Tara Palma

I received my bachelor’s degree as a social work major from Rutgers University. I continued to complete my master’s degree at Rutgers University in social work and graduated from the Addictions Counselor Training (ACT) Program along with a minor in psychology. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). I have experience in multiple substance abuse and mental health settings. I also have experience working in different levels of care such as Residential, partial-hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient and buprenorphine maintenance.

“I utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities to help clients achieve stability and the ability to function without substances. I love working in the mental health and Addictions field because of my ability to help people to help themselves reach their highest potential, combining different therapeutic modalities with empathy, boundaries, and unconditional positive regard.”

I believe it can be fun, exciting to discover yourself! Sometimes people just need a little push and motivation to realize that they are capable of reaching their upmost potential. I believe that sometimes laughter can be the best medicine for my clients. Through being positive but also honest, compassionate, and creative, we can have fun on your therapeutic journey. My style can be very direct. I tend to use honestly, empathy and a strong rapport to respectfully confront my clients when identifying any discrepancies within what they are sharing in therapy, and their own personal views or beliefs. I believe we are not only capable, but worthy of reaching our full potential. I can help with self-esteem building, self-reflection, and learning to recognize and utilize your strengths. I want to help my clients work on being assertive in their own lives by establishing healthy boundaries with themselves and others.