Alyssa Jackler

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. 

Given the importance of our mental health, it is critical that the LGBTQ+ community experience a sense of safety, contentment, and deep connection with ourselves and with others. Sadly, LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately impacted by mental health difficulties. They are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. Reasons for this are complex and include stigma, discrimination, and social isolation.  

People who identify as transgender are even more at risk for experiencing mental health problems and are twice as likely to experience threats of physical or sexual harassment or violence compared with the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. Experiencing a hate crime increases the risk of mental health issues.

LGBTQ+ youth and older adults are also at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems and are more likely to use substances to cope with their difficulties. Heavy drinking and drug use can make existing mental health problems worse and potentially trigger new ones.

The connection between our mental health and our physical health are well recognized. The two are fundamentally linked. People living with serious mental health problems are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions, including but not limited to HIV, cancer, diabetes and hypertension. 

Given the heightened threats to our mental health, Equality Mental Health recognizes the importance of access and availability to mental health services. We have various clinicians who provide individual, couple, and family therapy, as well as support groups. We are also invested in improving awareness—about mental health, therapy, LGBTQ+ services, groups, etc.

Our office is located at 852 Kinderkamack Rd Teaneck, NJ, 07661. We offer in-person, virtual, and phone appointments. Schedule an appointment by calling or visiting our website: equalitymentalhealth.com

Equality Mental Health is here for you. No one needs to suffer alone.

Adult Social Anxiety Group
This group will provide help with social anxiety and helping people who become shy, frozen, fearful, or tentative in social situations. Participants will identify distorted thinking and current social and relational patterns. Participants will learn coping skills on how to build positive self-esteem in social situations. By practicing interactions and learning ways to address fearful relational patterns, group members will overcome their anxiety and feel more confident in social situations.
Meeting Dates: January 10, January 17, January 24, January 31, February 7, February 14, February 21, and February 28
Meeting time: Wednesday, 7:00pm - 8:15 pm
Location: Zoom
Cost: Free, though pre-registration is required
Contact: 201-885-3522 or emilyscacchetti@gmail.com

Spouse/Partner Bereavement Group
Grief is a journey with detours, straightaways, starts and stops. While no two grieving journeys are the same, those who have experienced a similar loss often have valuable advice, helpful insights, or a different outlook to share. Find a sense of hope and belonging, while moving through your grief journey. Led by two experienced mental health professionals, the group will provide you with some valuable tools to better cope with your loss.
Cost: Insurance Accepted/Private Pay
Meeting Dates: January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February 27, March 5, and March 12
Meeting Time: Tuesday, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: 852 Kinderkamack Road, Second Floor, River Edge
Cost: Insurance Accepted/Private Pay
Contact: 201-885-3522

Pet Loss Group
For anyone who has recently lost a pet. Connect with others while learning tools to adjust to the difficult loss of a beloved family member. The littlest feet make the biggest footprints in our hearts.
Meeting Dates: January 22, January 29, February 5, and February 12
Meeting Time: Monday, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: 852 Kinderkamack Road, Second Floor, River Edge
Cost: Insurance Accepted/Private Pay
Contact: 201-885-3522

Rainbow Family Circle Group
Offers a welcoming space to explore questions, concerns, and special opportunities of being in a family with loved ones who identify as LGBTQ+. Mental health professionals and parents of LGBTQ+ offer guidance, share ideas, thoughts, and experiences.
Meeting Dates: January 24, February 28, March 27, April 24, May 22, and June 26
Time: Wednesday, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck, NJ
Cost: Free
Contact: 201-885-3522

Transgender, Gender Diverse, Gender Expansive and Non-Binary &
Questioning Youth Support Group (Ages 12-18)
Youth will be helped to find their true selves wherever they are in their journey. Participants will get needed support, share information, and meet understanding friends. Participants will also learn how to navigate school, family, and social relationships while building self-esteem and confidence.  Meeting Dates: February 3, February 17, March 2, March 16, March 30, April 13, April 27, May 11, May 25, and June 8
Meeting Time: Saturday, 11:00am– 12:30pm
Location: 852 Kinderkamack Road, Second Floor, River Edge, NJ
Cost: Free, though preregistration required
Contact: 201-885-3522

TGD (Transgender, Gender Diverse, Gender Expansive and Non-Binary) Psychotherapy Group
The experience of being transgender, gender diverse, gender expansive and non-binary (TGD) can create a wonderful sense of inner peace yet also a lot of stress in moving through the world. Being misgendered or gender constrained can lead to psychological distress, but having other people to talk to can make a big difference in your ability to cope. This group will focus on issues related to identity, intersectionality, relationship building and daily stressors.
*Co-sponsored by Bridges 4 Life.
Meeting Dates: February 7, February 21, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17, May 1, May 15, May 29, and June 12
Meeting Time: Wednesday, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: 852 Kinderkamack Road, Second Floor, River Edge, NJ
Cost: Free, though preregistration required
Contact: 201-885-3522

The holidays can be an emotionally challenging time under the best of conditions. For many LGBTQ+ people, the holidays can be especially charged, as there is a high focus on being with family and friends. While many LGBTQ+ folks are well-connected to family and friends, many are not. Due to geographic distance, lack of acceptance, and/or social disconnection, so many LGBTQ+ people find themselves experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and/or rejection during the holiday period.

