Therapy for Women

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You show up for everyone. You manage the hard things, hold the difficult feelings, keep the peace, and keep going. From the outside, it probably looks like you have it all together.

But inside there's an exhaustion that rest doesn't fix, and a quiet voice asking how much longer you can keep this up.

This is a space built for exactly that.

• You feel guilty when you put yourself first, even in small ways
• Saying no feels risky, like it could cost you a relationship or someone's approval
• You've carried the mental load for your whole family for so long that you've lost track of what you actually need
• The frustration you keep swallowing is starting to leak out, and you snap at the people you love most
• You know something needs to change, but you don't know where to start, or whether you even get to

One of the first things clients notice in early sessions is relief: the relief of saying the thing out loud without managing how it lands for anyone else. That experience alone feels powerful and safe. 

As you continue sessions, patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions will become clearer.   You may notice you’ve been people-pleasing, over-functioning, and have a habit of controlling every outcome so nothing falls apart.

We’ll discover together where these patterns began; often in a childhood where being mature and self-sufficient was what got you praised. Understanding why that behavior made sense in the past is what makes it possible to actually change the pattern, not just manage it.

As therapy progresses, you’ll notice things become easier:

• Setting boundaries no longer takes a week of mental preparation
• Confidence in your own decisions
• Relationships where you're fully present instead of quietly resentful or running on empty

The goal is a steadier, more grounded life, where looking after yourself stops feeling like something you have to earn.

My approach combines CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), parts-based work, and psychodynamic therapy, all grounded in trauma-informed care. The focus is understanding not only what you're doing but why, and what it would take to genuinely shift those thoughts, feelings or behaviors.

Most of the women I work with have already tried to think their way out of these patterns. They've read the books, tried the breathing, and quietly gave up because slowing down brought an immediate wave of guilt.

Therapy with Self & Wellness goes deeper than insight. We honor that your over-functioning and people-pleasing were once how you survived and were shaped by cultural and family expectations. . We get practical about the life and relationships you're living now, and give you real tools you can use in your busy life.

As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), I bring both a trauma-informed and anxiety-focused lens to our therapy work.  This matters because the roots of over-functioning usually trace back further than whatever is happening right now.

In the first session, we’ll get a clear picture of what's bringing you to therapy and what you want to feel different in your life. We'll start building your goals together, and I'll introduce a few early tools to keep the work grounded from the start.

My approach is warm but direct, so you'll get real guidance and skills you can use between sessions, not just space to vent.

Sessions are 45 to 60 minutes and held online, so the work fits into a packed schedule instead of becoming one more thing to juggle. We meet weekly at the beginning, then adjust the pace as you start to feel steadier.

• Women in their late 30s and 40s who look high-functioning on the outside and feel empty underneath
• Women who have spent decades as the dependable one and the emotional anchor for family, work, and friendships
• Women moving through a major transition such as a career pivot, a parenting shift, or caring for aging parents, that disrupts the control they're used to feeling
• Women who want a therapist who understands the cultural background of being a black woman and the pressures shaping what they carry, not just the symptoms

If you've always been told you're strong and capable but privately wonder why that never feels like enough, this work was built with you in mind.

•  Individual intake: $200 (60 min)
• Follow-up sessions: $110 to $175 depending on length
• Insurance: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield accepted
• Out-of-network: superbills provided, with Thrizer available to manage reimbursement

Do I need a specific diagnosis to come to therapy? No. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to start therapy. If something in your life feels heavy, stuck, or off, that's a real reason to reach out.

Does reaching out mean I can't handle things on my own? No, and that worry is one of the most common things I hear. Asking for support isn't a sign you're weak or failing. More often it means the strategies that carried you this far have stopped working, and you're ready for something that helps you feel supported and grounded.

I've been to therapy before and felt like I just talked without anything changing. Will this be different? Likely yes. If past therapy felt like venting without direction, the approach here is different. Sessions are structured and skills-focused, and we track progress so the work stays grounded in real change.

Do you offer online sessions? Yes. All sessions are online, available to women across New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee, so therapy fits around your life instead of adding to it.

How do I know if I'm ready to start therapy? If you're asking that question and here on this page, you're probably ready to start therapy. You don't have to have anything figured out before the first session.  We’ll explore what you need together.

You've spent a long time making sure everyone else is okay. This is the space where you come first, where you can set the load down for an hour and be held and supported. Book a free consultation and start doing something for you.