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 think it’s important that you know a bit about my therapy philosophy and it’s best summed up in saying that I truly believe in the integration of mind, body, and spirit. I also recognize how common that phrase is in the therapy world but it’s taken me years to develop what I really mean when I say that. What I mean is, on a foundational level, our healing encompasses the spiritual life and how we care for our bodies (movement, food, sleep, and more).

In practice, what this means is, I don’t just focus on your mental health, as we will also look at how you nourish your body both physically and spiritually. Overall, I don’t see physical, mental, and spiritual health as separate, but rather meant to work harmoniously together.

IS MY APPROACH right FOR YOU?

Possibly if:

  • You want a more exploratory, less structured approach to therapy.

  • 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.

Possibly not if:

  • You want consistent weekly or daily homework outside of session.

  • You want a therapist who accepts insurance.

  • 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.

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 admittedly 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

    • 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

    • 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