Brittanie Pena, LCSW

Brittanie Pena is a licensed clinical social worker who uses clear, practical methods to help people handle stress, anxiety, relationship problems, and life changes. She works in New Jersey and speaks both English and Spanish. Brittanie brings 16 years of experience to sessions and focuses on straightforward tools people can use right away.

She often blends cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered care to help clients change unhelpful thinking and build healthier habits. She also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness to teach emotion regulation and grounding skills. Conversations focus on small, achievable steps and clearer communication patterns.

Many clients come for help with depression, trauma and abuse, ADHD, or coping after separation and divorce. She also addresses intimacy-related issues, attachment concerns, and problems like shame, guilt, or codependency. Brittanie supports people working through immigration stress, blended family issues, and career-related strain.

Sessions emphasize practical coping strategies for anger, parenting stress, and compassion fatigue. She helps people break big problems into manageable tasks and practices that can fit into busy lives. The approach aims to strengthen self-esteem and improve daily functioning.

Brittanie welcomes conversations in Spanish for clients who prefer it. She uses a collaborative style that centers each person’s goals and pace. New clients begin by describing their priorities and working together to set realistic next steps.

Approaches that translate well to online care

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Client-centered therapy centers on warm, nonjudgmental listening and helps people find their own solutions through reflective conversation. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening relationships. These methods are useful for anxiety, depression, trauma responses, relationship strain, and coping with life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Brittanie will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and day-to-day challenges. Together they pick or adapt techniques that fit the client’s needs and pace, so therapy feels relevant and doable.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to use video. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, homework discussion, and ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These options help people keep therapy consistent around work, school, and family life.