Dr. Robert Florian

I'm a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC/CAADC) and the founder of Journey's Edge Counseling LLC, a private practice in Sparta, NJ offering both in-office and telehealth services for adults and adolescents. I hold a doctorate from Walden University, where my research focused on opioid use disorder and long-term recovery, and I bring both scholarly expertise and lived experience to my clinical work — including my own personal recovery.

I specialize in substance use disorders, co-occurring mood and anxiety conditions, and supporting individuals navigating the emotional and spiritual dimensions of recovery. Drawing on depth psychology, evidence-based practice, and a deep respect for each client's unique journey, I provide a therapeutic space grounded in compassion, honesty, and meaningful change.

My approach is collaborative, direct, and rooted in the belief that lasting change emerges from genuine self-understanding rather than surface-level coping. I integrate evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), with insights drawn from depth psychology and Jungian theory, helping clients explore not just behaviors but the deeper patterns, wounds, and meanings that drive them. My work is particularly attuned to the intersection of addiction, identity, and spirituality, areas I have studied extensively through clinical practice, doctoral research, and my own writing.

I meet clients where they are, whether at the earliest stages of considering change or well into long-term recovery, and tailor each treatment relationship to the individual's goals, history, and inner life. Sessions are characterized by warmth and honesty in equal measure: clients can expect to be genuinely heard and, when it serves them, genuinely challenged.

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The first session is designed to be a conversation, not an interrogation — a chance for both of us to get a genuine sense of one another and begin building the foundation of a working relationship. You can expect to share your story at your own pace, with no pressure to disclose more than feels comfortable in an initial meeting. I'll ask about what brought you to therapy, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping life might look like on the other side of the work. From there, early goals are identified collaboratively, not handed down as a treatment prescription, but developed together as a living map that can shift as you grow.

Above all, the first session is an opportunity for you to assess whether this feels like the right fit, because I believe the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful instruments of change.