Meet the Staff

Couples / Marriage Counselor

Treatment Philosophy 

Hi everyone! Thank you for taking the time to allow me to introduce myself. As your therapist, I am your personal advocate for helping you create a meaningful life and a happier, healthier, and loving relationship with your spouse and/or children. My style is to provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment where we work together as a team to achieve your goals. Many of my clients say that I have the empathy of a good friend and the knowledge and skills of a true professional who empowered them to make positive changes within themselves and their relationships.

Treatment Approach
Most of my experience in recent years has been focused on helping individuals and couples with relationship issues. I work with people seeking individual therapy, couples' therapy, or marriage counseling. My passion, training and expertise is centered on helping people create engaging and deeply satisfying relationships. With compassion and understanding, I offer support and practical feedback to help individuals and couples address and change hurtful and destructive patterns in the relationship and create a stronger more meaningful connection.

My treatment approach is twofold addressing both content and process. The content piece is the specific issues that you are dealing with such as infidelity, intimacy, money matters, in-laws, co-parenting, addiction etc. The process piece is how you communicate with each other and problem solve. Healthy communication is a key ingredient in any successful relationship. You will always have issues that come up in your relationship or marriage but most people don't want to go to counseling every time they have an issue. Therefore, not only do I help you address and resolve the current issues (content) you bring to your sessions but I also give you the tools and strategies that facilitate resolution (process). These communication skills are invaluable since you will now have the capability of resolving any future issues on your own without a therapist.

My treatment orientation includes but is not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology and solution focused therapy. I also work with couples using the Gottman method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and discernment counseling. We will work together to identify your strengths and resources which can help you deal more effectively with any triggers or obstacles that prevent you from having the relationship you want and living a life you love. As you gain insight into yourself and your relationships, unwanted symptoms and negative thoughts that keep you stuck in dysfunctional behavioral patterns will disappear. You will develop new strategies, effective coping skills and a greater sense of personal control. 

Background 
I received my Master's Degree in Social Work from Rutger's University in New Jersey. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed by the Board of Social Work Examiners. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and serve on several committees of the NJ chapter. I am also a member of the NJ Association of Women's Therapists and a member of BIG, an organization which inspires women. 

I have post graduate training in many disciplines including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Positive Psychology and Wellness, Mindful Based CBT and Couples Therapy. I am a certified Gottman Couples Educator and a Certified Infidelity Coach. I am also certified in postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders.

For many years I have been in the behavioral health and social work field working in private practice, hospitals (intensive outpatient mental health programs) and social work agencies. 

I am passionate about my kids, my career and my life! I never stop growing, believing and achieving! Now it is my turn to give back what I have learned both personally and professionally so that you can live your best life too! 

I look forward to working with you. Please give me a call at 732-742-0329 or E-mail me for a free phone consultation.

Treatment Approach
My therapeutic approach is collaborative, solution-focused, and strengths-based. It also includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an evidence-based method that helps individuals learn to identify and understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions. This method works very well for middle and high school-aged students and their parents, young emerging adults/college students, and adults. I believe that CBT, a relatively short-term treatment will improve your satisfaction with day-to-day life. It will help you communicate more effectively, and problem-solve with others. Healthy communication is a key ingredient in any successful relationship.

Specialties
My specialties include treating anxiety, depression, and social skills issues from tweens and teens to young adults and adults. I treat parent-child attachment-related concerns, the effects of families in transition (e.g. divorce) on tweens/teens, ADHD, special education, and school issues. I additionally specialize in treating pre-adoption infertility and family building options counseling and post-adoption parenting issues for adoptive families. Clients say that my friendly approachable style makes young people and adults feel immediately comfortable as well as parents who value my professional empathetic, supportive, and clinical skills.

Background 

Ms. Leslie Zindulka, L.C.S.W.-R, L.S.W. is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a New Jersey Licensed Social Worker, licensed by the Board of Social Work Examiners, with over twenty-five years of experience, having previously worked as a School Social Worker, an Adoption Social Worker and in Clinical practice. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Social Welfare from SUNY Stony Brook and my Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University. I have post-graduate introductory training in the Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) model as well. Additionally, I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and hold a School Social Worker Specialty credential in New York and New Jersey. I am a founding member of the Adoption Foster Care Therapist Network and a board member and regular guest speaker with the Adoptive Parents Committee. 

I have both personal and professional adoption and special education experiences. I am the proud parent of three wonderful children, two of whom were adopted domestically and one of whom has special education needs and mental health issues. I bring this unique expertise and firsthand understanding and skill dealing with the adoption roller coaster ride and negotiating the intricacies of the Committee on Special Education to my work. 

