Emma Giantisco

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and warm environment where clients can feel comfortable showing up authentically and exploring their experiences without judgment. I bring 7 years of experience as a high school Student Assistance Counselor, supporting teenagers through a variety of emotional, behavioral, and life challenges. I primarily work with adolescents and young adults ages 13-22. I earned my Master’s Degree in Counseling from The College of New Jersey, and I believe the therapeutic relationship we build is at the heart of meaningful growth and healing. Together, we will work as a team to better understand yourself, recognize your strengths, develop self-compassion, and feel more empowered in your journey.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that every person has inherent worth, and that a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship is at the heart of meaningful growth and healing. I use a person-centered and strengths-based approach, drawing from CBT, DBT, ACT, self-compassion, somatic experiences, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness to thoughtfully tailor our work to your individual needs and goals. I strive to create a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where you can better understand yourself and your behaviors, practice greater self-kindness, and feel more empowered. I have a particular interest in supporting clients navigating anxiety, depression, self-worth, perfectionism, and self-compassion, and I value learning about each person’s unique worldview, beliefs, culture, and experiences. I am honored by the opportunity to deeply get to know you and your journey!

Your first session is a gentle introduction to the therapeutic process and an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another. I’ll invite you to share about the important areas of your life, such as family, school or work, friendships, and other relationships, as well as what brought you to counseling at this time. Most importantly, our first session is about creating a comfortable, supportive space and beginning to build the trusting relationship that will serve as the foundation for our work together. From our conversation, we may begin to identify a few goals for therapy and discuss what you hope to gain from our time together. I recognize that beginning therapy with a new therapist can feel vulnerable or even a little daunting, so I will prioritize helping you feel heard, understood, and at ease while honoring the courage it takes to take this first step.