Diane Andrade, LAC

Diane_Andrade

Diane Andrade, LAC

My Specialties:
  • Ages 5+, children, teens, young adults, adults
  • Anxiety, Worries, and Panic
  • Social Anxiety and Shyness
  • Depression, Self-Esteem, and Stress Management
  • Behavior Problems and Anger
  • Transgender Issues
  • Body Image & Eating Disorders
  • Grief

Diane Andrade, LAC

Diane Andrade is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state of New Jersey who specializes in the treatment of teens, young adults, and adults that struggle with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, stress management, self-esteem, body image, eating disorders, and grief. She also works with children that are having difficulties with behavior and anger. Diane’s style includes providing tools and techniques to assist families who wish to receive support when faced with obstacles. She assists individuals and families with evidence-based practices, primarily Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Behavioral Parent Training (BPT).

Diane completed her B.A. in Psychology with a Clinical Concentration at Saint Peter’s University and then her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montclair State University. During her time at Montclair State University, she was able to intern at the university’s community clinic which provided her with a vast experience in many different age groups. At Montclair State University’s Community Counseling Clinic, Diane was able to find her passion for work with teens and young adults experiencing difficulties with managing stress, adjusting to change, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This experience equipped Diane with the knowledge needed to support the family system as a whole and the motivation to provide individualized services unique to each individual. Diane was tasked with organizing and running child and parent groups to provide support for children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), self-harming behaviors, OCD, and anxiety. Furthermore, Diane co-facilitated a therapeutic processing group for transmen and transwomen where she was able to further develop her knowledge and clinical techniques to work with the specific needs of this population. Moreover, she also worked at a partial hospitalization program (PHP) that provided therapeutic interventions to children and teens experiencing a range of diagnoses including suicidal ideations, mania, eating disorder, PTSD, and behavioral concerns.

Prior to her time with the Center of Anxiety and Behavioral Management, Diane has worked in various mental health settings providing therapeutic services to challenging populations. Her work has consisted of providing support to the homeless population with severe, persistent mental illness, as well as running support and processing groups for incarcerated individuals. Diane has also facilitated after school groups for middle school girls experiencing emotional disturbances and incidents of bullying. These groups provided techniques for emotional regulation, self-advocacy, independence, time management, and dealing with authority figures.

Since her involvement in the mental health field, Diane has been a continued advocate for mental health and promoting the necessity of mental wellness for all. Through her involvement with counseling associations that inspire her and lasting connections she has made with other mental health professionals, she maintains up-to-date information on diverse therapeutic interventions, ethical changes and challenges, and available resources. Diane is committed to expanding her knowledge with the latest evidence-based findings to provide the most effective care possible.

“Going to talk to essentially a stranger can be frightening, but it is indicative of your strength and desire to combat whichever barriers you are facing. As a clinician, it is of great importance for me to provide a space where my clients and I can collaborate in a conducive manner with respect, empathy, and understanding. Therapy is a tool to help along each individual journey and therefore, I respect clients’ individuality when seeking treatment. My goal as a therapist is to strengthen self-awareness to allow you to feel empowered in any situation.”