Amanda Argento, MA LPC NCC ACS

About Me

I am a fully Licensed Professional Counselor.  I am certified in the State of NJ as a Director of School Counseling, Supervisor, School Counselor, and School Social Worker. I am also a Nationally Certified Counselor and Accredited Clinical Supervisor. 

I provide psychotherapy/mental health counseling for adults with self esteem, depression and anxiety related concerns. People seek counseling for different reasons. Whether you are looking for short term help with developing strategies to assist thru a difficult time or more intensive longer term help to gain a deeper understanding of life patterns, you have come to the right place.  During our sessions, you can expect a comfortable and supportive atmosphere that will help you with problem solving as well as provide personal growth and insight. 

Please visit my Psychology Today profile:

www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/amanda-argento-jersey-city-nj/751633

AboutTherapy

Participation in therapy can result in a number of benefits to you, including and not limited to improving interpersonal relationships and resolution of the specific concerns that led you to seek therapy. My goal is to create a therapeutic relationship that will foster growth and healing and attend to your individual needs. Working toward these benefits, however, requires effort on your part. Psychotherapy requires your involvement, honesty and openness in order to change your thoughts, feelings, and/or behavior. Sometimes more than one approach to therapy can be helpful in dealing with certain situations. During the initial evaluation or therapy remembering or talking about unpleasant events, feelings, or thoughts can result in considerable discomfort or strong feelings of anger, sadness, worry, fear, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. I may challenge some of your assumptions or perceptions or propose different ways of looking at, thinking about, or handling situations which can cause you to feel upset, angry, depressed, challenged or disappointed. 

How to make to most of your sessions

The effectiveness of therapy session is largely determined by you, not your therapist. Some people like to think that their problems are now in the hands of a professional to fix, and this belief may set one up for disappointment and frustration.

If you are thinking about seeing a therapist or have been seeing a therapist regularly, there are a few guidelines to make sure that you are getting the most of your sessions. This should help in making sure you closer to achieving your goals.

Show up.

Similar to doctors, therapist develop a treatment plan.  It is very common to stop showing up for sessions once you begin to feel better, or if a situation resolves itself naturally. Just like with antibiotic medication, you are advised to take the dosage until completed, not stop taking the medication once you feel better. Prematurely ending a therapy session can leave you feeling unprepared to tackle future obstacles. 

Be Honest.

Just like at a doctor’s office, it is hard to determine an effective course of action if your therapist is unsure of the symptoms. It is natural as human beings to minimize your struggles or hardships, but this will prevent your therapist from being able to truly help! Be completely open and honest about your problems. 

Cry.

Ok, so maybe not everyone will cry but confronting uncomfortable feelings is a huge part of therapy. Don’t worry about “keeping it together” or walk in with restrictions on what you will and will not discuss. These topics that make you uncomfortable, sad, angry, or resentful are usually the root of a problem. Sometimes the simple act of talking about issues, can immensely change its impact on someone’s life.

Homework.

Homework in therapy? Yes! As a therapist, I will give you homework in between sessions. Assignments can vary from behavioral changes, testing out coping skills, writing letters, journaling, or other challenges to incorporate into you life. Do your homework in between sessions. If you are trying out a new coping skill, sometimes things need to be repeated multiple times before any sign of progress can be seen. Many of our struggles did not develop overnight, so it is unrealistic to expect them to go away that quickly. Commit to your therapists suggestions to begin working towards progress.

 

Client Concerns within My Scope of Practice Include the following:

  • Depression (Mild/Moderate)
  • Anxiety (Mild/Moderate)
  • Relationship or Family Conflicts/ Breakup/ Divorce
  • Transition issues
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Communication Problems
  • Jealousy/Trust Issues
  • Obsessive Thinking Patterns
  • Negative Thinking
  • Stress Management
  • Self Esteem/Self-Criticism/Self Doubt
  • Perfectionism
  • Procrastination
  • Social Anxiety
  • Codependency / Dependency
  • Fear/ Doubt
  • Sensitivity to Criticism