Yvonne Stern, LPC, NCC, ACH, CCTP
Co-Owner, Therapist
Yvonne Stern, LPC, NCC, ACH, CCTP
Co-Owner, Therapist
Co-Owner, Therapist
Introducing Yvonne
Yvonne often refers to her theory of “LYF” – Love Yourself First.
She believes in radical self-acceptance, self-care, and compassion as a pathway to change. She is a strengths-based, and trauma-informed therapist who is passionate about helping clients go within to identify and access the strengths and solutions to their challenges and to recognize and work through any barriers that may be impacting their mental health and wellness.
Fun Facts About Yvonne
Yvonne loves spending time in nature, hiking, biking, kayaking, and balances her free time with her family, her friends, and her pets. She enjoys carving out time for solitude, reading, practicing meditation, self-hypnosis, and other Mind/Body practices.
Yvonne believes that everyone is unique and that our worldview and personal spirituality can play an important role in overall well-being. She is grateful to be a part of the Leadership team here at Luminous Journeys Counseling.
Some of Yvonne’s favorite quotes are from Carl G Jung:
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
A Note from Yvonne
As a client-centered, Licensed Professional Counselor, I am dedicated to empowering you on your journey towards growth and healing. My background in psychology, clinical mental health counseling and training in various therapeutic modalities, including trauma and mindfulness-based approaches allows your unique needs and goals to be understood and processed in a safe space.
My Approach
Collaboration is an important part of my approach. You are the expert in your own life. As we build trust and rapport together, we can begin to unravel how you got here and where you'd like to go. We will focus on your history with a trauma-informed lens that helps us understand, soothe, communicate and advocate our way through triggers, emotional distress, activation as well as reenergize and reconnect any numbing and shut down responses. I use "Parts" work to get to core wounds and their protector parts that come to the rescue, yet keep us stuck.
Outcomes
Some common themes across client outcomes are successfully identifying barriers to healing and growth, "ah ha" moments when clients experience their parts in real time and respond compassionately. Clients often express feelings of relief that come with making real progress. My clients often tell me how they have gained new insights into themselves, and they feel lighter as they continue on their life journey.
Education
Yvonne earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Education from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kean University.
Training, Certification &Accreditation
Fluence Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Theory & Methodology through Journey Clinical - Certificate of Completion
Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) and Greenbrook TMS NeuroHealth Centers, NJ - Certificate of Participation and Successful Completion in Ketamine and Esketamine: An Intro
Cybin’s EMBARK Training - Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
Janina Fisher's Trauma Treatment Certification Training: The Latest Advances and Proven Techniques to Resolve Deeply Held Trauma - Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Designation
Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 Clinical Training - Certificate of Completion
Start-2-Finish: DIY Psychedelic Integration Circle Workshop & Leadership Course - Certificate of Completion
Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center - Certificate in Sand Play
National Board for Certified Counselors - National Certified Counselor, (NCC)
Columbia University Teachers College - Certificate in Health Counseling
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition - Professional Training Program
Institute of Hypnotherapy, NJ = Certified Hypnotherapist, (CHt), Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, (ACH)
Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community, NJ = Parent Series on Behavioral Teaching and Educational Rights
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy, VA - Advocacy Cruise & Seminars
National Alliance of Mental Illness, NJ - Brain Disorders
Yvonne's Sand Play Therapy training includes Advanced Training in Male and Female Archetypes. In addition to her work with Integrated Adolescence Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs, Yvonne has worked with survivors of domestic violence in a transitional residence with their families.
Yvonne has experience running yoga nidra, sand play, and process groups as well as presenting guided imagery, holistic health and wellness education workshops, and cooking classes to communities, corporations, groups, and individuals of all ages.
Yvonne Specializes In:
Individual Couples, Family, and Group Therapy for Adults and Adolescents centered around our capacity to understand ourselves and others in terms of intentional mental states, such as feelings, desires, wishes, goals and attitudes.
Trauma-Informed Treatment using Attachment & Polyvagal theories
Holistic, Mind/Body, Spiritual Exploration
LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Certified in Sand Play Therapy used as an adjunct to traditional therapy along with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), and Values, Strengths-Based and Person-Centered Approaches
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Click below to view Yvonne's availability and schedule a free 15-minute consultation call.
*Yvonne works in person at our Toms River and Neptune office locations and provides telehealth appointments statewide in NJ.
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