Cliff Koblin

I have been providing alcohol and substance abuse treatment, sexual and process addiction counseling and mental health services for over twenty years. Cliff has also developed a variety of treatment techniques to address individual, couples, family, and adolescent issues. He specializes in working with adolescents and adults who experience mental health, impulse control and behavioral issues.  In addition, cliff often assists clients with problems pertaining to anger and rage.

During my career I have been responsible for providing acute and inpatient care at U.M.D.N.J., princeton house, and progressions group. I also work regularly with the juvenile justice and adult probation and parole programs; evaluating and treating court-mandated clients.  I have similarly developed a longstanding referral relationship with the clinical staff in many public, parochial and private institutions that provide educational services to adolescents and teens.

I continue continue to serve as a consultant to corporations in the areas of employee assistance counseling and behavioral interviewing training.  He frequently provides training on a variety of topics related to mental health, communication, co-parenting, co-dependency and addictions to a variety of organizations.  Above all, I continue to provide individuals, couples and families compassion and personal understanding during periods of severe emotional stress.

In addition, cliff has been providing mental health and alcohol & substance abuse evaluation, counseling, forensic reporting and intervention services in the tri state area since march 2005.

I earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from rutgers in 1976 and a masters in psychological services from kean university in 1982. I am licensed in the sate of new jersey as a licensed professional counselor and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor in new jersey.  I have also have been certified intervention professional by the state of pennsylvania. “each intervention is different and is specific to each individual and their family.  During the initial discussions with family and friends an initial plan of action is developed so that all members of the intervention team can participate and understand the process and communicate efficiently. There are several intervention models and together the family and I decide what is the best individual course of action.

I encourage open dialogue and communication because in most cases family and friends are bewildered and overwhelmed dealing with their loved one. I have expertise in providing intervention services for alcohol and substance dependence and mental health disorders. I work with families to refer to the most appropriate treatment setting based on client needs and family resources. I am able to facilitate interventions in new jersey, new york, delaware and part of pennsylvania. Please call if you have questions about my services. “

Counseling

Couples or family therapy is a process that allows the couple or family the opportunity to identify and resolve issues, improve communication and facilitate trust, in a supportive and results-oriented environment. Each therapy session can be targeted towards treating a variety of problems, including: mental health, addiction, grief and loss, resistance to change, anger or stress, and other issues. When there is any stressor that adversely affects a member of the family, this challenge also impacts the family as a unit. Often the family or couple may also feel stress and disconnect, which produces conflict and tension that may need to be addressed with professional assistance.

To address these issues, results-oriented couples and family therapy uses a variety of different therapeutic approaches that bridge the gaps in communication and promotes respect, integrity, trust, rapport and healing for the members. This process will also address any co-dependency or enabling issues that a member of a couple or family may experience, using a variety of relationship building techniques.

Individual Counseling

individual counseling is a therapeutic process that allows an individual to identify, process and resolve issues that are preventing them from achieving their goals or leading a normal lifestyle. Events that are creating disturbances in the client’s life are addressed in a framework that creates trust and support for the individual. My approach to therapy also introduces resources that stimulate recovery through stress reduction, direction and relaxation training.

I also offer individualized programs for individuals who have already begun the process of recovery from addiction. Substance abusers and those suffering from addiction often engage in counter-productive or otherwise destructive behavior. These compulsive behaviors typically involve both psychological and emotional components. People may abuse substances or express compulsive behavior in an subconscious attempt to conceal feelings of depression, anxiety, or inadequacy. Although the road to recovery is not an easy one, many who have succeeded in “staying clean and sober” or overcoming their compulsions have felt as though an enormous weight has been lifted and are able to appreciate a healthier lifestyle.

Men’S Recovery Group

The focus of this group will assist the members to explore life issues that are critical to relapse prevention and ongoing healthy recovery. Issues might include:

Discussion of life transitions, improving current relationships and developing healthy new ones, improving coping skills, trust and intimacy, isolation, addressing shame and guilt, learning how to live in the present, overcoming fear and projection, improving communication and forming healthy relationships with others.

