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Mental Health Counselor / Therapist in Upper Montclair, NJ

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Valerie Michalowski, LCSW, MT-BC

Valerie Michalowski, LCSW, MT-BC | Mental Health Counselor / Therapist photo
I work with each Client to help them set and achieve their own individualized goals. I find that the majority of the time, it is our own self-destructive thoughts and behaviors that hold us back from living life to its full potential. By changing our counterproductive thought patterns we can eventually become our best resource to live a fulfilling and beneficial life.

As a Music Therapist, I believe that music can be an enjoyable, positive, at times nonverbal, approach to psychotherapy, offering a creative outlet in the exploration of emotional, behavioral, social, and cognitive issues.

The creative process tends to come naturally to individuals of all ages and often aids in processing and expressing anger, sadness, grief, anxiety or difficult experiences. Music Therapy is highly beneficial when exploring anxiety, family issues, anger, socialization and self esteem, and development disabilities, especially those on the Autism Spectrum.
Bio
Valerie Michalowski is in private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Certified Music Therapist. She currently works full time as a Mental Health Clinician for a School Based Youth Services Program, treating high schools students in individual, group, and family settings.

She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2008 with a Masters degree in Social Work. During her time in South Carolina she worked part time as a Music Therapist on the Inpatient Psychiatric Units (children through geriatric) at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital. Prior to that, she attended SUNY New Paltz, graduating in 2005 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Music Therapy and Piano Performance, and a minor in Psychology.
Memberships
National Association for Social Workers
American Music Therapy Association
New Jersey Music Therapy Association
Payments Accepted
Cash, check, insurance
License:Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Board Certified Music Therapist
Helpful Links
Practice Areas/Issues Treated
 Therapy  Grief and Loss
 Adolescents  Life Transitions
 Anger Management  Loneliness
 Anxiety and Panic  Marriage & Family Therapy
 Arts Therapy (Expressive)  Marriage Counseling
 Asperger's Syndrome  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
 Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)  Online / Teletherapy
 Body Image Issues  Pre and Postpartum Mental Health
 Caregiver Issues  Relationship Issues
 Children's Counseling  Self-Esteem Issues
 Chronic Illness  Seniors and Elder Care Issues
 Couples  Stress Management
 Depression  Trauma and PTSD
 Divorce  Work and Career Issues
 Eating Disorders
Licenses/Certifications
 Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
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