At Ciccone Child & Family Counseling, LLC, in treatment or training, application of therapeutic principles in a safe, caring and peaceful environment will assist with reaching your goals, promote overall positivity, resiliency and ultimately achieve that necessary life altering transition towards change, total wellness, and restoration!
Whether you are seeking therapy personally such as individual, family, marriage counseling, or are seeking professional consultation and training principles within your business or academic setting, foster care/ health care setting, criminal justice organizations, etc., together we can identify the areas that require change and work towards that change using creative empowering, reassuring strategies that will be useful for a lifetime!
Quality Care You Can Trust
Welcome to my practice!
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I am so happy that you are taking your next big step in seeking support today! Most likely, you are facing some kind of problem — a relationship problem, a school or work-related problem, a family problem — whatever it is, it’s very important and personal, and most commonly causing you a level of anxiety and/or pain. You want to feel better, and you want something in your life to change personally or professionally. That’s where I come in. As a therapist and trainer, I offer a safe space for you and the people in your life to work through complicated relationships and difficult experiences. Whatever your situation may be, we at Ciccone Child & Family Counseling, LLC, will provide a nonjudgmental, down-to-earth approach to help you find your way through it.
Hi, my name is Lauren Ciccone, and I am excited to have the potential opportunity to work with you. I know that it can be hard to reach out for help, so I appreciate that you are taking the first step by researching therapists. If you are thinking about working with me, you probably want to know a little more about who I am. So, who am I?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) through the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Committee and graduated with a Master in Science Degree (MS) in Psychological Counseling in 2012, with honors. I am a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS).
My Goal and Personal Belief System
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My primary goal is to facilitate healing, inspire, educate as well as empower individuals, married couples and/or families on their journey to renewal, restoration and/or enhancement within their lives. I believe every individual has their own personal influential strength and unique extraordinary qualities that are uniquely established within, and when identified, can bring enrichment and revival into their everyday life. Recognizing how to identify, utilize, and ignite that greatness that lies deep within us should be discovered on a daily basis as it can affect each one of us, our families, interpersonal relationships, school life and/or work environments, etc.
A little more info on my history
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In 2016, I was selected to participate in the Promising Paths to Success piolet group, granted through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to implement and sustain the Nurtured Heart Approach within our residential programs / state organizations in NJ and ultimately work to change the culture climate within the Children’s System of Care (CSOC) of NJ to promote safety and reduce trauma in mental health and behavioral facilities.
What does that mean?
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To become an Advanced Trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA), I was certified through the Children’s Success Foundation (CSF), (now referred to as The Nurtured Heart Institute). I have facilitated many sessions and trainings to introduce NHA to families, classrooms and agencies in an effort to create and maintain healthy, productive and positive relationships.
Where have I worked
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My 10+ years' experience in the mental health field working as a counselor, consultant and Trainer has allowed me to work successfully with children, adolescents, couples and families as well as businesses including Public and Out of District behavioral and mental health school-based settings, Intensive Outpatient/ Adult Partial Hospital programming, Residential Treatment Centers including Specialty Bed Unit settings and Intensive-in-Community Crisis Counseling.
Primary Population Serviced
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My primary population has been working with Families and Youth including the At-Risk population with Behavioral, Academic and Emotional Difficulties. Specialties include and are not limited to; High Functioning Autism, ADD/ADHD, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Trauma (TIC) and Self Injurious behavior as well as self-esteem, and social challenges in adolescents.
Current Contracts
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Apart from my private practice I am contracted within public school settings to open and implement mental health and behavioral programming. Within six years I have implemented and started multiple mental health and behavioral programs within multiple school districts in NJ. I have mentored and supervised clinical staff as well as offered consultation and training to teachers and administration within a magnitude of school districts. The goal is to reduce the need for out-of-district (OOD) school placements through the use of therapeutic principals for existing students, and to support students returning to in-district public school settings within this wraparound program.
What to expect?
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Together, in a caring, sensitive, empathetic, and confidential space, with genuine effective communication, and client focused mindset, we can combat the intense and harmful feelings of helplessness, worry, and self-doubt which can build up within us with daily, and instead revive your inner strength to ignite feelings of joy, independence, mindfulness, self-confidence and assurance!
What now...? Let's begin YOUR Journey!
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Allow me to support you on your journey to wellness, through the use of therapeutic modalities, consultation and training principles tailored and individualized specifically for YOU. My team and I look forward to meeting you. Let's make today the first day of your new beginning! Dive into the rest of my website to learn more about us at Ciccone Child & Family Counseling, LLC!
Specializing in the with families facing challenges in the home as well as behavioral / school related issues, related to ADHD, ODD, Anxiety, Depression, Anger management, OCD, Trauma, SIB, in children and adolescents.
Offering various individual therapy techniques and different modalities to help individuals address difficulties, gain insight, and build new coping mechanisms. Together, we can uncover the difficulties you are facing and cultivate new perspectives and actions. Having a therapist on your side, and the relationship built with a strong foundation of trust, over time, individual therapy sessions will allow the therapeutic relationship to mature and deepen.
In having the opportunity to work closely together and address any issues arising 1:1 in comparison to family therapy, the focus is on the single client and the relationship, rather than the process of the family as a unit. At times having individual sessions intermittently along with family sessions can promote successful family therapy outcomes.
What is family counseling?
