Clifton, New Jersey Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Clifton, New Jersey

Clifton, New Jersey is a place where “a lot of little worlds commingle.” A melting pot of American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Asian and Eastern European communities, this town is down-to-earth and welcoming. It’s one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse cities in the US, and it’s not uncommon to hear Spanish, Arabic, Polish or Gujarati spoken as you wander the downtown Main Street.

With relatively affordable real estate for a city that is 35-minute commute to the Manhattan job market, this town has a lot to offer residents. Closer to home, there are plenty of jobs in healthcare and manufacturing. New Jersey often gets a bad rap, but it’s a lovely state, and Clifton offers a pleasant mix of industry and agriculture.

This vibrant city isn’t immune to mental health issues. A few of the specific concerns to this area are listed below.

• Difficulty that Foreign-Born Residents Face in US: 4% of residents in Clifton were born abroad. This cultural diversity is a boon to the city, but foreign-born residents may find they need additional support to adapt to life in the US.
• Career Pressures: Although Clifton has a more laid-back vibe than its neighbor NYC, the pressure of being near such a busy and high-achieving city can create tremendous job pressure. This pressure could lead to stress, anxiety or burnout. Mental health service can help develop tools for managing these every day stressors.
• Long Commutes: Although the commute into Manhattan is relatively reasonable, one accident can slow down traffic and take hours out of your day. Many people find long commutes can add to their stress levels as they take away time from family, friends and leisure activities.
• Poor Nutrition and Exercise: For some residents, it’s difficult to access fresh produce. Many residents also do not get the recommended amount of exercise. Poor nutrition and exercise can affect both physical and mental health.
• Substance Abuse and Addiction: While Clifton fares better than other parts of the US in terms of drug related deaths, a community health needs assessment indicated that drug and alcohol abuse still affect residents’ lives negatively. Mental health services may be able to help anyone dealing with the effects of addiction.

Mental Health Resources in Clifton

New Jersey ranks relatively high as compared to other US states when it comes to providing mental health services for those with a mental illness.

Residents in Clifton have access to a diverse range of experienced counselors who are qualified as licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors. They have worked with clients in residential, partial care, out-patient and in-patient clinics and use a range of therapy modalities.

• Humanistic Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Trauma Informed Therapy
• Systems Theory
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Family Systems Therapy

These care providers have helped individuals, couples and families with relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, parenting issues, stress, anger management, self-esteem issues, career difficulties, trauma and abuse, LGBTQ and questioning struggles and therapy for families with special needs. They also have specialized experience in helping clients with anxiety, depression, addiction, OCD, ADHD and bipolar.

The Challenge of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Clifton

Many residents in Clifton may struggle to access mental health services, despite the state’s relatively strong reputation in the area. The 13.3% of residents who don’t have health insurance and the 9.5% living in poverty may face financial hurdles when trying to obtain care.

Community organizations and non-profits can be a good resource for finding alternative means to get counseling services. Some of these organizations offer free help lines and support groups which can be invaluable to those who need a kind ear.

For the 54.7% of Clifton residents who speak a language other than English, a language barrier may prevent them from seeking help. However, Spanish is the second most popular language in the city and it’s becoming increasingly popular for health care providers to offer services in Spanish as well.