Lesley Petersen, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Toms River, NJ
Online & In-Person
About me
I pride myself on making our sessions both informative and engaging. Former clients have shared that they leave with a little “Lesleyism”—a practical, easy-to-use coping skill or therapeutic tool that you can apply right away to ease symptoms and create positive change in your daily life.
I believe in balancing compassion with gentle challenge, recognizing that change can be difficult while also supporting you to take the steps needed to move toward your goals. I draw on strong clinical skills to create a safe, open, and non-judgmental environment where you can explore what feels hard and begin to build meaningful change at a pace that feels right for you.
One of the most meaningful experiences in my career was supporting an adolescent who felt safe enough in our relationship to share the depth of what they were going through and to reach out for help. I was able to sit beside them as they courageously involved their parents and agreed to seek the immediate support they needed. Moments like this remind me why I do this work—the power of connection, trust, and compassionate care to help someone choose hope and healing.
License
License(s)
Education
Monmouth University
Fees and insurance
Cost per session
$ - $Accepted payment methods
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Credit Card
Accepted credit cards
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
Accepted insurance plans
- Tricare
- United Healthcare
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Medicare
- Cigna
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Optum
Specialties and clinical interests
- ADHD
- Alcohol or Drug Use/Addictions
- Anger Issues
- Anxiety
- Bipolar & Other Mood Disorders
- Depression
- Divorce & Separation
- Eating Disorders
- Family Conflict
- Grief & Loss
- Law Enforcement/First Responders
- Life Coaching
- Men's Issues
- Mental Health Professionals
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships
- Personality Disorders
- Phobias & Fears
- Pre-Marital & Marital Issues
- Relationships
- School Performance
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Injury
- Stress/Stress Management
- Substance Use Disorders
- Suicide Loss
- Trauma & PTSD
- Women's Issues
Therapy types
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Mindfulness
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
Community specialties
- Single Parents
- People with Disabilities
- Military Families
- Veterans
- Trauma Survivors
Licensed to see clients in
Years in practice
Service types
- Therapy / Counseling
Types of clients
- Adolescents (13-17)
- Adults (18+)
- Older Adults (65+)
- Individuals
- Couples
- Families
Languages
- English
Website and social media