Beth Watson, Ph.D.
Dr. Watson approaches therapy with warmth, kindness and understanding. Trained at Columbia University, she is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents and adults suffering from depression or anxiety. Dr. Watson has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. A graduate of Behavioral Tech's intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy training, Dr. Watson also has extensive experience with DBT both with individuals and running groups. She believes in using empirically valid treatments and working flexibly in order to meet every client's individual needs.
Dr. Beth Barbarasch
Dr. Barbarasch is a licensed psychologist in NJ (#5903) as well as a certified school psychologist. She earned a Psy.D. in School Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. Dr. Barbarasch has worked with adults, children, and families in a variety of settings including public schools and community mental health clinics.
Throughout her training, Dr. Barbarasch has gained experience working with adults, adolescents and children utilizing an eclectic variety of cognitive behavioral, humanistic, and play therapy techniques. Dr. Barbarasch has had extensive experience working with children and adolescents, and adults with a variety of abilities and disabilities include anxiety, depression, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorders as well as those who have experienced significant loss and trauma. Her experiences as a school psychologist in the public school system has given her extensive knowledge in advocating for students' needs within the education system.
Contact
➤ LOCATION
214 Walnut Ave. Ste A
Cranford, NJ 07016
☎ CONTACT
(908) 301-6986
bethwatsonphd@gmail.com
bethbarbpsyd@gmail.com
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Types of Therapy
iNDIVIDUAL & FAMILY THERAPY
Therapy is a journey; it is a process that takes time and effort. Therapeutic approaches vary and two approaches that have been shown to be effective with a wide range of issues are below, CBT and DBT. However, it is most important to meet the needs of the individual in the room. Dr. Watson's training in various therapies leads her to be qualified to treat a number of issues, and to work in an integrated fashion to meet every individual client's needs.
Dr. Watson's training included child and adolescent work. When working with children, she often involves the parents in order to help the system change to best support the child. Dr. Watson is interested in parent coaching and has experience working with parents of emotionally dysregulated children and adolescents.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on exploring the connection between a person's thoughts, feelings and behaviors. During CBT a therapist will actively work with a person to uncover unhealthy patterns of thought and how they may be causing self-destructive behaviors and beliefs. By addressing these patterns, the person and therapist can work together to develop constructive ways of thinking that will produce healthier behaviors and beliefs. Studies of CBT have shown it to be an effective treatment for a wide variety of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Individuals who undergo CBT show changes in brain activity, suggesting that this therapy actually improves your brain functioning as well. Cognitive behavioral therapy has a considerable amount of scientific data supporting its use.
DIalectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Over time, DBT has been adapted to treat people with multiple different mental illnesses. DBT is heavily based on CBT with one big exception: it emphasizes validation, or accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and behaviors instead of struggling with them. By having an individual come to terms with the troubling thoughts, emotions or behaviors that they struggle with, change no longer appears impossible and they can work with their therapist to create a gradual plan for recovery. The therapist's role in DBT is to help the person find a balance between acceptance and change. They also help the person develop new skills, like coping methods and mindfulness practices, so that the person has the power to improve unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Improving coping strategies is an essential aspect of successful DBT treatment.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.”