Formed in 1867, the town of Long Branch, New Jersey started out as a beach resort town and it still is, with Pier Village, Long Branch Beach, Asbury Park, and the Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. In addition, it is the birthplace of the legendary rock n roll singer, Bruce Springsteen, author Norman Mailer, and several MLB and NFL superstars. It was also the setting for parts of the hit series, “The Sopranos.”
The beach is a great place to relax on a sunny day, whether you like to swim, boat, fish, or just soak up the sun. However, sometimes you may not feel like going to the beach or doing anything else for that matter. If you have been having these feelings for more than two weeks, you should contact a mental health professional. There are quite a few committed professionals in Long Branch who can help you right now.
Elizabeth Bates
Finding a therapist is a profoundly personal way to begin the process of addressing whatever obstacle or issue you're facing. It's not that you have "issues or problems", but rather how you respond to them that's important. I am committed to working together to find an approach that's right for you with the ultimate goal of helping you find better ways of coping with the inevitable obstacles we all face-- in life, in relationships, in our careers, personal goals, crises, destructive patterns of behavior--and the list goes on., etc. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and received my degree from the State University of New York at Albany, in 2004. I have over 20 years of working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. My approach has been influenced by many contemporary theories and therapies. My background is in Gestalt Therapy, a holistic approach that builds on awareness of oneself and one's relationships with others. I often draw from other approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Response Treatment Therapy, mindfulness and psycho-education, depending on what we decide will be most beneficial for you. I will work collaboratively with you to help bring meaning and understanding to your life, resulting in a richer fuller life in the present. I embrace all people and have many years of experience working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Patients find me to be genuine, approachable, inclusive, warm and interactive. In my experience, humor and lightheartedness can be very helpful in developing that secure bond between patient and therapist. I believe an open-minded atmosphere creates the safe space you need in order to speak about truly personal matters. www.betterhelp.com/elizabeth-bates.
Tara Porphy
Hi! I'm Tara. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of New Jersey. I have been working in the mental health industry for ten years. I have experience working with a variety of different settings (home, office, residential, telehealth), ages, and issues. I have worked with individuals across the life-span (3-70+). Some of my clinical work includes working with men in a dual-diagnosis residential program for substance abuse/addiction and mental health. During my time at the residential program, I led groups and conducted individual/family-based counseling for our residents. I was also responsible for supporting the family members of our residents. I have experience working with motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and working with individuals in recovery as well as their family members. I believe addiction is a family disease and am comfortable working with all whom are affected. I also have extensive experience working with anxiety, panic disorders, depression, and other mental health challenges. I have experience working with intellectual/developmental disabilities (including individuals with autism), trauma, and self-harm. However, I am not limited to these areas. I have worked with at-risk children, teens, and their families in their home environment. However, there have been many moments where I work with parents individually or with the family unit as a whole. While some of my specializations including working with children, I am able to work with parents to help better support their children, or the daily struggles of parenting that may be negatively impacting your mental health. My approach is very flexible and adaptable based on the needs of my clients. I use an eclectic approach when working with my clients. I use a variety of different approaches including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centered. No matter what you are going through, there is no problem too big or small. I am so happy you are here, and I look forward to working together on the path toward healing!
Dr. Joseph Prewitt-Diaz
I am a Bilingual (Spanish/English) Pastoral Counselor with over three decades of experience accompanying individuals and communities through some of life’s most challenging circumstances. My work has focused extensively on survivors of disasters and crises, individuals affected by humanitarian emergencies, and those navigating the complex realities of migration-related trauma. Throughout my career, I have also provided support to disaster response personnel experiencing compassion fatigue, as well as to veterans facing adjustment and reintegration challenges. These experiences have shaped a practice grounded in presence, cultural humility, and a deep respect for the human capacity to endure and rebuild. I believe that healing begins with accompaniment—the willingness to walk alongside individuals with empathy, attentiveness, and compassion. My approach emphasizes creating safe spaces where people can process trauma, rediscover meaning, and reconnect with hope. I am particularly attentive to those who, due to age, loss, or prolonged hardship, feel overwhelmed or unable to move forward. My work is guided by a commitment to restoring dignity, fostering resilience, and supporting individuals not only in surviving adversity, but in reclaiming a sense of purpose and possibility. Additional Areas of Focus: I work with individuals facing concerns related to self-esteem, attachment, communication, blended family dynamics, family-of-origin issues, fatherhood, commitment concerns, and infidelity. I also support people coping with disaster-related stress, immigration challenges, multicultural concerns, prejudice and discrimination, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, life purpose questions, and young adult transitions. My practice also includes work with first responders, veterans, and individuals or families navigating adoption, foster care, intellectual disability, and other complex personal or relational concerns.
