• We Provide Teletherapy | Contact Us

    Providing the Highest Quality of Care and Service Possible
    22 Howard Blvd., Suite 101 | Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856
    2035 Hamburg Turnpike, Suite-G | Wayne, NJ 07470
    sfcnewreferrals@gmail.com | (973) 770-7600
    Connect With Us on Facebook

  • Strength for Change

    • Home
    • Therapists
      • Bernard Ivin, LCSW
      • Paul DePinto, LPC
      • Ron Redmerski, LPC
      • Danielle Leva, LPC
      • Frank Klump, LPC
      • Donna Scarpa Farraye, LPC
      • Reena Vyas-Rana, LPC
    • Counseling
    • Substance Evaluations
    • Mental Health Screening
    • Seminars
    • Blog
    • Fees
    • FAQ
      • Reviews
    • Contact
    • Counseling & Therapy Services
    • Substance Abuse Evaluations & Help
    • Mental Health Screening
    • Mental Health & Behavioral Seminars

    Counseling & Therapy Centers in Mount Arlington & Wayne, NJ

    We are a team of compassionate, knowledgeable, and highly skilled therapists specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We help clients overcome depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other life difficulties in the pursuit of living more successful and happy lives.

    Strength for Change (SFC) was founded by Bernard Ivin, LCSW in 2001. His mission was to train and support other therapists in the practice of CBT and make the therapy more readily available within the Mount Arlington & Wayne, NJ communities.  His passion for CBT comes from his own application of the therapy in overcoming personal difficulties and witnessing its transformative power in the lives of his clients.

    If you are a parent seeking services for your child, please download our free parent handbook.  Whether you bring your child to SFC or another treatment provider, our handbook will assist you in obtaining the most appropriate care for your child.

    A Parent’s Handbook:

    The Essential Guide To Obtaining Counseling Services For Your Child

    Download FREE Copy
     

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    CBT has been researched perhaps more than any other psychological therapy.  It is an evidence-based therapy proven highly effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and many other mental health conditions.  Please visit the National Institute of Mental Health website (www.nimh.com) to learn more about CBT and the importance of evidence-based mental health treatments.

    CBT was developed in the 1960’s by Dr. Aaron T. Beck out of the University of Pennsylvania. It is based on the idea that our thoughts determine our emotional and behavioral reactions, and that by learning to control our thoughts we are able to feel good and do good in the pursuit of our life’s goals.

    CBT teaches clients how to become their own therapist capable of using a variety of coping strategies to effectively manage their emotional and behavioral reactions. Clients learn skills and strategies for restructuring negative thought patterns, generating self-motivation, changing unhealthy behaviors, and cultivating a “solution-focused” lifestyle. To see if CBT is the right therapy for you, please call us to get more information or to schedule a therapy session or mental health screening at our Mount Arlington or Wayne, NJ office locations.

    Motivation-Focused Therapy for Anxiety, Depression & More

    The field of psychology has made many advances over the past two decades. From talk therapy to medications and holistic treatments, doctors, and therapists now have a much better understanding of how to effectively treat mental health conditions. Despite these advances, many people still struggle.  Why?

    For any therapy to be effective, the individual receiving it must be an active participant in the treatment process.  Simply put, the best treatment plan means nothing without the client’s motivation for implementing it.

    Unfortunately, most mental health conditions impair an individual’s motivation for school, work, social life, and self-care. When family and friends try to intervene, they are frustrated by the individual’s lack of responsiveness and view it as a willful act of resistance. Once the individual’s support system is frustrated in this way conflicts arise, and the individual’s mental health gets worse.

    At Strength for Change (SFC), we have a treatment model that accounts for the individual’s impaired motivation. Our guiding principle is that we are responsible for helping clients cultivate the motivation that is needed for treatment success. With this in mind, we have developed numerous motivational strategies that are implemented throughout the treatment process.

    Individualized & Evidence-Based Treatment

    While we specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we do not have a one size fits all approach to therapy. Instead, we match our therapeutic approach to the client’s symptoms, diagnosis, age, personality, and level of motivation.

    This Individualized approach is based on the American Psychiatric Associations Best Practices Guidelines which advocates the use of evidence-based therapies. For example, anxiety disorders are treated with individual CBT, while ADHD is treated with a combination of academic coaching and family therapy. The condition is matched to the therapy that is proven most effective in its treatment.

    In addition to raising the effective of therapy, our individualized approach also helps the client feel more deeply understood and valued. These feelings enhance the trust and collaboration between the client and therapist, and make for a more worthwhile therapy experience.

    Committed to Providing Exceptional Care

    We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality of care and service possible. This is not just a slogan that appears on our letterhead, but rather a self-imposed expectation that we strive to achieve with every client interaction. This is evident in many ways including our commitment to specialized training, ongoing peer supervision, and the use of client feedback forms. Read our reviews to get a sense of how clients feel about their experience at Strength for Change!

    COVID-19 Mitigation Policy

    Below you will find our office policies and procedures for COVID-19 mitigation.  Please read over them carefully.  With your cooperation, we are confident that our office will remain a safe and secure enviornment, and that we will remain available for in office appointments throughout the course of this current pandemic.

    For the Purpose of Mitigating the Corona Virus:

    1 -Switch to telephone or teletherapy appointments if you answer yes to any of the following questions (this applies to both clients and therapists):

      • Are you experiencing any cold or flu like symptoms, particularly a cough or fever?
      • Have you had any recent (within 21-days) contact with anyone that has been diagnosed with the Corona Virus?
      • Have you had any recent (within 14 days) contact with anyone being monitored for the Corona Virus?
      • Have you recently (within 14-days) traveled outside of the country or to a state that is on New Jersey’s travel restriction list?

