.
My counseling experience began when I worked as an Academic and Career Counselor where I worked with undergraduate students between the ages of 18-50 who were on academic probation/at risk of academic expulsion and/or navigating career and major indecision. I utilized an individualized, solution-focused, and strengths-based approach to assist my clients in creating reasonable and achievable goals in order to progress in their academic journey. During this position, I served college students who struggled with school related-issues, such as poor academic performance and truancy, transitional and life-stage issues, interpersonal and relationship concerns, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
I consider my approach to be client-centered and based around what the client is hoping to gain from therapy. I take into consideration the whole person; exploring biological, psychological, social/cultural, and spiritual factors that make an individual who they are. I recognize that therapy is not a “one-size fits all” approach and that collaboration is key for a genuine counseling relationship. I work with adolescents, teens, and adults ages 14+.