Anne Boyd Hinton
Hi, if you are reading this ,it means you are seeking assistance in taking better control of your life to feel good about yourself and develop the skills necessary to solve what you view as problems. Today, many people are now seeking and receiving help to better control their lives. So, you are not alone. My goal will be to help you focus on the things that you see as impediments to your progress with expectation of assisting you in reordering your thoughts, and how and why your current thought process has led to where you feel you are emotionally today. I believe this approach can aid you in learning new ways to handle feelings and new ways of viewing the world around you. In other words, place a focus on your understanding affective stance and assist you in acquiring additional skills that possess the potential to help you be happy, healthy and have a good life. I formerly worked for twenty years at Rutgers University as a therapist serving clients who were working on successfully reintegrating into society. As such I had regular on-going collaborative relationships with State and Federal Authorities. I am a New Jersey based Licensed Based Counselor (LPC) with 26 years’ experience as a Mental Health Therapist. While I started at Better Help in 2021, I had to limit my involvement until 2025. My experience includes behavioral health centers, correctional institutions, schools, and in-home situations. My therapeutic approach focuses on assisting clients through focusing on evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Counseling.
Roxane Pakit
Hello My name is Roxane Pakit. I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the state of New Jersey since the early 1980s. I received my Master or Social Work degree from Adelphi University, NY. My counseling experiences have provided me with invaluable understandings working with clients from different socio-economic levels, ethnicities and religions. My therapeutic techniques include: ¬ William Glassers choice theory ¬ Cognitive behavioral therapy ¬ Family systems ¬ Emotionally focused supportive therapy combined with forgiveness of self and others. My areas of expertise are: ¬ Depression ¬ Anxiety and obsessions ¬ Stress management ¬ Anger management ¬ Parenting skills ¬ Adjustment disorders ¬ Adjustment to military life - Communication skills in the workplace - Couples Therapy - Trauma - Extended Family Problems - Communication Issues around Religious Beliefs I believe in collaboratively working with clients to establish their therapeutic goals. I enjoy assisting clients in attaining self-awareness which will lead them down a happier path in life.
Sherri Salmon
It's great that you've taken a major step forward and have decided to seek professional, compassionate and caring counsel. Sometimes, we need someone that actively listens with an unbiased ear. It's important to be and feel heard. I am licensed in New Jersey and in Illinois, with over 30 years of professional work experience. I have a broad base of experience in working with various age groups ranging from age 10 through 80. I have a propensity towards helping teenagers, young adults, women, those experiencing issues with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, abuse, neglect, abandonment, resentment, spirituality, religion ,lgbtq and family issues.The modalities most frequently used in our therapeutic relationship, will be Person Centered Therapy, Solution focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Life can throw many hard punches, but with the right tools and learning how to reframe your thoughts, you can re-learn how to process life's issues, re-write your life script and navigate your life in a more practical manner, becoming your better self. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. You can do this.
Dina Vitorino
I am licensed in New Jersey with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I also have experience working with depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Thomas (Tom) Malek-Jones
I am licensed in New Jersey with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy related issues, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Winifred ODriscoll
I am licensed in New Jersey with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & anger management, bipolar disorder & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Therapy can be an exciting experience. You have an opportunity to go back to zero and rebuild your life on your own terms. Developing the incite needed to make the changes you want as well as the needed coping skills. Learning that you can be happy on purpose and that you are not limited by the past.
Jennifer Hess
I am licensed in New Jersey with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & parenting issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Peter Dietz
I am licensed in New Jersey and Vermont with 40 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
Themistoklis Bakelas
Hello! I'm Tohm and I’m a LCSW in New Jersey. I have worked in various psychiatric hospitals since 2012. My passion in counseling is to create a relationship built on safety, trust, and hope, where people feel accepted, heard, and challenged to grow in new and meaningful ways. I specialize in working with individuals aged 18 and older who struggle with depression, stress, grief, trauma, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and life changes. It's my privilege to assist someone through their difficulties and help them experience healing and relief. I believe therapy is most productive when it is supportive and casual, with a conversational tone and an open mind toward different strategies to address challenges. The key is a collaborative approach between both client and therapist. I offer lunchtime, evening, and some weekend hours. All sessions are virtual. Reach out for my exact availability. My counseling style is supportive, strength-based and rooted in direct inquiry. I believe in the dignity and worth of each person, and that the human spirit is quite resilient. As Kurt Vonnegut once boldly wrote, "It is hard to adapt to chaos, but it can be done. I am living proof of that: It can be done."
Nicole Osti
I am a licensed clinical social worker with almost a decade of experience ranging from clinical practice to case management. I work with clients who experience a wide range of symptoms and concerns, including depression, anxiety, transitional and relationship issues, and work-related issues. I have worked with children, teens, and young adults for the majority of my practice and am currently entering the field of geriatrics. My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral and rational-emotive therapy, with a solution focused mindset depending on the client. I will tailor our treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!
John Melahn
With over 25 years of dedicated clinical experience, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My therapeutic approach centers on helping clients address challenges like depression, anxiety, stress management, and interpersonal communication difficulties. I have extensive expertise in supporting adults through self-esteem concerns, parenting issues, and emotional regulation strategies. My practice is deeply committed to creating a compassionate, non-judgmental space where individuals can explore their experiences and develop meaningful personal growth strategies. I understand that each person's journey is unique, and I strive to provide personalized, empathetic guidance tailored to individual needs and strengths. Drawing from decades of professional experience, I offer practical, evidence-based techniques to help clients build resilience, improve emotional well-being, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. My goal is to empower individuals to understand themselves more deeply and create positive, sustainable life changes.
