Find a therapist in Midland Park, NJ — covered by insurance

I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to create a space where you feel genuinely heard and respected. Then, I work alongside you to help you make sense of what you're experiencing and what you want to change.

I work with adults and adolescents, and I tailor my approach to fit where you are right now, not a template of where you're supposed to be.

I provide both individual and group therapy. The therapy services I have provided include working with the mentally ill, dual diagnosed, DDD population, ER assessments, inpatient, outpatient, partial care, RTC level of care, and incarcerated individuals. My experience includes but is not limited to the assessment and diagnosis of youth, adults and families. I have experience with developing and implement therapeutic interventions and treatment plans with goals and objectives along with education culture and recreation.

Services I provide are: discharge planning, case management services that included referring youth and families for services as needed and deemed appropriate, individual, family and group counseling. Monthly reports to the court on substance abuse/dependence progress and recommendations for continued services.

Developing and implementing programs including but not limited to educational cultural and recreation.

Experienced developer working with youth and adults from both DDD and DVR, which included job placement services for the mentally ill, mentally challenged and brain injured population. Familiarity with both DDD and DYFS licensing procedures and agency policies. Experience working with juveniles incarcerated in Juvenile Justice Commission and adults incarcerated in a maximum security facility such as Rahway State Prison in NJ.

Welcome, and come as you are. I believe meaningful change begins with understanding yourself on a deeper level. Many of the struggles we experience in adulthood, whether in relationships, self-worth, anxiety, trauma, communication, or life satisfaction, are shaped by patterns that developed long before we were aware of them. Often these patterns started as adaptations, ways of coping or relating that once helped us navigate our family or environment and made sense at the time. My role is to help you identify those patterns, understand why they exist, and create lasting change rather than simply managing symptoms.

I thought that I chose this profession; as it turns out, this profession chose me. I was meant to be a social worker. As a child, I remember thinking that there was a reason why people behaved a certain way and I wanted to know the root cause of that particular behavior. I have consistently met people where they are. I have worked with a diverse population of varying socioeconomic backgrounds and ages. I received my Master's degree in social work from Long Island University in 2008. I

I believe that long-standing problems do not necessarily require long-term therapy. By utilizing evidence-based treatments and focusing on interventions that create lasting change, my goal is to help clients make meaningful progress as efficiently as possible. Clients often describe me as patient, empathic, and easy to talk to. I work hard to understand your experiences from your perspective so that we can create a treatment plan that is personalized and practical.

Therapy with me is collaborative and active. Rather than simply discussing problems, we focus on developing skills and strategies that you can continue to use long after therapy ends. My goal is not to create dependence on therapy, but to help you become your own therapist by teaching techniques that promote resilience, confidence, and long-term emotional well-being.

Debra McKinney-Hill is a seasoned mental health and addictions therapist with over 20 years of experience guiding individuals, couples, and families through the challenges of mental health and substance misuse. Her extensive background includes working with a wide range of issues, from anxiety and depression to complex addiction recovery, always with compassion and a solution-focused mindset.