About Us
Michelle Lodato is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the founder of Essex Counseling Center in Short Hills, NJ. With over 17years of experience working with children, teens, and adults, Michelle provides individual, couples, and family counseling tailored to each client's needs.
Michelle specializes in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues, with additional experience in ADHD, anger management, behavioral issues, bipolar disorder, coping skills, divorce, family conflict, grief, life transitions, mood disorders, parenting, peer relationships, school issues, and self-esteem.
She is certified in the Gottman Method for couples therapy (Levels 1 and 2), a research-based approach to improving communication and building stronger relationships. Michelle is also certified in Bowen Family Systems Therapy, which she uses to help families understand and navigate relational patterns. In her work with children, she draws on play therapy techniques to help younger clients process emotions in an age-appropriate way, and she uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) across her individual work with clients of all ages.
Michelle sees clients both in-person at the Short Hills office and via telehealth, and works with individuals, couples, and families.
Credentials
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), New Jersey License #44SC05462900
- Certified in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Levels 1 & 2 (2022)
- Certified in Bowen Family Systems Therapy (2010)
Areas of Focus
- Anxiety and depression
- Relationship and marital issues
- Family conflict and parenting support
- Child play therapy (ages 6-10)
- Grief, life transitions, and self-esteem
To schedule a session with Michelle, call 973-295-0999 or email michelle@essexcounselingcenter.com.