Virtual therapy for NJ residents
Peeling back the layers to transform the relationship with yourself and others.
Compassionate Support Starts Here.
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ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
At our private practice, we offer specialized support for adults navigating the challenges of ADHD. Through personalized therapy and practical stengths-based strategies, we empower clients to better manage symptoms, enhance focus, and improve overall quality of life.
Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing comprehensive care tailored to the unique needs of each individual, helping them thrive in both personal and professional endeavor.
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Anxiety is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent worry, fear, and nervousness.
We offer ompassionate support and effective strategies for managing anxiety. Through personalized therapy, mindfulness techniques, and somatic interventions, we empower individuals in understanding how to navigate the thoughts, emotions + sensations that accompany their anxiety.
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Chronic depression, often accompanied by feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness, can profoundly impact one's quality of life.
Our dedicated team fosters a supportive environment where individuals can explore the complex emotions that come with depression such as shame, loneliness, unworthiness + the way these are stored in our body so that they can gain a sense of purpose, and cultivate hope for the future.
Together, we work towards restoring joy and meaning in life, empowering clients to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.
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Relationship issues can manifest in various forms, ranging from communication breakdowns and conflicts to trust issues and intimacy challenges. Communication breakdowns often arise from misunderstandings, differing communication styles, or unresolved conflicts.
Trust issues may stem from past betrayals or insecurities, leading to feelings of doubt and suspicion within the relationship. Intimacy challenges can manifest as emotional distance, lack of physical affection, or difficulties in connecting on a deeper level.
Additionally, external stressors such as financial problems, work-related stress, or family conflicts can further strain relationships.
By addressing these issues in therapy, individuals and couples can gain insight, develop coping strategies, and work towards building healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
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Men's issues encompass a range of challenges that men may face in their personal and professional lives. These can include struggles with mental health, such as depression, anxiety, or coping with trauma.
Additionally, societal expectations surrounding masculinity, gender roles, and cultural pressures can impact men's emotional well-being and relationships.
In therapy, we provide a supportive and understanding environment where men can explore these issues, redefine masculinity on their terms, and develop healthier coping mechanisms for navigating life's challenges.
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What we’ve experienced in our upbringing shapes how safe and worthy we feel. Childhood wounds may leave us with a continuous sense of unlovability or feeling as if we don’t belong.
Let us help you heal your inner child by gaining awareness on how to nurture the needs that weren’t met to foster a self-love that will make you feel like you belong.
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First & second-generation immigrants may inherit maladaptive and unhealthy ways of conflict resolution + communication; among many other things from their families. This can cause a lot of friction, especially if you add to the mix being in a foreign country with completely different values and norms.
Let us help you heal the limitations of your culture while honoring your cultural strengths so that you can break generational cycles of unhealthy behaviors.
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You may have experienced a horrific event or a series of events that triggered your survival responses: fight, flight, freeze + fawn. You may find yourself having nightmares, and flashbacks to this day about this experience. Or you may even continue to operate out of these survival responses although the threat is not present.
Let us help you take power away from these events so that you are able to feel more emotionally regulated + feel more present in your day-to-day life.
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Experiencing abuse in a relationship, whether it is by a romantic partner, a friend, or someone you were casually dating can impact the way you connect with others + with yourself. There is a mixture of shame, grief, and betrayal that abuse leaves behind.
Let us support you while you work through your relational wounds so that you can begin having the relationships you deserve.
About Us
At Layers, we are dedicated to providing a holistic approach to healing and transformation. We believe in the power of creating a culturally affirming, inclusive, nurturing space where individuals can feel truly seen, heard, valued, and accepted. Our practice goes beyond traditional approaches by integrating both mind and body modalities.We understand that healing encompasses more than just addressing thoughts and mental processes; it involves acknowledging and working with the entirety of the human experience.
Our team of experienced therapists is committed to guiding you through your journey of self-discovery and growth. Whether you're struggling with trauma, mental health challenges, navigating life transitions, or seeking meaning in life, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Discover the transformative power of holistic healing at Layers. Let us help you peel back the layers and uncover the deeper aspects of oneself to facilitate personal growth and improve interpersonal connections.
