Gentle Waves Youth and Family Counseling
"Supporting Young Minds Through Life’s Tides"
Gentle Waves Youth and Family Counseling
"Supporting Young Minds Through Life’s Tides"
“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up."
– Brené Brown
ABOUT ME
Guiding growth with calm, care, and connection.
ABOUT ME
Welcome!
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor praciticing in New Jersey, where I help kids, teens, and families ride the waves of life with a little more clarity, calmness, and confidence.
As a trilingual therapist, I am fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. I specialize in supporting children, teens, and families through anxiety, emotional challenges, identity development, and life transitions. My practice is rooted in empathy, cultural sensitivity, and collaboration — creating a safe space where young clients feel seen and supported, and parents feel empowered. Together, we build resilience, restore connection, and foster emotional growth.
EXPERIENCE
I utilize an array of therapeutic modalities tailored to meet each child’s developmental and emotional needs. My approach integrates CBT-based strategies, sand tray therapy, play-based therapy, and art-based techniques to help young clients express themselves, process their experiences, and build meaningful coping skills in a safe and supportive environment. Whether your child is struggling with overwhelming emotions or navigating a major life transition, I’m here to provide compassionate, affirming care every step of the way.
In addition to my work with children and adolescents, I bring extensive experience from the field of community mental health. I have worked closely with adults living with persistent mental illness, providing long-term therapeutic support in both outpatient and intensive settings. My background also includes school counseling services, school-based therapy, and crisis intervention, including psychiatric emergency services and mental health screenings. These experiences have deepened my understanding of complex mental health needs across the lifespan and strengthened my ability to respond to crises with calm, clinical skill, and compassion.
SPECIALTIES
- Children, and Adolescents
- Individuals and Families
- Stress and trauma
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- ADHD & ASD
- School-related issues
- Self-harm
- Life transitions
- LGBTQ+
- Divorce
- Grief
- Education and learning disabilities
- Parenting
MY SPECIALTIES
Areas of Focus in Supporting Youth and Families
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
Individual counseling offers a supportive, one-on-one space to explore emotions, build coping skills, and work through life’s challenges at your own pace. Together, we’ll create a path toward healing, growth, and greater self-understanding.
DEPRESSION
Depression can make everyday activities feel heavy and isolating. Counseling provides a safe space for children and teens to explore their feelings, develop coping skills, and find hope and motivation to reconnect with life’s joys.
FAMILY THERAPY
Family counseling provides a supportive space to strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and foster healthier relationships. Together, we work to understand each family member’s perspective and build stronger, more connected dynamics.
SCHOOL-RELATED ISSUES
School-related challenges—like academic stress, social struggles, or difficulties with focus—can affect a child’s well-being. Counseling provides support to address these issues, build coping skills, and foster a positive school experience.
LIFE TRANSITIONS
Life transitions—like divorce, relocation, or school changes—can be especially challenging for children and teens. Through gentle, supportive counseling, I help young people and their families process emotions, adjust with confidence, and find steady ground through uncertain times.
ADHD & ASD
Counseling for ADHD and ASD focuses on understanding each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through tailored strategies and support, we work to improve focus, social skills, emotional regulation, and overall well-being to help children thrive at home, school, and beyond.
ANXIETY
Anxiety can feel overwhelming and impact daily life, especially for children and teens. Counseling helps identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and build confidence to manage worry and stress more effectively.
PARENTING SUPPORT
Parenting can be rewarding but also challenging. Counseling offers guidance and tools to help parents navigate difficult moments, strengthen relationships, and support their child’s emotional growth with confidence and compassion.
SELF-HARM
Self-harm can be a way to cope with overwhelming emotions. Counseling provides a safe, nonjudgmental space to understand these feelings, develop healthier coping strategies, and work toward healing and emotional well-being.
TRAUMA-INFORMED
A trauma-informed approach recognizes the impact of past experiences on present emotions and behaviors. It creates a safe, respectful space where healing is guided by understanding, empowerment, and sensitivity to each individual’s unique story.
Sessions & Fees
I am currently meeting with clients via telehealth and will transition to in-person services in the near future. I am not accepting insurance at this moment.
Session Fees:
Individual and Family $90
Group TBD
CONTACT ME
Please allow for 24-48 hours when submitting your request or message. In case of an emergency, please contact 911 or visit your nearest emergency room. For additional support please call the NJ Hope Line at 1-855-654-6735, Crisis Text Line (Text 988), or the National Suicide Prevention Life Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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