*BetterHelp insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status.
Find a therapist near you in Long Branch, New Jersey
Finding a therapist near you in Long Branch, New Jersey starts with matching to a licensed professional who fits your needs, schedule, and goals. New Jersey is home to people with diverse mental health needs across urban, suburban, and rural communities, which can make it challenging to find care. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist through tailored matching, so you can begin care from home or wherever works for you.
The network includes over 30,000 licensed therapists globally, and over 4 million people have used BetterHelp to find support through online therapy. During matching, 93% of user preferences are met, which helps you connect with a therapist suited to what you are looking for. Whether you are searching for help with anxiety, trauma, affordable or insurance covered therapy, weekend or flexible scheduling, or virtual sessions, you can find a therapist and get started when you are ready.
Why work with a licensed therapist near you?
Working with a licensed therapist near you gives you access to professional mental health support from someone trained to help you understand and manage what you are going through. A licensed therapist can offer evidence-based approaches, a steady space to talk, and guidance tailored to your situation. In New Jersey, online therapy can make that care more accessible, since sessions happen from home or wherever you are, without the need to travel to an office. This can help if your schedule is full, if travel is difficult, or if you simply prefer a more discreet setting. You can learn more about what a therapist does on the therapist role page.
Online therapy can be especially helpful for people living across New Jersey, where access to in-person mental health care may vary by location.
What concerns can therapists help with?
Therapists can help with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and stress, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-esteem and identity, people-pleasing and fear of rejection, insomnia and racing thoughts, workplace stress and burnout, substance use, parenting and co-parenting stress, grief and loss, and relationship and family challenges. Therapists on BetterHelp may draw on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), depending on your needs and goals. You can explore support for specific concerns on pages such as generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and eating disorders.
Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Online therapy vs. in-person therapy in New Jersey
Online therapy and in-person therapy both connect you with a licensed professional, and the main difference is how you meet. In New Jersey, online therapy through BetterHelp lets you have sessions by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet from home or on a schedule that fits your life. In-person therapy takes place at an office and may involve travel and set appointment windows. Online therapy may be more accessible for people with busy schedules, limited transportation, or a preference for a more discreet setting. Both formats can support meaningful progress, so the right choice often comes down to what fits your life.
Finding a therapist that accepts insurance in New Jersey
BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status. Eligible members' average copay is $23 per session.
You can check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. If you prefer to pay without insurance, BetterHelp subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, billed as an alternative way to access the same care, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
How BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in New Jersey
BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in New Jersey through personalized matching that considers your needs, preferences, and goals. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, you can be matched with a licensed therapist from a network of over 30,000 professionals, and 93% of user preferences are met during matching. The search and location matching cover common near-me needs, including anxiety, trauma, affordable or sliding-scale support, weekend or flexible scheduling, and virtual sessions. If your first match is not the right fit, you can switch therapists at no extra cost. When you are ready, you can get started and begin the process.
Therapists near you in New Jersey
Below, you’ll find licensed therapists authorized to provide online therapy to adults across New Jersey, including residents in Long Branch.
Each provider meets state licensing requirements and has experience supporting clients with a wide range of mental health concerns using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Please note: Therapists on BetterHelp in New Jersey do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Frequently asked questions about finding a therapist near me
How much does therapy cost near me?
Therapy costs near you can vary by provider, format, and payment method. With BetterHelp, subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. BetterHelp also accepts insurance through many major insurance plans, and eligible members' average copay is $23 per session. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status.
Does BetterHelp accept insurance?
Yes. BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members' average copay is $23 per session. Check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
Is online therapy effective?
Online therapy can be an effective way to receive licensed mental health care for many common concerns. Research suggests that online therapy may support progress in ways comparable to in-person care for concerns such as anxiety and depression. On BetterHelp, you connect with a licensed therapist who can use evidence-based approaches such as CBT and DBT, and you can meet by phone, video, or in-app messaging.
Do I need a diagnosis to see a therapist?
No, you do not need a diagnosis to see a therapist. Many people begin therapy to work through stress, life changes, relationships, or personal growth without any diagnosis. Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses. If you are looking for a starting point, personalized matching can connect you with a licensed therapist suited to your goals.
How quickly can I start therapy?
You can often start therapy within 24 to 48 hours of signing up with BetterHelp. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, personalized matching connects you with a licensed therapist, and you can schedule your first session once you are matched. This process is designed to help you begin care at your own pace, without a long wait.
Can I switch therapists if it’s not the right fit?
Yes. If you feel your therapist is not the right match, you can request to be matched with another licensed provider at no additional cost. You are able to do so through the BetterHelp user portal and select switch therapists if needed.
Is online therapy discreet?
Online therapy with BetterHelp offers a discreet setting where you can connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home. Sessions take place by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet without going into an office. Your account and sessions are protected with strong safeguards, and you choose how and where you attend. This can make therapy feel more comfortable for people who prefer a discreet way to get support.
Find a Therapist in Long Branch, New Jersey
Ready to begin? BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist serving Long Branch and the surrounding NJ area. When you are ready to take the next step, get started.