Karen Borruso, LMSW, CAADC

Education
- School:
Rutgers University - Degree:
Masters of Social Work - Additional Certificates:
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
I believe that we have all been emotionally stunted by fear and shame. As human beings, we carry baggage, often filled with pieces of ourselves that we are afraid to let other people see. Personal growth requires the ability to nurture those neglected parts in order to become more complete, strong and able. My approach to therapy is to invite you to bring that baggage into session. We may never talk about the individual demons locked away in those bags; that is up to you. However, we will talk about what it costs you to carry those bags and what we can do to lighten them.
I work with individuals, not diagnoses; everyone is worthy of happiness and healing. Although I see primarily adults, I also love working with young adults and will happily see anyone age 16 and over. Some of the concerns I have addressed with clients include self-harm, history of trauma and abuse, marital and family conflict, depression and suicidal thought, and anxiety. I am a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I have participated in multiple conferences related to effectively allying with and supporting members of the LBGTQ+ community.
I have training in Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as more classic modalities such as Transactional Analysis, Family Systems Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy, and Complex Trauma interventions. My treatment approach is eclectic; I combine modalities to meet the unique needs of each client.
My life’s goal is to be the sunlight in a dark world. I know it is sappy, but there you have it! I love humor. I believe that life exists just outside of my comfort zone and for this reason, I am always trying to expand my personal scope, whether through studying new treatment methods or starting to white water kayak after receiving my AARP card.
Favorite Quote:
”There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask, “What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?”
-Erin Hanson
Accepted Insurance
- Aetna/Cofinity
- BCBS
- Medicare
- UBH
- Ulliance EAP
Issues
- Addiction
- Alcohol Use
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Behavioral Issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality
- Bullying
- Career Counseling
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Relapse
- Codependency
- Coping Skills
- Depression
- Dissociative Disorders
- Drug Abuse
- Dual Diagnosis
- Elderly Persons Disorders
- Emotional Disturbance
- Family Conflict
- Gender Dysphoria
- Life Transitions
- Mood Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
- Peer Relationships
- Pregnancy / Prenatal / Postpartum / Perinatal
- Relationship Issues
- School Issues
- Self Esteem
- Self-Harming
- Social Anxiety
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Substance Use
- Suicidal Ideation
- Thinking Disorders
- Trauma and PTSD
- Women's Issues
Communities
- Bisexual Allied
- Blind Allied
- Body Positivity
- Gay Allied
- HIV / AIDS Allied
- Intersex Allied
- Lesbian Allied
- Non-Binary Allied
- Queer Allied
- Racial Justice Allied
- Transgender Allied
Specialties
- Mood Disorders
- Substance Use
- Brain-Spotting
Session Types
- Individuals
Age Specialty
- Adults
- Elders (65+)
Types of Therapy
- Brain-spotting
- Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
- Culturally Sensitive
- Eclectic
- Existential
- Family Systems
- Gestalt
- Humanistic
- Integrative
- Motivational Interviewing
- Person-Centered
- Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT)
- Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
- Strength-Based
- Transpersonal
- Trauma Focused