Quieting The Noise Inside Your Head Is Possible
Do you feel like your brain can never shut off? Your head is so full of thoughts that you can’t focus on anything but these thoughts.
This could be anxiety.
Maybe you find yourself staring at your phone after sending a text, just waiting for a response to come in. When that response is slow to come, that’s when the worrying thoughts start to flood in.
“Why did I say that?”
“I should’ve said this instead”
“Why aren’t they answering me.”
You find yourself second guessing what you said. You should have said it differently. Not knowing what that person is going to say back triggers these thoughts. After the day is over, and you are lying in bed ready to go to sleep, you find yourself replaying conversations looking for hidden meanings.
Or perhaps you are up at night thinking of the never-ending to-do list of tasks you have to get done tomorrow.
Or maybe it’s your child experiencing these struggles. Frequent stomachaches and headaches that aren’t related to any health concerns leave you wondering what to do. Perhaps you hear them expressing thoughts of worry and harsh self-criticism. They think others don’t like them or struggle to feel like they belong. As a parent, it’s painful to see your child struggling with these challenges. You feel out of control.
Meet Tori
Hi, I’m Tori, a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) practicing in Scotch Plains and Branchburg, NJ, with a focus on anxious adults, overwhelmed parents, and worried kids. Together, we’ll figure out what’s actually driving the overwhelm — not just slap a coping skill on it and call it a day. (Fair warning: I hated therapy as a kid myself, so I get it if “let’s talk about your feelings” is not your favorite sentence.)
Mental health care shouldn’t be something you only reach for once everything’s already falling apart. You don’t need a crisis to deserve support, and you don’t need to have it all figured out before you walk in. This is a space where you get to just be exactly who you are — no performing, no filtering, no bracing for a lecture. If change feels like the scary part, that’s fair. We’ll go at whatever pace actually works for you, not some textbook timeline that has nothing to do with your life.
When I’m not in session, you’ll usually find me at the beach, lost in a good book, or hanging out with my dogs, Dixie and Derek — pretty much anywhere I get to just be myself, too.
Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Adults With Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy in NJ
Have you ever found yourself in conversations where you’re engaged and listening, but have felt an overwhelming need to interrupt? You just HAVE to say what you’re thinking before the topic changes and you forget entirely. Whether you’re constantly wondering “Where are my keys?” “Wait, where’s my phone?” or “My cup was right here, where did it go?” (Spoiler alert: it didn’t grow legs and walk away) — I get it! As an ADHDer, diagnosed during my undergraduate years, I understand the many complexities of neurodivergence.
There are many of us who have been undiagnosed or mislabeled as children. Perhaps you were called “talkative,” “daydreaming,” or “too energetic.” These words create negative labels when in reality, these are signs of a neurodivergent mind that processes differently.
Developing an affirming and loving relationship with your mind and body is crucial. In therapy, we can understand your passions, how you function best, and how your environment can support you.
Moreover, this kind of support is so powerful for children. Providing neurodivergent children with the space to fully be themselves without feeling the need to “mask” can be incredibly empowering. Masking is like “social camouflaging” — a strategy individuals use to appear “normal” or to be more accepted into what society believes is normal. Therapy for ADHD children can empower them to learn to work with their ADHD brain. We work together to provide your child with coping strategies for when things feel too overwhelming. Therapy can focus on nurturing self-esteem, building confidence, and minimizing the stereotypical thought that something is “wrong” with them. Unfortunately, the world isn’t built with neurodiverse individuals in mind, but self-understanding, acceptance, and affirmation allow us to make use of our strengths to reach our goals.
My Neuroaffirming Approach to Therapy
You shouldn’t have to perform “normal” for 45 minutes just to get something out of therapy. If eye contact feels like too much, don’t force it. If you need to take your shoes off, get on the floor, or move around the room to actually think, do it. (Guess what? I’ll probably have my shoes off too). If quiet is where you process, that’s allowed too — you don’t owe anyone a running commentary on your inner world.
Here’s the thing: you’re the expert on your own experience, not me. So the goals we work toward are the ones that actually matter to you — not a checklist of what you “should” be doing differently. My job isn’t to fix you or smooth out the parts of you that make other people uncomfortable. It’s to help you figure out what actually works for your brain, and then help you use it. Expect some laughing, some jokes, and a lot less pressure to be anyone other than exactly who you are.
My Path to Becoming a Licensed Associate Counselor in Branchburg NJ
After receiving my BA in psychology from Rowan University, I completed my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Kean University and am now a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), practicing under the supervision of Elaine Harrison-Yau, LCSW. I’ve always been drawn to understanding emotional experiences and the behaviors connected to them.
When you call Brave Minds, you may be met with me on the phone. In addition to my clinical work, I’m also part of our scheduling team, so I’m often the first friendly voice helping you find the right-fit therapist for your family.