Margaret Plantes, Therapist

Therapeutic Approaches:Psychodynamic, Existential, Cognitive-Behavioral, Interpersonal, Solution-Focused, Person Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Positive Psychology, Play Therapy, Pyscho-Education, Systems Theory. I believe in evidence-based, integrative methods designed for the individual, not a one size fits all approach. In my experience, people seek counseling when life is not working for them. They are distressed and often sad that a job, a marriage or schoolwork is overwhelming. Relationships may be troubled or reaching a breaking point. Trauma–recent or long past–take a toll on everyday living. Life’s transitions, losses and changes may be too stressful to handle alone or in ways that have worked before now. Friends and family can be supportive yet it often takes a neutral, empathic, trained professional to help with new solutions. Experience and Education: My initial training began after college, when I was the admissions coordinator of a major university outpatient clinic studying depression in adults. I interviewed hundreds of distressed, often despairing, individuals and guided them into a variety of research treatment protocols. Graduate training in clinical psychology, at City University of NY, opened up a world of intellectual and clinical opportunities for me. I developed skills as a helper and healer under the guidance of seasoned professionals who inspired me. Internships in inpatient hospital care, child and family guidance, outpatient psychotherapy and neuropsychological testing led to employment in a variety of settings, including a drug and alcohol treatment facility and a national genetics study of the children of depressed parents. I worked with clients from early childhood ages through the final stages of adulthood, and have learned that every age has its unique challenges and rewards. While juggling family and career, I worked for a variety of non-profits and retired after many years as the executive director of a youth program. My post retirement career goal was to return to counseling. I earned my Masters degree in mental health counseling from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and passed the National Certified Counselor (NCC) exam in 2018. My most recent jobs were as a pastoral counselor at Robert Wood Johnson-Barnabas Hospital in Hamilton, NJ and as a psychotherapist for college students at the TCNJ counseling center. Some more about me: I consider psychotherapy to be both my craft and my calling. It is a privilege to walk along side others during challenging times. It is a joy to have seen psychotherapy be successful and at times even transformative. Resilience can be learned; wellness and calm can be achieved. And most importantly, change can happen! Reading and writing are my extracurricular passions. In my spare time, I volunteer for Womenspace and enjoy theatrical and musical performances. Taking in nature and meditation are my spiritual touchstones. Spending time with family and friends is my best way to relax and celebrate. I wish you all the best in your life journey and hope that you will find solace and success in therapy. Clinical services in New Jersey are provided by New Jersey Behavioral Health PLLC.