I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Thanatology (CT--Death Studies - Grief and Bereavement) with over 20 years of experience. I have worked with both adults and children, couples and families, in groups and individual settings with varied backgrounds and ideologies. I have worked with cancer patients and their families during the most stressful periods of their lives and have also accompanied them through loss and its aftermath. I have also worked in a corporate setting and have helped many people navigate through transition due to any number of life changes and challenges.
I believe that counseling is a working partnership between the client and therapist: we both have a job to do to move the client in the agreed upon direction of why counseling was initiated. My approach to counseling is Integrative and Multimodal therapy: combining several types of therapy modalities to cater to the needs and personality of each client. These types include (but limited to) cognitive-behavioral (CBT), Cognitive, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Person Centered and Relationship. I often use contracting, journaling, different forms of art therapy to help the client hone in on certain areas that may not readily be discussed or even consciously known.
The mission is to provide hope, support, and knowledge to those of you who need to find meaning in your life no matter what stage you may be struggling through.
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Family problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Infidelity, Life purpose, Money and financial issues, Women's issues, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
NJ LPC 37PC00304300
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Maria Caruso. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Maria has been a very supportive resource and help. So much so that when my school's insurance stopped covering betterhelp the second year of my program, I decided to stick with Maria through betterhelp through Betterhelp's financial assistance program.
Written on Oct 19, 2020 after therapy with Maria for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Maria is so caring and friendly. She really listens and is extremely patient. I would highly recommend her as a councillor.
Written on Jun 24, 2020 after therapy with Maria for 1 month on issues concerning depression, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and anger management
Maria is a caring, concerned counselor. She always has my best interest at heart. She even contacted me when she hadn't seen me in her schedule. She's great.
Written on Jan 31, 2020 after therapy with Maria for 5 months
I’ve only had one session with Maria so far, however, within the first session I feel so comfortable with Maria and feel confident that she will be able to help me through my issues. I look forward to working with Maria and will leave more feedback later on after working through.
Written on May 06, 2019 after therapy with Maria for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, anger management, and coping with life changes
I can’t say enough amazing things about Maria. From the first interaction, I felt like I could take a deep breath and everything will be okay. She instantly made me feel not only comfortable but able to just start speaking having never met her in my life. She is truly the best. Amazing advice and a truly compassionate and understanding professional. I value our times together and actually look forward to them. I can’t recommend Maria enough and just want to say thank you to her for all she has given me thus far.
Written on Apr 19, 2019 after therapy with Maria for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coaching
Maria's attitude balances a friend, a cheerleader and a drill instructor but in the best way possible. She listens, creates a plan, and endorses your every step. Oh, and she has terrific humor!
Written on Mar 08, 2019 after therapy with Maria for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and parenting issues