Clinical Multifamily Support Group

The focus of this group will assist family members to address ongoing life issues with a loved one.

Learning to change long standing family patterns of enabling and codependency.  Establishing better lines of communication between the identified loved one (ilo) and family.  Developing a better understanding of current family dynamics and effecting new positive change. Having a supportive and safe setting to work on personal issues and experience support and positive feedback. How to respond when life on life’s terms issues arise within the family. Improving partnership skills to address issues more effectively to minimize triangulation. Engaging with other families to develop a healthy community of peers to share concerns and develop more productive solutions. Remembering to continue to live life each day to the fullest. Discussion of various community resources that are helpful.

Treatment Philosophy

my approach to treatment generally involves a combination of behavior-monitoring techniques, as well as encouraging the client to develop healthy, resource-based communities. Although there are many approaches one can take to address his or her mental or emotional difficulties, I have found the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, insight oriented counseling, meditation practices  and utilizing resource-based communities to be most successful for establishing healthy lifestyles. This integrative approach further ensures that individuals learn tools to help them cope with life’s obstacles, while letting go of those relationships which produce damaging habits and replacing them with ones that will support beneficial change.

Treatment Techniques Include:

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy-a form of therapy based on the premise that whenever we become upset, our beliefs, rather than actions or circumstances, cause us to become depressed, anxious, or angry. When our goals of happiness or achievement have been prevented or obstructed, our beliefs can sometimes cause us to react in ways that are unhealthy and detrimental to our well-being. As a result, this form of therapy aims to help change irrational beliefs into rational ones, so that our goals may be achieved.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy– treatment that focuses on patterns of thinking which are unhealthy or harmful to an active and productive lifestyle. This therapy encourages us to view our beliefs as theories rather than concrete facts and to try out those different theories in our daily lives. Furthermore, this treatment involves monitoring our thoughts in order to determine what patterns of negative or harmful thinking may exist and how to create alternatives to those thoughts.

Motivational Counseling– calmly explores a course of action for each client by listening to the client’s response, rather than questioning. This method allows me to elicit answers that demonstrate how change might be harmonious with the direction the client wants his or her life to go in. Motivational counseling does not involve any judgmental, confrontational or argumentative dialogue. This practice listens to a clients ““change talk,”” instead of ““sustain talk,”” and listens carefully  for statements or indications that suggest the possibility or desire to change. The use of reflective listening statements, which identify and support these discussions, stimulate dialogue and the spirit of change. People change more readily when directed by  internal rather external motivators.

humanistic (insight-oriented) therapy- designed to help clients identify and work through underlying emotional and psychological issues to enhance their quality of life. My goal is to assist others to achieve their personal ambitions in academic, career based and social relationships.

this approach is oriented or centered around self-acceptance, lifestyle balance and self-empowerment.

Meditation

Meditation allows us to gain control of our thoughts and emotions, in order to relax and feel at peace. Meditation therapy also helps reduce stress by releasing negative energy and fatigue from the body. This technique helps bring balance to the mind and body, which will in turn reduce stress, and improve mental health. As a result, both the mind and body will feel calm and relaxed, changing the flow of emotions and thoughts throughout the body.

Meditation Techniques

Guided Imagery guided imagery is a practice which guides our imagination toward a relaxed, focused state. Guided imagery assumes that our body and mind are connected through our senses. This technique involves perceiving images as actual, real events. Once in this altered state, we become capable of experiencing growth and healing that we may not otherwise be open to. Once we can better control this mental state, we become able to feel and perform better in the face of stress and opposition.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation- this procedure teaches clients to relax their muscles through a two-step process. First, the client applies tension to a specific muscle, then he or she stops the tension and focuses on how the muscles relax and releases tension. By repeating this practice with various muscle groups, the client learns to distinguish between the feelings of tension and relaxation. With this knowledge, the client can then produce their own muscular relaxation if they begin to feel tension or anxiety.