Welcome to Figure 8 Therapy! The name of the center derives from the "figure 8 breathing" technique that can be used as a coping skill to help an individual calm down. It works by making a "figure 8" with your finger either on your palm or a piece paper. While making this "figure 8", the individual is consciously breathing "in" and "out" with great focus.
My name is Emily Lowenfels or "Miss Emily" as many of the children I service call me. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working in the fields of Social Work and Therapy for over 15 years.
My journey into the therapeutic field began during my Music Therapy studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Shortly after graduating and completing my internship in Music Therapy, I was hired as an Expressive Arts Therapist with St. Clare's Healthcare in their Boonton, NJ Behavioral Health Center. I realized I wanted to do more to help others, moved to Connecticut and worked as a Case Manager for mentally ill adults. Not feeling like I was working with my niche, I searched for a further way to help others. I decided to apply to graduate programs and was accepted into the CUNY- Hunter College School of Social Work where I completed my graduate degree, MSW-clinical track, with a certification in Children, Youth, and Families. It was during this time that I realized my calling to work with individuals and children who challenges may include: anxiety, depression, behavioral, and navigating the social arena, as well as with individuals who have developmental disorders such as Autism and ADHD, among others. I completed my LCSW supervision in 2015, passed my licensing exam and have been practicing privately as a fully licensed clinician, ever since. In of September 2019, I had left my previous group practice and have been accepting new clients in my office in Central Jersey.
My eclectic background offers me a unique practice where I utilize the Creative Arts (Music, Art, Writing, Movement) paired with Cognitive-Behavioral techniques among others to individualize the therapeutic process for each of my clients.
Kristin is a second-year graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy degree program (LMFT) at Capella University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Rider University with a BA in Journalism and Public Relations in 2010. She completed her MFA at the California College of the Arts, 2012 in Creative Writing: Non-fiction. Kristin switched gears due to her personal belief that mental and emotional health is influenced by the connections and relationships in our lives. It is her desire to provide a safe space for her patients to learn and grow through building a strong connection through their work together. Kristin's clinical focus is working with individuals, families, and couples who are seeking to cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and the relationships in their lives, while working through their distinct challenges and dynamics. Kristin also specializes grief work with children and families who are working through trauma. With a background in creative writing, Kristin believes that every person should have the autonomy and confidence to author their own life stories.