SERVICES I OFFER
With You Every Step of the Way
Your well-being is my ultimate concern. Since 2012, I have provided patients in the Northern New Jersey area a wide range of psychological and counseling services to suit their needs. Whether you’re an adolescent or an adult - my therapy sessions are designed to strengthen your confidence, and assist you in the healing process. Take a look at the services I offer, and get in touch with me today.
I provide individual and group therapy in a number of treatment modalities including: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Compassion Focused Therapy. I also integrated mind/body approaches into my therapeutic techniques when appropriate.
Treatment specialization includes working with Trauma and Substance Use Difficulties. In addition, other emotional/behavioral concerns treated are:
Depression
Anxiety
Grief Counseling
Work and Career Issues
Life Transitions
Stress Management
I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, providing you with treatment that has been shown to be effective in clinical research for your presenting problem. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I will collaborate with you to create a treatment plan, set clear and achievable therapy goals, and help you achieve them.
PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION
If you’re looking for quality Psychiatric Consultation sessions with a certified Psychologist that cares, then you’ve come to the right place. I guide my patients every step of the way and implement various methods to help them develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. Schedule an appointment today and see what I can do for you.
The purpose of a psychiatric consultation/initial intake is for the patient and therapist to have the chance to have a "formal meet and greet", for the client to discuss pertinent psychological concerns, and to see if both the therapist and the client are a good fit for one another. This session runs about 60 minutes in length, and towards the end of the session, the therapist will provide a few recommendations based on the information the client presents. Then the client and patient will either set up the first psychotherapy appointment, or the therapist will refer the patient to another professional that may be more fit to provide the most effective services.
PRIVATE COUNSELING
In my therapy sessions, we’ll work to solve current problems and improve positive thinking and behavior. I will help you “re-frame” your reactions and provide you with valuable tools to cope with life’s obstacles. I’m confident you’ll find my personalized Private Counseling beneficial and inspirational. Get in touch to book an appointment.
Individual psychotherapy sessions typically run for the "50-minute hour". During session we will discuss progress towards the collaborative goals we have set for the week, month, year, and future, as well as explore any barriers that may show up towards you moving in a valued direction.
SUPERVISION FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Dr. Aster-McKenna is now eligible to supervise clinical psychology doctoral students/candidates (Ph.D. & Psy.D.) at any developmental level during their academic program years, internship year, post-doctoral fellowship year, and beyond, as they work to meet their licensing requirements.
Her style as a supervising psychologist is both active and interactive, all-the-while maintaining a non-judgmental stance, from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapeutic framework. During supervision, we will explore not only the hurdles and obstacles that you may face with the clients with whom you work, but also what thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations show up for you as the therapist in the therapy room in the here-and-now.
Dr. Aster-McKenna may suggest one of her favorite books to augment supervision by the great Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D., namely, "Mindfulness for Two", which is a great addition to your repertoire of knowledge at any developmental stage.
Dr. Amanda Aster-McKenna is licensed and can provide clinical supervision
in both New Jersey and New York, and she is looking forward to working with psychology doctoral students/candidates who are working towards their clinical licensure.
Benefit from my professional experience and wide range of psychological services.
A BIT ABOUT THERAPY
Personalized Attention for All Your Needs & ACT
I implement effective psychotherapy methods to instill self-understanding among patients and encourage them to adopt new attitudes and feelings towards life situations. It is essential to keep in mind that therapy is not a magic pill or a quick fix: therapy is a healing process that necessitates participation and investment from the patient and caretaker alike. But in the end, making small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results.
Dr. Amanda Aster-McKenna works from the theoretical standpoint of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT proposes that painful human experiences are inevitable in life. No matter how hard we try to “think positively” or “just forget about all the bad stuff,” we will, at times, feel sad, angry, and worried. All of these realities are normal human experiences. However, because we are human, it is also normal for us to not want to feel pain. We do our best to try and make that pain go away, or at least lessen it to some degree. As a result, we often find ourselves engaging in short-term “quick-fixes” that may make our pain go away temporarily. Yet these short-term relief efforts often cause us to miss out on the bigger picture of what is most important to us, such as spending quality time with our children and families, and being fully present in life. ACT teaches clients to learn how to accept inevitable human difficulties, and, continue to live a richful and meaningful life.