where we are all a work in progress…
Emily Conte, MA/EdS, LAC, NCC
Clinician & Clinical Care Director
(Teens) Another day feels wasted as you turn over in bed and realize that you didn't get anything accomplished like you planned to. "I'll save it for tomorrow," plays on a continual loop in your mind as you recognize that your daily functioning has been impacted more than ever before. It feels harder to get even the smallest of tasks done and you easily become overwhelmed at the thought of completing them. You feel exhausted, fatigued, and mentally drained by your own thoughts and you wonder if it's normal to feel this way all of the time. Your school work is suffering and your teachers and parents have started to notice. Your parents have said that you're not "acting like you" and you don't even know what that means anymore. You don't feel close to anyone lately, including your friends. The days have blended together more than you'd like to admit and you just want to feel better. You've tried to talk about how you feel, but you can't seem to get the words out right. It just seems like no one will understand…
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(Young Adults) Another night, another anxiety attack. You've tried implementing all of the changes that your relatives, friends, and influencers on social media have said to try to be fixed. You've adjusted your eating habits, started working out more often, decreased your caffeine intake, and limited your cell phone usage before bed. You've even tried that essential oil that's supposed to "cure" anxiety in one sniff! But you're still feeling anxious and you can’t figure out why. There's this constant feeling of edginess that you just can't shake. You often think that you don’t really know what you’re doing and don’t feel like you “fit” anywhere. You start to wonder if you’re making the “right” decisions or if this is just what being an “adult” feels like. You wish you had some guidance, but everyone says that you should know what to do by now or that you’ll just figure it out. But you’re feeling a bit lost…
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(Parents) You're worried; your once vibrant, outgoing, and enthusiastic teen has become someone you don't recognize. They're moody, irritated, secretive, and are spending more time than ever before alone in their room. You've tried to start a conversation with them about your concerns, but they just say everything is “fine”. You're not the only one that notices these changes. Teachers have reached out to let you know their grades are slipping and they haven't been attentive in class. They may have even skipped a couple of classes without you realizing. You’re doing your best with them, but it doesn’t feel good enough. You’re at a loss and you feel like you’ve used up your usual resources and strategies. You’re looking for support, but are unsure where to turn...
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Here's where talk therapy with me comes in. I help adolescents, teens, and young adults gain insight into identifying their root conflicts through exploring familial and relational dynamics and patterns, coming to understand how those influences play a part in their present concerns, and utilizing our therapeutic relationship towards creating movement and change in the “now.” Together, we can work towards collaboratively creating goals to achieve throughout the therapy process and find creative ways to get you there. There is no one particular way to navigate life's issues; that's why I tailor therapy to the specific needs of my clients incorporating all parts of YOU that are influential in making you who you are.
I consider my approach to be person-centered and based around what the client is hoping to gain from therapy. I take into consideration the whole person; exploring biological, psychological, social/cultural, and spiritual factors that make an individual who they are. I recognize that therapy is not a “one-size fits all” approach and that collaboration is key for a genuine counseling relationship. My therapeutic background utilizes modern psychodynamic therapy, developmental theory, attachment-based therapy, and working from a trauma-informed lens.
Hi there! I’m Emily. Aside from being a therapist, I’m also a wife, daughter, god-mother, cool aunt, dog-lover, and, unfortunately, a plant-killer. I love discovering new music, collecting records, watching movies, and occasionally reading a good book! When I’m not working, you can find me snuggling with my sweet dog, Lucy, and catching up on some good ol’ reality TV, convincing my husband that another trip to HomeGoods is “definitely necessary”, figuring out what I’m making for dinner thanks to TikTok, or opening and hiding several totally unexpected Amazon packages and re-starting the endless cycle of trips to UPS. My passion for this field stemmed from my own experience in therapy as a kid and I haven’t looked back since! I’ve learned that finding a therapist that you click with who “just gets it” is super important to this process. As a neurodiverse person living with a disability, showing up as my true, most authentic self to sessions and being transparent with my clients is a value I hold highly. If I can’t show up as myself, how can I expect my clients do the same?
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I am a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state of New Jersey and am a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. I received my Master’s in Professional Counseling and Educational Specialist Degree from Seton Hall University and completed my BA in Psychology along with a Crisis Intervention Certificate at East Stroudsburg University. In addition to my role as a counselor, I’m also a part-time adjunct professor at a NJ university where I prepare graduate counseling students to enter the mental health field. I’ve also worn many hats as a higher education professional where I’ve worked in a variety of student-facing roles as a clinical coordinator, administrator, advisor, and faculty member to support both undergraduate and graduate students.