I look forward to working together to help you and your families reach your
personal goals. Give us a call at 732-742-0329 to set up an appointment or for more information!

Treatment Philosophy

“To inspire people, don’t show them your super powers.
Show them theirs.” -Alexander Den Heijer

Treatment Approach
My treatment approach is collaborative, solution-focused and strengths based. As human beings, we all face challenges. Sometimes we are unable to identify our goals. Other times we struggle to arrive at the goals we desire for ourselves. Whether stuck in a cycle of behavioral patterns not leading to the desired outcome, carrying around automatic thoughts and core beliefs that don’t suit us, the result can be feelings of frustration, sadness, grief, self-doubt, anxiety, etc. This can interfere with the sense of self and the significant relationships in our lives, especially with our partner or spouse.

No two people are alike. Treatment approaches must be flexible and adaptive to each unique person and situation. 

Uncovering thinking patterns that contribute to negative core beliefs can be the catalyst of change. Highlighting the positive thoughts we hold, helps us begin to discover our greatest strengths.

Life isn’t always easy. At times it can get messy. As humans, we are incredibly resilient and capable of change. We are everchanging, even when that change is imperceptible. In the space between the stimulus and response is the opportunity…to think, to respond, and over time, to change.

Background
Ms. Lori Fortunato, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. received a Master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University in New
Brunswick, New Jersey. I am a Licensed Social Worker licensed by the Board of Social Work Examiners in New Jersey and a member of the National Association of Social Workers New Jersey Chapter. I received extensive post-baccalaureate training in substance awareness counseling at Kean University in New Jersey. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and am a member of the prestigious Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology.

Over the past 20 years working in the field of clinical social work, my experiences are vast and extend across the lifespan. I believe in an integrated and individualized approach to therapy and clients are collaborative partners throughout the entire process. I provide individual, couples and group therapy and help to ensure that each client has a support system in place. Individuals are part of a family unit, the individual may be a spouse and when these close relationships become challenging clients need to learn how to effectively communicate with one another and positive coping skills when they become overwhelmed. This process has been helpful when working with couples who are trying to understand each other and learn how to effectively communicate and bring equilibrium back into their relationship. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based method that helps individuals learn to understand the connectedness of their thoughts, behaviors and feelings. The Gottman Method is a research-based approach regarding the inner workings of relationships and during couples therapy sessions I provide psychoeducation and resources as we go along. Stress reduction methodologies are introduced to clients and they determine which work best for them.

In the recent years I have worked mainly with individuals and couples who are facing mental health challenges, relationship challenges, or both. I have years of experience working with substance abuse. As someone who likes to view therapy as a collaborative journey, I see the person as the expert in the room. My role, in simple terms, is to interpret self-limiting beliefs, patterns of communicating that interfere with meaningful relationships, and challenges with connection. Providing individuals and couples with the tools that work for them in order to create the positive change they desire. Changing the pathways of the brain that are so deeply entrenched so that change can be sustainable. In relationships, conflict is healthy when it is done right. I continuously explore the importance of the mind-body connection and mindfulness and how to integrate that into my work. Exercise is good for our physical and mental health and can be a positive coping skill. The key is finding an exercise that you enjoy and brings you joy. I teach Les Mills International Body Flow and yoga.

My life outside of work is devoted to my two teenage boys and my horse, Benji. Horses are natural healers :)

Facing divorce after two decades of marriage and being in my early 50’s was a nightmare. I made every mistake in the book! I took my certification in divorce coaching expressly to help others avoid these pitfalls and support them in their decision-making process, You can move from fear and emotional turmoil to getting your mental clarity back. For empathy and expertise, you can count on me! Personally, I am the proud mother of two young adults, and cherish the role of motherhood. I am a dog lover and enjoy cooking and eating a plant- based diet

I advocate for my clients, whether they are contemplating divorce or are in the midst of it. With non-judgment, attentive listening skills and questioning that leads to visualizing your next steps, coaching with me will move you forward. As a divorce coach I support my clients through heightened emotions and fear to the business of making long-term life decisions.
Divorce is a journey, and like a destructive fire in one's life, one must find strength and re-build, a new life, a new self, and a new outlook.

Together we will discover if you need support in sharpening your skills in any of these areas:

* Decision-making practices
* Communication skills
* Conflict competence
* Emotional Intelligence
* Organization skills
* Resilience
* Credibility
* Future visioning

Having a divorce coach will free you from feeling obligated to take advice from friends and family, and will provide you with the mental clarity to be most productive with your legal team.