Terry Griner, LPC, ACS
Hi, I’m Terry!
My clients often come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, consumed by worries, struggling with perfectionism and self-criticism, and avoiding or missing out on important parts of their lives. Often they are silently struggling to “keep up” with life’s demands, or don’t feel “good enough.” They want to feel more confident in themselves and engage more fully in life - a life that reflects what matters most to them - rather than feeling stuck scrambling or reacting to their circumstances and fears.
I fully believe that we are capable and deserving of a life that feels aligned with who we are and what is truly important to us. In therapy, I blend humanity and connection with science and expertise to support folks in creating these meaningful and lasting changes. It is on the foundation of a safe, authentic and collaborative therapeutic relationship that we use skills and strategies (and a good dose of humor at times!) to move towards a life that respects and embraces who you are and reflects your values and goals.
I specialize in treating teens, emerging adults and adults seeking support with
My therapeutic style could be desribed as:
collaborative
affirming
genuine
empathic
direct
Unpopular opinions that influence the way I practice
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We learn patterns and develop habits and behaviors over time to protect ourselves, and sometimes these can become unhealthy, unproductive or downright destructive. And understanding this means that we can un-learn these patterns in favor of more effective ones that are aligned with our true selves.
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Life is going to happen. While we certainly don’t want unhelpful negative thoughts and feelings to control us, often times therapy is much more about learning to accept the full range of emotions and experiences, and making choices from a grounded place that reflects our goals and values.
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If only we had the science, research, education, and ability to “un-do” all the generational, cultural and other trauma in the world… I would run, skip and jump into another profession gladly! Until we find that magic wand though…. I’ll be right here. ;)
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This one is tricky and I’ve developed my view about self-disclosure over the 20 years I’ve been in the mental health field, so let’s start by acknowledging that boundaries are absolutely necessary within the therapy relationship (if you feel like you know more about your therapist than they know about you, run!). And, I bring myself to therapy, as opposed to a “blank slate” version of me. I love having the opportunity to develop real, genuine, human relationships with the people I work with, and find that it actually strengthens the therapeutic alliance.
I use the following Evidence-Based Practices and therapy modalities:
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Women & Gender Studies, The College of New Jersey
Master of Arts in Counseling & Clinical Psychology, William Paterson University
Experience
Care Plus NJ, INC
Residential and Partial Care Programs, Mental Health Worker
Montclair State University
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Graduate Student Intern Psychotherapist
Rutgers UBHC (formerly UMDNJ), Mental Health Clinician
Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS)
Acute Partial Hospital (APH)
Collaborative Specialty Care/First Episode Psychosis (FEP)Program and NJ Promise/Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHRP) Program
Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor
Licensure & Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor (CIEC)
Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS) assessment certified, Yale PRIME Clinic
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
— Paul Coelho
