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. It’s the idea of not knowing what that person is going to say back that 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 your child is experiencing frequent stomachaches and headaches that aren’t related to any health concerns. 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 thoughts. You feel out of control.
Meet Tori
Hi, I’m Tori, a counseling intern under the supervision of Elaine Harrison-Yau, LCSW in Scotch Plains and Branchburg, NJ. I am passionate about helping anxious adults, overwhelmed parents and worried kids. Together we will come up with a plan and goals to help you feel less overwhelmed and develop coping skills and interventions tailored to your specific needs.
Mental health care is like mental hygiene. I aim to create a safe space for you to truly be yourself and meet you where you are. I am here to validate your feelings, provide you with a non-judgemental space, and build your capacity for change. I want to make you feel empowered, by building your self-awareness and encouraging you to advocate for your own unique needs.
My favorite ways to practice my own mental hygiene are going to the beach and relaxing with a good book. You can also find me playing with my dogs, Dixie and Derek, and surrounding myself with people who I can truly be myself around.
Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Adults With Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy in NJ
Have you ever found yourself in conversations where you are 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, who was 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.” It’s a strategy that 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 minimize the stereotypical thoughts of believing something is “wrong” with them. Unfortunately, the world isn’t built with neurodiverse individuals in mind, but self understanding, acceptance and affirmation allows us to make use of our strengths to reach our goals.
About Me & My Neuroaffirming Approach
Therapy can feel scary. Whether you are an adult or a child, I’m committed to making it different, supportive, engaging, and tailored to you and your family’s specific needs. I believe in creating a fun, supportive environment. You might find me getting on the floor or taking my shoes off, aiming to make the therapy room feel less scary. Therapy with me will include a lot of laughter, jokes, and validation to allow you to be the best version of yourself.
My Journey to Becoming a Therapy Intern in Branchburg NJ
After receiving my BA in psychology from Rowan University, I enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Kean University. I have always been drawn to understanding emotional experiences and their related behaviors.
When you call Brave Minds, you may be met with me on the phone. In addition to my Clinical role as an Intern, I am also a part of our wonderful administrative team. I am a firm believer in facilitating your journey in finding the right fit therapist for you and your needs.
Affordable Therapy in NJ
When you work with me, you get the unique benefit of two therapists for the price of one, me and my licensed supervisor. Interns provide high-quality care at a lower cost, with more flexible scheduling and faster availability. They often carry smaller caseloads, allowing for more focused attention, and bring fresh, up-to-date training to their work.