Individual Therapy for Adults

Individual Therapy

At the Integrative Therapy Institute we recognize that people come to therapy because they are unhappy and, as such, we see it as our job to help them find a pathway to happiness. Feeling stuck and alone with our problems makes it difficult to find solutions. Our committed and experienced clinicians work with their clients to help them overcome barriers to their happiness and find the support and strategies needed to make the life changes they are looking to make.

Some of the concerns that we commonly see in adults include, but are not limited to:

anxiety
depression
feeling overwhelmed
excessive stress
grief/loss
panic attacks
trauma
relationship issues
difficulties managing conflict
low self-esteem/confidence
desire for personal growth

In our work with adults, we strive to meet the needs that everyone has for validation and support while helping them to expand their self-awareness and the range of skills they employ to work out solutions to problems they face in life.

Our experienced and caring clinicians at ITI-NJ understand that every individual has unique needs and we work closely with our adult clients to find the therapeutic approach that best promotes their growth and healing. In addition to in-person counseling, the Integrative Therapy Institute of New Jersey offers secure, confidential teletherapy sessions to support your well-being, wherever you are in New Jersey.

Psychotherapy has existed for over a century now, and during that time many treatment approaches have been developed based on different ideas about the underlying source of human unhappiness. We believe that unhappiness can have different causes, and so we have integrated elements of well-known psychotherapies into a flexible approach that feels to the client like a normal conversation.

Unhappiness, in our view, can stem from blocked emotions, traumatic past experiences, negatively distorted thoughts, or difficult life circumstances. (Of course it may also involve a chemical imbalance, in which case we refer clients to a psychiatrist for co-treatment.)

With blocked emotions and past trauma we employ psychodynamic strategies, focusing on allowing the client full expression of feelings. We do this by listening, reflecting, supporting, and interpreting as the client gradually achieves insight, a fuller range of emotions, and mastery of traumatic memories. With negatively distorted thoughts we employ cognitive-behavioral interventions, challenging the cognitive distortions and clarifying to the client that these distorted thoughts are untrue and the misery that stems from them is unnecessary. With bad life circumstances we adopt a counseling approach, clearly identifying the life problems faced by the client, brainstorming and advising on ways to solve them, and also working with the client on any skill deficits that are part of the problems.

At ITI-NJ we also realize that these different causes of unhappiness are usually present to some degree in everyone, and that they are often interrelated. Blocked emotions or trauma can cause negatively distorted thoughts, which can cause poor life decisions, which can cause difficult life circumstances. We seek to make each client aware of how all these factors relate, and on the need to work on the entire pattern as part of building his or her pathway to happiness.

We have found that the best way to integrate these different techniques is to use them within the context of a naturalistic conversation. We try to be friendly, open, helpful, and relaxed, while at the same time adhering to high standards of professionalism and competence. In the early days of therapy a psychoanalytic model was favored that prescribed very rigid rules for the conduct of therapy, with the therapist being remote, detached, and most of the time, silent. We feel that this may have been appropriate for the cultural milieu of a century ago, but is inappropriate today.

We answer questions, laugh at jokes, and tell you what we really think. Therapy sessions, whether on-site or via a teletherapy, can be comforting or exhilarating. They can be very hard work, and sometimes they can even be funny. They should not feel like a weekly root canal, and with us they usually don’t.

Summary FAQ's

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a one-on-one process where you work directly with a licensed therapist to explore emotions, behaviors, and life challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

Who can benefit from individual therapy?

Adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, or personal growth goals can all benefit from individual therapy.

How long is a typical individual therapy session?

Sessions usually last 45–60 minutes, though length can vary depending on your treatment plan.

How often should I attend individual therapy?

Many clients begin with weekly sessions, and frequency may adjust over time based on progress and therapeutic goals.

Is individual therapy available online?

Yes, ITI offers secure teletherapy sessions for New Jersey residents, making therapy accessible from home.

Individual Counseling for Adults

Individual Therapy

Summary FAQ's

Teletherapy Services