For some folks going home for the holidays, a sense of “otherness” often occurs, creating a strong sense of alienation. Families with more conservative political, religious or cultural values may find it difficult to accept the fact that their family member is LGBTQ+. People may also deal with passive or overt homophobic or transphobic sentiments and rejection by a family member, which can be very wounding. Introducing a partner during a visit back home may be fraught with uncertainty about how the new partner will be accepted and how the partner will experience the family.

Even for people who do not go home, the focus on family can be especially difficult. It can occur consciously or unconsciously and can trigger old feelings of being different, separate and/or less than. Any rejection can cause distress and be internalized into self-hatred and aggression toward oneself and/or others. For those struggling with mental health issues, including substance use, the conditions are primed for a potential relapse. Old and painful feelings can be triggered, resulting in an emotional downward spiral.

To deal with the challenges of the holidays, coping strategies are critical. First, think about how you can best take care of yourself. The decision about how to spend the holidays is yours to make, and practicing good self-care will go a long way in maximizing your mental health. Not everyone spends time with family and friends, and they can still engage in meaningful, satisfying experiences in a variety of ways. The LGBTQ+ community knows better than any community that traditions and rituals can be reinvented to best serve our needs.

Move your body, move your mind. Take time to exercise, even if that means taking a short walk every once in a while. Research has shown that exercise elevates our mood and increases the production of endorphins, the body’s feel good chemicals. And try to get outside if the weather permits.

Set boundaries and assert yourself as needed when insensitive or hurtful statements or actions occur. You have a right to not be mistreated and most certainly to be yourself. If being yourself is upsetting to others, perhaps, this is something they need to work out with individual therapy or support groups. However, try to also keep in mind that for many people, accepting different sexualities and gender identities is a process—maintaining compassion will be helpful, even when we disagree most wholeheartedly.

Finally, remember, if at all possible, connect with people who are caring, supportive and accepting. Friends, neighbors, colleagues, clergy, pets, and strangers are all wonderful sources for love, inspiration, and positivity. A five minute phone call or a five day visit could turn around your whole day, as well as someone else’s.

And remember, the holidays will pass. They always do, as you recall the Christmas trees left on the curbside and the half-priced holiday cards in the stores. Take care of yourself and do what you need to in order to be the best you can be.

Every year, people recognize November 13th through 19th as Transgender Awareness Week and November 20th as Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience. Equality Mental Health, a dedicated practice specializing in psychotherapy for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, recognizes the importance of educating oneself about these days, as well as supporting, honoring, and celebrating people who identify as transgender—both those who have passed and those who are still with us.

What is Transgender Awareness Week? November 13th through 19th is a week dedicated to making more people aware of what identifying as transgender means, acknowledging the stories of people who identify as transgender, and advocating for the acceptance, safety, and celebration of transgender people.

What is Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience? November 20th is an observance of the trans people who have lost their lives due to anti-LGBTQ+ violence. It is also about standing with the trans people who are still here. You can honor this day by learning about trans topics, educating others about the lives of those we have lost, attending vigils, building altars, engaging in activism, listening to the thoughts of those who are trans, etc.

Equality Mental Health is here for people who identify as transgender, as well as their allies. The practice provides confidential and individualized psychotherapy and groups for those who wish to explore their thoughts and feelings about these topics. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (201) 885-3522.

Equality Mental Health, a dedicated practice specializing in psychotherapy for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, is offering free mental health screenings for anxiety and depression during the month of November. This is in recognition of International Stress Awareness Week, which is Monday, October 30, 2023 to Friday, November 3, 2023, and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, which is Saturday, November 18, 2023.

International Stress Awareness Week recognizes the importance of improving awareness and education about stress. The theme this year is “Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions.” Stress and anxiety are different, and guidance is often required to discern the difference. However, stress and anxiety are also often intertwined, especially as stress is a common trigger of anxiety. If you regularly experience nervousness, restlessness, panic, fatigue, rapid breathing or heart rate, etc., know that you have options to manage your symptoms.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is observed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving every year, in order to lessen the anxiety and sadness many people experience during the holiday season. On this day, people who have lost loved ones to suicide connect with one another, share their stories, honor their loved ones, promote resources, and more. They acknowledge that stigma about depression is harmful, and seeking help is often necessary.

Mental health screenings allow you to understand and make informed decisions about your mental health. Your mental health deserves just as much attention as your physical health. We are here to help you start or continue your journey. No one is alone.

It is best to schedule an in-person screening at our office on 852 Kinderkamack Rd Teaneck, NJ, 07661. However, if a virtual screening is preferred and/or required, we can accommodate that. Screenings can be scheduled by calling (201) 885-3522.

Bergen County desperately deserves access to more mental health and LGBTQ+ resources.
 
We want you to know that Equality Mental Health is here for you. We are a dedicated practice specializing in psychotherapy for the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
 
We offer a variety of services, including individual therapy, couple and/or family therapy, psychotherapy groups, connections to other LGBTQ+ resources, and more. We can meet with clients either in-person or virtually. Our practice specializes in listening in a focused, non-judgmental and skilled manner.
 
Address: 852 Kinderkamack Road, Second Floor, River Edge, NJ 07661

Phone: 201-885-3522
Email: hcraigc@verizon.net
Website: https://equalitymentalhealth.com/

We also have an Instagram and Facebook @equality.mental.health, which shares services, tips, stories, and more. Give us a follow and share with others!