Maria Caruso

Maria Caruso is a licensed counselor in New Jersey with two decades of clinical experience supporting adults, children, couples, and families in both individual and group settings. She has partnered with people from diverse backgrounds and ideologies, including work with cancer patients and their families during high-stress periods and through the process of loss and bereavement.

She is licensed as a Professional Counselor in New Jersey (NJ LPC 37PC00304300), holds national certification as a counselor, and is certified in thanatology, the study of death, grief, and bereavement. Over a 20-year career she has also worked in corporate settings, helping people navigate transitions and the challenges that accompany life changes.

Maria practices an integrative, multimodal approach that blends therapeutic styles to suit each person’s needs and personality. Her work draws on cognitive-behavioral techniques, cognitive and psychodynamic ideas, Gestalt methods, person-centered principles, and relationship-focused therapy. She frequently incorporates contracting, journaling, and creative art-based activities to access areas that may be difficult to name or fully conscious.

Her practice addresses a broad range of concerns including relationship and family conflicts, grief, career difficulties, depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy and parenting issues, anger management, self-esteem, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue. Her mission is to offer hope, support, and practical knowledge to help people find meaning at whatever stage they are facing challenges.