"It is not your job to save everyone. Some people are not even ready to be helped. Focus on being of service to those who are, and be wise and humble enough to know when the best service you can offer is to guide them toward help in another direction." -Anna Taylor
Counseling In Comfort, LLC is a privately owned mental health and advocacy company . Counseling In Comfort, LLC was founded in 2008 by Melisa Varcardiponi, Licensed Clinical Social Worker to provide services to individuals and families in need. Counseling In Comfort focuses on promoting growth and change in the lives of families, children and individuals as well as communities. In recent years, Counseling In Comfort has evolved into a company providing unique and valuable services in various settings by joining forces with Joanna Flora & Associates. Together we provide a unique team approach providing therapeutic services tailored for each client.
Develop more effective, caring ways of communicating with each other.
Supervised visitation is when the noncustodial parent can visit with the child only when supervised by another adult. It is used to keep the child safe and support the parent/child relationship at the same time. If supervised visitation is necessary, the court will order it and it will be part of the parenting plan.
I offer consultations with parents and schools when there are questions about a child’s behavior, school performance or social relationships. Parent counseling is available for a variety of issues related to a child’s behavior and/or developmental level. Consultations are also provided as second opinions when a child or adolescent is currently in treatment with another therapist.
Individual therapy is the process of an individual working one on one with a therapist. After an individual has completed the assessment process a therapeutic modality is determined.
There are 3 main types of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined type. Both children and adults can be diagnosed with ADHD. Treatment for ADHD is individualized. In therapy sessions we will develop a treatment plan that is best for you. You will learn strategies to offset the ADHD symptoms and discuss the pros and cons of medication treatment. Children often require accommodations in school when they have a diagnosis of ADHD. Sessions will include consultation services with schools and parents as well as input for 504 accommodations plans and individualized education plans.
428,000 children are in foster care in the United states and 135,000 are adopted each year in the United States. 60% of children in foster care spend 2-5 years before getting adopted. When a child is in foster care, in the process of being adopted or has been adopted they experience stages in their life where they need to process their feelings and experiences in order to have positive relationships in their own life. In therapy we will embrace your life experiences and identify the areas you would like to process. I will work with entire family systems to assist with transitions and adjustments to new families and environments.
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Depression can present differently in children and adults. Therapy will focus on identifying identifying areas that could be impacting one’s mood and develop a treatment to improve symptoms.
Children and adolescents may experience learning, social-emotional and/or behavioral difficulties at some point in their school career. I specialize in working with children with 504 accommodation plans, Individual Education Plans and children being followed by Intervention and Referral Service teams. Often times when etiology of a child’s learning, social-emotional and/or behavioral issues are not identified it could lead to more serious issues. I have a great deal of experience working in the domain of school avoidance.
It is not uncommon for children to experience low self-esteem at some point during their development. Therapy can provide a venue for children to safely express their feelings and identify areas in their life where they do not feel successful.
Anxiety presents differently in children and adults. In therapy, a treatment plan will be developed to improve functioning in all parts of your life. In children, there may be a need for consultation with parents and school to provide the appropriate supports in the educational environment. Therapy will help clients Identify you current coping strategies; Learn constructive coping strategies; Determine how to take action on situational life events or personal habits that are contributing to your problem; Discuss whether or not you should consult a doctor about medications.
Children experience behavioral struggles for a variety of reasons. Through an assessment a better understanding of the behavioral challenges will be determined. Strategies will also be developed that can be implemented in the school and home environment. Other interventions may be suggested based on the assessment, which could include a medical evaluation. In childhood and adolescence, emotional disturbance is often used as an umbrella term for behavioral disorders or mental illness.
Divorce can negatively impact the functioning of parents and children without the proper supports. Therapy can assist in making parenting plans that will reduce stress in their children. Therapy will also assist parents and children begin to move forward in a positive manner. It is also a safe place for adults and children to express their feelings in a productive manner. Divorce is much like experiencing a death their is often worrying about finances, employment, or housing; Sadness over losing friends or family members as a result of the divorce; Guilt and emotional overwhelm. Thoughts about how divorce could affect any children may cause these feelings. Grief over losing a familiar lifestyle or life partner. This may hit hard if one partner did not want to be divorced. Stress from going through the legal process or divorce, especially if children are involved. Stress can also occur as family members adapt to new routines and develop new support networks.
Medical conditions can cause and/or mimic symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some medication conditions can actually cause anxiety and depressive episodes. I have worked with children and adults with a variety of medical conditions to assist with negative symptoms. Case management and advocacy support is essential when working with a treatment team.
Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.
Melisa Varcardiponi is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working with children and families. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University and her undergraduate degree in Social Work at Kean University. She holds certificates as a school social worker, suicide prevention trainer, clinical supervisor and administrative supervisor. Early in her career she worked in a child and adolescent therapeutic inpatient unit. She has also worked as an administrator and clinical supervisor in various settings including an elementary and middle school and an agency for developmentally disabled adults. As a full time school social worker for the past 20 years, Melisa specializes in working with children and adolescents in special education.
17 Woodport Road
Sparta, NJ
07871
info@counselingincomfort.com
Phone: (908) 291.2831