Family counseling, or family therapy, is a method to develop and maintain healthy and functional family relationships. The goal is to identify and address problems in the family. These issues could be emotional, psychological, behavioral and/or have to do with a current crisis or trauma. Many approaches to family therapy stem from family systems theory. This suggests that families work in systems rather than groups of people who function independently of each other.
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According to family systems theory, changes in one family member will influence changes in other parts of the family. Families might find therapy useful to address difficulty communicating or expressing emotions, conflicts between siblings, inconsistent parenting, marital problems, developing a functional and healthy relationship following a divorce, adapting to a major change, dealing with a chronic illness or death in the family.
Let’s face it. Love Is Complicated. I know how much is at stake. My aim is to quickly assess your history, your core conflicts and possible solutions. I believe that relationship problems tend to show us exactly where our biggest opportunities for growth are. Although difficult at times, growth may come from staying committed to your relationship and learning new ways of relating more deeply and lovingly together. Seeking support is the first step. Thus, if you are looking to work on your marriage and if you and your partner love each other, I can help you shift your patterns and build a deeper and more lasting intimacy.
Working from a set of proven criteria for healthy and happy relationships, my goal is to help you see the deeper truth about your relationship within a session or two. With that said, I can understand how one can spend years trying to make relationships “work” -- and within minutes can also wreck a good, solid marriage with an act of betrayal, or the repercussions addictive behaviors, or a lack of attention and affection can have on a relationship. In sessions, I will help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship, identify improve communication, resolve conflict, process unresolved issues, and develop deeper intimacy and trust. I am here to help you find clarity. I will help you sort through the chaos and teach you the tools to create a great relationship. Yes, both partners usually contribute to a problem, but I can help you figure out how to change it for the better.
Children and adolescents experience stress as they learn to manage and solve problems in their everyday lives. Additionally, I believe that with young people behavior is communication, thus helping them identify their feelings, thoughts, concerns and assisting them by increasing their communication of the same can reduce behavior, as well as mental health related symptoms. In sessions, children can learns ways to better understand their emotions, they can learn healthy ways to cope with stress, they can improve their self-esteem and build strong relationships, they can pursue their future goals. Each phase of a child’s development brings specific challenges, but mental health conditions can make these challenges a lot harder.
During teenage years, every adolescent reacts differently to events in their life, which can be routine as moving to a new house or prolonged and traumatic like the death of a loved one, natural disaster, getting bullied, parental divorce or separation. Stress can be due to worrying over platonic or romantic relationships, disordered eating habits that can harm both physical health and self-esteem of the individual, or indulging in substance abuse to push boundaries. The age and gender of the adolescent can also influence their resilience to life changes, as younger teens find an easier time adjusting to these changes and genetics can also come to play a role as some mental issues like bipolar might run in families. All of these challenges can cause difficulties at school, home and with friends and family, and it is essential that these adolescents receive counselling, and their thoughts and feelings are heard without criticism or judgement, ensuring it is a safe place where one can be honest about their struggles.
Could you benefit from Christian Counseling? Christian Counseling can be a great benefit to a marriage, personal struggle or family issue. The Bible teaches that Biblical Christian Counseling is important. It isn’t so much about doctrinal methods or content, but about Jesus Christ’s teachings and how we can apply those to our life. The foundation for this counseling is the application of God’s truth to the heart. Christian Counseling is one avenue God can use to help you walk through the process of healing and change.
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Christian Counseling is for those that want to abide by the teachings and traditions of Christianity and desire to gain full reliance on God. There are many areas where Christian Counseling can help. Some examples are: depression, marital problems, family issues, addition and grief or loss of a loved one.
Christian Counseling isn’t about overcoming the pain that is caused by life’s difficulties, it is about using the truths of the Bible, the tools of the mental health profession and life experience to help those in need. God is the ultimate healer and Biblical Christian Counseling is one avenue that God can provide the needed healing and life change. If you are interested in hearing more, and would like to experience the ultimate forgiveness, love and hope that only God can provide don't hesitate to schedule your first session with me today! I am passionate about the Christian faith and believe wholeheartedly that this could be the solution you've been waiting for.
Benefits of the Nurtured Heart Approach, is exactly that. An approach to working with challenging children and adolescents, which includes understanding the unique dynamics of the challenging child, learning ways to shift a child toward using his/her intensity in successful ways, create a deeper sense of success & inner wealth for the child. In creating a new way to be in relationship with your child/ student, you have to be willing to allow the negative to not have all the “power” in the relationship, you need to create more opportunities for the positive to shine in, and lastly you need to set the clear expectations which allows for the relationship to grow.
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As reported at difficultchild.com, “The Nurtured Heart Approach® is a set of core methodologies originally developed for working with the most difficult children. It has become a powerful way of bringing inner wealth to all children while facilitating parenting and classroom success. It has a proven, transformative impact on every child, including those with behavioral diagnosis such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Reactive Attachment Disorder – almost always without the need for medications or long-term treatment.” ​When you create a deeper relationship by allowing by building success & inner wealth for the child it becomes more simply a matter of identifying behavior that is working by feeding the soul with greatness this is not complimenting and feeding empty words and teaching a child to be Fearless in standing in their own Greatness. If you are interested in learning more about NHA whether personally in your family or within your classroom / workplace environment, today please reach out to me directly.