    2 -Please wait in your car (instead of the waiting room} for the start of your session. Your therapist will text you to come in when he or she is ready for the start of your session.  Once you receive your text, you can walk straight into your therapist’s office thus avoiding contact with all waiting room surfaces and other clients.

    3 – Facemasks must be worn when entering and exiting our building, and throughout the time of your therapy appointment.

    4 – The bathroom will be locked indefinitely. If you need to use the bathroom, your therapist will let you in.  This will enable us to disinfect the bathroom after each use.

    5 – All office doors (except for therapy room doors) will remain open during business hours. This will enable you to enter and exit our office without touching the doorknobs, and will allow for greater air flow throughout the office.

    5 – All payments need to be made electronically through your credit card or bank bill pay. No cash or checks will be accepted.

    6 – All office couches will be wiped down with disinfectant prior to the start of every session.  Waiting room chairs, doorknobs, and counter tops will be wiped down with disinfectant at the start of each day and throughout each day.

    7 – The waiting room area will be cleared of all community use items including magazines, clipboards, and pens.

    8 – Boxes of tissues, hand sanitizer (when available), and soap and water will be readily available throughout the office.

    9 – Therapists will follow a no handshake policy and be mindful of maintaining a 6-foot distance from clients during sessions.

    10 – Our 24-hour cancellation policy is waived indefinitely. If you have any concerns regarding your health or leaving your home, you can cancel any time before your scheduled appointment.  You will not be charged for any last-minute cancellations.

    For the Purpose of Stress Management:

    If you feel apprehensive leaving your home (which is completely understandable under the circumstances), you are welcome and encouraged to consider the following options:

    1 – Have your sessions via telephone or an online teletherapy service. You can begin this right away by letting your therapist know your preference.  Teletherapy sessions are facilitated through Doxy.me, which is HIPPA compliant and insures your privacy.  Your therapist will give you instructions for accessing this service.  It is important to note that if at some point we determine that office visits are an unreasonable risk, or if our government orders a lock down and closing of all businesses, telephone and teletherapy might be our only therapy option.

    For Information About Our Teletherapy Services

    2 – Suspend your therapy for a time. We can schedule you for a later date and resume therapy should circumstances improve by the scheduled date.  As time goes on, we will continue to change our policies and procedures in order to adhere with the most up-to-date information and response guidelines provided by the CDC and other government agencies responsible for public safety.

    Please take good care of yourselves, your families, and communities.  I look forward to seeing everyone safe and healthy over the next few months.

    Sincerely – Bernard Ivin, LCSW

    Meet Our Therapists

    Fees

    • Frank Klump, LPC

      Wayne Office

      Personal Statement: “Since a young age I have had a passion for helping others. After interning at a high school at the start of my career, I quickly realized how natural it was for me to connect and create meaningful relationships with children and adolescents. My goal is to build a strong relationship with each of my clients while providing a safe environment conducive to reaching their objectives.”Read more

    • Donna Scarpa Farraye, LPC

      Wayne Office

      Personal Statement: “I believe change starts with hope. Hope opens the door to healing. I strive to create a safe and trusting relationship that allows for hope to come alive, change to happen and healing to begin. We will work together in identifying your strengths, patterns of thoughts and behaviors, and developing tools to create the change you desire.”Read more

    • Reena Vyas-Rana, LPC

      Personal Statement: “I provide clients with a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment that is essential to effective treatment. I adhere to the expression, "we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason". First and foremost, I listen attentively with the goal of fully and accurately understanding a client's story. Once I am confident in my understanding, my focus shifts to teaching healthy behaviors, encouraging constructive changes, and building knowledge and skills essential for managing emotional triggers and life stressors.”Read more

    • Danielle Leva, LPC

      Wayne Office

      Personal Statement: “I believe that every therapeutic relationship is special and unique. I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can share their struggles, discover their strengths, and be supported in the pursuit of their goals and dreams.” Read more

    • Ron Redmerski, LPC

      Mt. Arlington Office

      Personal Statement: “After serving in the US Army (Special Operations Force) and having a career on Wall Street, I made a decision to pursue my true passion - helping others as a professional counselor. My diverse and unique background gives me a perspective on life that is conducive to effective problem solving and the application of CBT strategies.”Read more

    • Paul DePinto, LPC

      Wayne Office

      Personal Statement: “Many of my clients come to therapy anxious or reluctant about being in treatment. I take pride in being able to make the experience comfortable for them. Even though we are discussing serious issues, we have moments of fun and laughter. It is my enthusiasm and sense of humor that helps put clients at ease and enables them to get the most out of therapy. Their trust means the world to me, it is what gives me a chance to help them and their families.”Read more

    • Bernard Ivin, LCSW

      Mt. Arlington Office

      Personal Statement: “After nearly two decades in private practice, what I have learned most is that the human spirit is strong, resilient, and capable of greatness. It is this knowledge that keeps me eternally optimistic. Given the opportunity, I will do everything in my power to help you discover this truth for yourself."Read more

    Our Locations:

    22 Howard Blvd Suite 101
    Mt Arlington, NJ 07856

    2035 Hamburg Turnpike Suite-G
    Wayne, NJ 07470

    Strength for Change LLC
    sfcnewreferrals@gmail.com | (973) 770-7600
    A Website by Brighter Vision | Privacy Policy