BERGEN COUNTY MOMS

If the thought of morning routine battles and back-to-school meltdowns is keeping you up at night, you’re not alone. Navigating the neurodivergent back-to-school transition can feel especially overwhelming. As summer comes to an end, preparing for the neurodivergent back-to-school transition can bring a mix of excitement, anticipation, and stress for both children and parents. Neurodivergent is a term used to describe individuals whose brains process, learn, communicate, or e

If your child is struggling with back-to-school stress, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Lukin Center for Psychotherapy is here to help. Our compassionate clinicians provide support for children, teens, and families. Call us at (201) 409-0393 or visit lukincenter.com to learn more or get started. Until then, let’s dive in. Here are 10 simple ways parents can help. 1. Prioritize Sleep Children ages 6–12 generally need 9–12 hours of sleep,

Fall mental health can be influenced by much more than changing weather. As summer shifts into fall and autumn routines take shape, many families also face a return to school schedules, earlier mornings, homework, extracurricular activities, sports, social demands, work routines, and tighter household schedules. That shift back into structure can take time to adjust to, especially after the flexibility of summer. Children and teens may suddenly be managing more expectations,

Understanding mental compulsions, uncertainty, and how OCD differs from standard anxiety requires looking beyond surface-level worry. While both conditions involve fear and uncertainty, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are maintained by entirely different psychological cycles. To break free from these cycles, it isn’t enough to look at the thought itself, we have to look at what happens next. It’s Not the Thought—It’s What Happens Nex

Life can feel overwhelming, and you don't have to navigate it alone. Whether you're a parent balancing the demands of family life, a mom experiencing burnout, a couple working through relationship challenges, a family facing a difficult transition, or an individual struggling with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or self-criticism, support is available. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people develop greater self-compassion, reduce e

FREE Webinar for New & Expecting Parents on July 30 Welcoming a baby brings immense joy, but it also brings a wave of challenges that catch many moms completely off guard. If you’re quietly navigating postpartum anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by mental health struggles, or dealing with the frustrating reality of pelvic floor issues that no one really warned you about, we see you, and you are not alone. To give you the real, compassionate support you deserve, the Lukin Center fo

If you’re a college student or young adult, summer can feel surprisingly heavy. Between the loss of routine, the "what am I doing with my life" thoughts, and the endless doom scrolling, it’s easy to feel directionless. Lukin Center is dedicated to continually expanding its reach in helping its clients on their journey to better days ahead. That's why they launched a brand-new summer DBT program for young adults, led by professional clinician Shoshana Levie, LCSW. This isn't j

What do gremlins have to do with parenting and kids? A gremlin is something that holds you back from having, being or doing what you want in your life. It's a limiting belief, fear, or other emotion that keeps you stuck and prevents you from making progress with what you want to accomplish. That happens in parenting as well. If you have a belief about the world or that parenting is supposed to be difficult, it will affect your relationship with your kids and keep you and

Many women are surprised to learn that mental health and pelvic floor health are closely connected, especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Anxiety, stress, and birth-related trauma can affect the body in ways that extend beyond emotional well-being, often contributing to physical symptoms that impact daily life. In these visuals, the Lukin Center explores the often-overlooked connection between pelvic floor health and mental well-being during pregnancy and pos

Abandonment trauma shapes the way a person relates to themselves and others long after the original experience has passed. It develops when early or repeated experiences of being left — emotionally or physically — create lasting patterns of fear, anxiety, and relational difficulty. For many people, these patterns go unrecognized for years, quietly driving relationship instability, low self-worth, and chronic emotional pain. Key Takeaways It starts early but shows up later: Ab

By Dr. Anne Marie Valinoti There are certain conversations between a woman and her doctor that cannot be rushed. In over 25 years of clinical practice, two topics that frequently concern my patients as they enter their forties and fifties are the effects of perimenopause and how to approach cancer screening as they age. The traditional doctor’s office, where time is a limited commodity, may not be conducive to having these important conversations. Practicing medicine in a sm

Couples therapy works for most people who commit to it — decades of clinical research consistently show that structured, evidence-based approaches help partners reduce conflict, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connection. Whether you’re facing communication breakdowns, infidelity, or growing apart over time, therapy gives couples the tools to change patterns that aren’t working. Key Takeaways Research-backed success rates: Studies show that approximately 70% of couple

A student-athlete’s mental health depends on three interconnected factors: their developmental stage, the emotional environment parents create, and how well the adults in their life respond when things get hard. Understanding all three can make the difference between a young athlete who thrives and one who quietly struggles. Key Takeaways Development drives what your child needs: Kids ages 7–11 need adults who reinforce effort and build self-esteem; teens ages 12–18 need spa

By Dr. Karen Hart Since I moved to Harley Street Medical and began scheduling longer visits with patients, I’ve noticed a shift in our conversations. They want to understand their results, not just to be told that everything looks “fine.” They’re thinking about the next decade, not just the visit in front of them. And their trust in the traditional care system — one that feels designed to minimize these conversations and get them out the door — has been evaporating. A growin

If you’re a parent in Bergen County, your calendar probably feels like a competitive sport. Between school drop-offs, sports practices, work meetings, errands, and remembering which form needs to be signed for which child, the days fill up fast. Somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re also supposed to find time to take care of your own health—like scheduling doctor’s appointments you’ve probably been putting off. That’s why we created One Bergen Health . Healthcare That

If you’ve ever searched for mental health support, you’ve probably come across the terms “therapy” and “psychotherapy” used almost interchangeably. It’s easy to assume they mean the same thing — and in many cases, they do. But there are important distinctions worth understanding, especially when you’re making decisions about your own mental health care. Whether you’re exploring options for the first time or looking to better understand your current treatment, this guide break

Many people wonder at some point whether what they’re going through is “bad enough” to justify professional support. The truth is, there’s no threshold you have to hit before therapy becomes appropriate. But there are clear signs that talking to a mental health professional could be one of the most important decisions you make. At the Lukin Center for Psychotherapy , Northern New Jersey’s largest psychotherapy practice, we believe that recognizing the signs you need therapy

Understanding attachment styles can transform how you navigate relationships, resolve conflicts, and build emotional intimacy. If you’ve ever wondered why certain relationship patterns keep repeating in your life, the answer may lie in your attachment style. Research shows that approximately 50% of adults have secure attachment, while the remaining half experience either anxious or avoidant patterns that can create challenges in romantic relationships, friendships, and even p

Spring is just around the corner — and with winter sports wrapping up and the warmer months ahead, it’s a season that naturally invites reflection. New beginnings. Fresh starts. A chance to finally make progress on the things that matter most to you. But before you set another goal, it’s worth asking: why do so many goals fail? And more importantly, what can you do differently this time? The answer, in most cases, isn’t a lack of motivation or willpower. It’s a flawed goal-se

There is a common phrase in our society that women do “thankless work.” Do we manage most of the thinking and planning around our households? Traditionally. Do we carry heavy burdens? Often. Are our good natures exploited to the benefit of capitalism’s bottom line? (You didn’t hear me say that…) Are we overworked, overtired, and sometimes just over it ? Many of us are. Because caregiving comes naturally to many women, all women are seemingly expected to somehow step up and f