ABOUT ME
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey with fifteen years of experience in the field, primarily within healthcare settings, including adult outpatient behavioral health treatment.
I work exclusively with New Jersey residents as I am licensed to practice in the state of New Jersey.
ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPY
What is psychotherapy? Therapy is a healing process that requires active participation and investment from the patient and unconditional positive regard from the therapist.
What psychotherapy is not: Therapy is a magic pill or a quick fix.
Therapy is not like talking to a biased friend or a family member. Therapy requires openness to vulnerability, tolerance towards emotional discomfort, accountability for own behaviors, and trusting the process.
In a therapeutic partnership, we work together to find new approaches and solutions to your issues and concerns. Although we do not dwell in the past, as your therapist I am dedicated to helping you understand the influence of earlier attachments and its impact on current relationships dynamics and on who you are presently. As we come upon new insights and ideas, old patterns of maladaptive thoughts, and behaviors, are modified or exchanged for more adaptive thinking and behaviors.
Why investing time in therapy is important?
People seek psychotherapy for a variety of reasons. Nothing is too unsubstantial or unimportant if it is affecting your ability to have healthy relationships or achieve satisfaction from your work and in life.
Most people at some time in their life find that seeking help from a professional psychotherapist helps them understand themselves better and find new avenues in dealing with difficult emotions or situations.
As a psychotherapist my goal is to help you obtain a better grasp of unrecognized personal issues that may be impeding your success.
Regardless of what brings you here, my objective is to foster increased self-awareness and by doing so help you gain insight and better resolution of presenting problems. In the end, making small changes to self-defeating behaviors and implementing adaptive coping skills to manage psychosocial stressors can bring life-altering results.
If you are motivated to move in a new direction in your life, I am here to guide you and support you through the challenging process of self-discovery and healing.
I am glad you are here. Welcome!
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Communication problems, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Family of origin issues, Fatherhood issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Life purpose, Multicultural concerns, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
NJ LCSW 44SC06341900
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Cristina Vargas. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Cristina is great! She shares worksheets relevant to my needs that have really helped me meet life challenges with realistic expectations
Written on Aug 09, 2025 after therapy with Cristina for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, career difficulties, and adhd
Exceptionally kind, patient, and empathetic
Written on Jun 06, 2025 after therapy with Cristina for 2 months on issues concerning depression, grief, sleeping disorders, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Does her job amazingly. Definitely a saving grace from what I am going through. Her counsel and understanding is perfect and I cannot thank her enough for all her help. Already recommended her to a couple of my friends and family members. She’s the best!
Written on Mar 13, 2025 after therapy with Cristina for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd