Tara Guzman, Therapist

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of New Jersey, as well as, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York. I earned my Master’s Degree with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling from Iona University. I have an extensive background working with children, adolescents, and young adults in various settings. My work began at a school for children with special needs where I was exposed to many different types of treatments and additional resources that I have been able to incorporate into my therapeutic approach today. My clinical work has comprised of providing therapy to youth and young adults dealing with severe emotional, behavioral, psychiatric, and/or substance use concerns at a residential treatment center and in several community-based, mobile therapy programs. I have always had a genuine interest and eagerness to work with the younger population and feel so grateful that I have been able to higher my education to turn this passion into my career! I have become well-versed in treating clients experiencing symptoms related to depression, anxiety, grief, ADHD, impulsivity, low self-esteem, and disruptive and self-destructive behaviors. My goal in treatment is to provide a safe and comfortable space to help clients work on being the best possible version of themselves. I focus firstly and most importantly on a Person-Centered approach that allows the foundation of therapy to be built on a trusting, therapeutic relationship while allowing the client to be in control of their treatment. I utilize Psychodynamic Therapy, which focuses on understanding your emotional patterns and their roots. Through this, I work with clients to develop better coping strategies that target solving current problems. Psychodynamic Therapy has been proven to help promote self-regulation, self-awareness, and emotional growth. I additionally incorporate components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Play Therapy into most of my work. Through these therapies, I aim to create a creative and enjoyable atmosphere while focusing on challenging and changing cognitive distortions and behaviors, improving distress tolerance, and discovering inner resilience. I believe in taking a collaborative approach to help younger clients under 18 reach their goals, which means involving their caregiver or other family members into treatment to facilitate a better understanding of the client’s needs and encourage implementing the skills they’ve learned at home, in school, and/or in the community. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, relaxing at the beach, traveling, or playing outside with my puppy, Jax!