Services
1-1 Counselling
One-on-one sessions are 55 minutes long. Therapy begins with an intake to gather history and get clear on what you want to achieve in therapy. We will be setting goals and identifying ways that progress will be measured. You will also be provided with psychoeducation on the recommended approach/modality to meet your goals. Weekly and bi-weekly sessions are available. The client and therapist will have a discussion on the frequency of meetings.
Couples Therapy
In couples counseling sessions, partners engage in facilitated discussions and activities aimed at improving their relationship dynamics. These sessions typically involve both partners sharing their perspectives, emotions, and concerns in a safe and structured environment. The therapist helps couples identify patterns of communication, areas of conflict, and strengths within the relationship. Through guided interventions based on approaches like the Gottman Method, partners learn effective communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, and ways to strengthen emotional connection and intimacy. Couples counseling sessions may also involve exploring past experiences, addressing unresolved issues, and setting goals for the future of the relationship. Our couples counselor provides a supportive space for partners to work collaboratively towards solutions, understanding, healing, and enhancing a couples dynamic.
Healing Trauma with EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach primarily used to treat individuals who have experienced trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR therapy involves a structured eight-phase approach to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. The way this works is by utilizing visual, auditory, or physical stimuli that activate both sides of the brain at the same time that you are reprocessing your trauma.EMDR may not be a good fit for everyone.*
Meet the Team
Hello! I am a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey. I am an immigrant American, born in Bogota, Colombia. Coming from a culture that minimized the importance of mental health, I made it my mission to make it my career and normalize getting help for our psychological and emotional challenges. I was naturally inclined toward women’s mental health as my environment exposed me to the prevalence of abuse towards women & the silence that followed it. I became committed to empowering all victims of abuse by being a container for them to process unresolved trauma.
About Me
Founder + Therapist
Natalia Velandia, LCSW
EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
My Approach
Every individual's journey toward healing is unique, and that's why I tailor the approach to your specific needs and identities. Together, we will explore the roots of your challenges, gently uncovering the layers that may be holding you back. I approach therapy with an intersectional lens, acknowledging the identities, challenges, and ecosystems that are unique to each patient and empathizing with each one. This is why my approach is integrative, incorporating different trauma-informed therapeutic modalities to be able to meet the different goals and needs of each individual. Incorporating cognitive-behavioral, EMDr, mindfulness, and inner parts work
Speak up for yourself, identify your wants and needs in relationships, reduce feelings of unworthiness, find your inner value outside of being a service to others, reduce people pleasing, and reduce avoidance of conflict/confrontation. Heal generational trauma and embrace cultural strengths. Embrace vulnerability. Tap into self-compassion.
I’m here to help you..
Individual + Couples Therapist Abraham Sharkas, LAC, NCC
Hello! I’m Abraham Sharkas, holding the role of a Licensed Associate Counselor in New Jersey and a Nationally Certified Counselor, with my path currently unfolding towards a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. My formative years were spent in the Middle East, immersed in the rich tapestry of Circassian-Jordanian culture—a wellspring of spirituality, philosophical depth, and poetic tradition. This heritage, newly embracing mental health's significance, introduced me to "Ilm al Nafs" or the Study of the Self, a principle that deeply informs my counseling ethos. My journey bridges academic rigor with the richness of diverse cultural insights, fueling my commitment to forging an empathetic, inclusive space. I am passionately dedicated to supporting first-generation immigrants, refugees, and individuals across the spectrum of humanity, emphasizing the universal right to understanding, care, and psychological wellness.
About Me
My Approach
My counseling philosophy is a vibrant mosaic, enriched by PsychoSpiritual insights, Somatic practices, Strength-based approaches, and mindfulness, woven together with an innovative theoretical framework in development called Dynamic Wellness Theory. My practice is deeply rooted in a commitment to inclusivity and allyship, proudly standing with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals of all races, nationalities, and religions. Trained in a wide array of modalities including Reichian psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Applied Positive Psychology, I craft a personalized path to healing for every individual who enters my space. My approach is designed to offer a sanctuary for transformation and growth, where each person is seen, valued, and understood in their entirety, affirming my dedication to fostering an environment of safety, respect, and profound healing for all.
Manage depression and anxiety, have a psychotherapy experience that is mind, body, spiritually focused, strengthen your relationship with your significant other, improve the way you cope with societal pressures, become comfortable with vulnerability, foster a life with deeper meaning, explore spirituality on your own terms.
I’m here to help you..
