Carissa Vuono, LAC, NCC
Contact Carissa:
cvuono@therapyresourcesmc.com
908-514-8078
Supervisor: Whitney Curry LPC, ACS
Supervisor:Cheryl Garodnick LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS
Unlocking a child's inner strengths to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
A Whole-Picture Approach to Growth
Carissa holds a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Kean University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University. This dual expertise informs her belief that to truly understand what a client is facing today, one must look at the "whole picture" of their life’s experiences. By utilizing a specialized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lens, she helps clients identify the deep-rooted connections between past experiences and current feelings of anxiety or stress. Carissa’s mission is to empower her clients, moving away from a "problem-focused" mindset and instead highlighting the unique strengths each individual already possesses.
When working with children, Carissa prioritizes the "comfort factor," creating a playful and safe environment where kids learn to identify their feelings through interactive activities. She recognizes that a child’s progress is strongest when supported at home, and her clinical training reinforces her commitment to caregiver involvement. By providing families with essential tools and insights, Carissa ensures that the growth fostered in the therapy room continues to flourish within the family dynamic, helping both the child and their support system thrive.
Concentrated Training:
Life-Span CBT: Connecting the dots between past experiences and current anxiety to create a path for lasting change.
Youth Coping Skills: Helping children develop "portable" tools for emotional expression and self-regulation.
Family System Support: Educating and involving caregivers to create a unified support system for the child’s progress.
Strengths-Based Empowerment: Identifying and leveraging a client’s positive attributes to drive personal development and resilience.
