Some of Our Services

Licensed Therapy & Counseling Services in New Jersey

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected? You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. The therapists at the Institute for Personal Growth will provide the space for you to be heard, understood, and empowered.

With three New Jersey offices in Jersey City, Highland Park, and Freehold, IPG has 24 trained, NJ-licensed psychotherapists with over 400 combined years of experience in a wide range of specialties and expertise. In addition to traditional therapy for common issues like depression, anxiety, grief, and couples or marriage counseling, we also offer a slew of more specialized types of therapy that most therapists do not. Among these are therapy for LGBTQ+ issues, including trans/GNC youth, EMDR therapy for trauma/PTSD and other issues, sex therapy for both couples and individuals, therapy for eating disorders, alternative types of therapy, and more.

Who Do We Help?

We work with couples and individuals, children, teens, and families, and our therapists will coordinate with other healthcare professionals when appropriate. We offer flexible times throughout the week, and the sheer number of therapists and specialties at IPG means we can almost certainly find a therapist who meets your needs. We even offer online counseling services if you feel more comfortable making appointments remotely.

Where Can You Find Us?

IPG has been a leading provider in New Jersey of expert, compassionate psychotherapy and counseling since 1983. Our highly skilled, NJ-licensed therapists can help you, whether your concerns are the result of temporary life stresses or the symptoms of deeper concerns, from our offices in Jersey City, Highland Park, and Freehold.

Over the years, we’ve proudly offered therapy to individuals, couples, families, teens, and children in the following New Jersey counties:

  • Bergen County
  • Essex County
  • Hudson County
  • Hunterdon County
  • Mercer County
  • Middlesex County
  • Monmouth County
  • Morris County
  • Ocean County
  • Passaic County
  • Somerset County
  • Sussex County
  • Union County

We Work With Numerous Insurance Companies

Questions about insurance? We can work with many insurance plans, and our friendly and experienced office staff will check your insurance benefits for you and help you navigate them. If your insurance does cover us, we submit claims on your behalf and simply collect the copay from you, so you don’t have to deal with the red tape and hassle of insurance claims or wait for reimbursement. We’ll do all that for you!

Contact Us Today to Set Up an Appointment With a Licensed Therapist in New Jersey

To find out more about IPG and our services, or to set up an initial appointment, call us or fill out our Contact Us form, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Help is just moments away!

Be sure to also check out this TEDx Talk given by our founder, Dr. Margaret Nichols, PhD, on gender diversity and the gender spectrum:

Why Choose the Institute for Personal Growth?

  • Therapy for All Ages: We offer therapeutic support for the specific developmental, emotional, and social issues relevant to each age group. From play therapy for young children struggling with behavioral issues to counseling for teens navigating identity and peer pressure to psychotherapy for adults managing career stress and life transitions, we provide age-appropriate care that fosters resilience and personal growth for everyone.
  • Inclusive and Affirming Care: Our practice celebrates diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. Each one of our therapists will provide evidence-based care that honors your background and experiences.
  • Experienced Psychotherapists: We have a group of twenty-four licensed and experienced NJ psychotherapists who are skilled in a variety of therapeutic techniques. We also sponsor continuing education classes for our staff several times a year so that they can stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in psychotherapy.
  • In Your Community: With psychologists and counselors in Jersey City, Highland Park, and Freehold, we are proud to serve local communities across New Jersey. Whether you choose to meet with us in person or from the comfort of your own home, you will feel like a valued part of the IPG community.
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Our Specialties

Every individual’s journey is unique, and so are their therapeutic needs. Our psychologists specialize in a wide range of areas to provide focused, expert care that addresses the specific challenges you or your loved one may be facing.

Marriage and Couples Counseling

Relationships are one of the most rewarding and, at times, most challenging aspects of our lives. If you’re struggling with communication breakdowns, infidelity, constant conflict, or feeling emotionally distant from your partner, our counselors in New Jersey can help. We provide a neutral and supportive space for you and your partner to explore your issues, learn healthier communication strategies, and work toward rebuilding intimacy and connection.

Sex Therapy

Our certified sex therapists offer a confidential and non-judgmental environment to address concerns related to sexual desire, performance anxiety, intimacy issues, and sexual identity. We work with individuals and couples to overcome barriers, improve communication, and foster a more satisfying and positive sexual relationship.

LGBTQ+ Therapy

We provide a safe and supportive space to explore issues such as coming out, gender identity, relationships, and discrimination to help you live your most authentic and fulfilling life.

Family Therapy

When one member of the family is struggling, it often impacts everyone. Thankfully, family therapy provides an opportunity for all members to come together in a safe space to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their bonds.

Teen and Adolescent Therapy

We work to empower teens with coping skills and a stronger sense of self, helping them navigate life with confidence. Our Freehold, Highland Park, and Jersey City therapists can sit with your child to discuss anxiety, depression, school stress, peer relationships, self-esteem, and more.

Child Therapy

Using techniques like play therapy and art therapy, our child therapists help children express their feelings, process difficult experiences, and learn healthy coping mechanisms.

Lastly, check out this TEDx Talk given by our founder, Dr. Margaret NIchols, PhD, on gender diversity and the gender spectrum:

Announcements

November 14, 2025
Medicare Accepted We Now Accept Medicare!
The Institute for Personal Growth is proud to announce that we now accept Medicare for mental health services. If you or a loved one is looking for compassionate, evidence-based therapy, we’re here to support you. Call today to schedule an appointment.

Your well-being matters — let’s take the next step together.

July 1, 2025
BBB Accredited A+ We’re honored to share that we’ve been accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. For us, this recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for everyone who walks through our doors. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey—we’re here for you, every step of the way.
June 20th, 2024
Throwback Thursday: IPG on TV!Education on Mental Health Treatment OptionsIt was almost exactly 2 years ago today that IPG was featured on Lifetime TV show “The Balancing Act”, hosted by the one and only Montel Williams! The segment focuses on the destigmatization of mental health, the importance of reaching out for help when you need it, and IPG’s history of working with the LGBTQ+ community. Check out the video below:

April 17, 2024
Update on IPG’s KAP ProgramIn 2022, IPG began offering Alternative Types of Therapy. It began with just our Executive Clinical Director Susan Menahem, but we’ve now grown our KAP program and have trained several other IPG therapists in KAP treatment as well. We were also just honored by the NJ chapter of the NASW when they asked Susan to be a panelist at their panel on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies at the 2024 NASW Conference. IPG is now a bona fide expert on KAP, and we are currently accepting new KAP patients. Contact Us for more information.Psychedelic - Assisted Therapies
March 25, 2024
Happy 5th Anniversary to the IPG/NASW PartnershipIn 2019 we partnered with the NJ chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the largest professional organization of Social Workers in the world. 2024 marks the 5th anniversary of that relationship. Over this time IPG and NASW-NJ have engaged in countless ways to share valuable information, including trainings for our staff, presentations by IPG therapists at the annual NASW conference, and networking within the local Social Work community. Cheers to that!
February 21, 2024
Social Media Refresh!We’ve revamped our social media pages, with lots of great new content including brief video interviews with our staff, throwbacks, spotlights on some of our specialties, and more. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and TikTok!
August 21st, 2023
New Jersey City OfficeWe just moved into a beautiful, roomy, sunny new space in downtown Jersey City, in the newly constructed Swift & Co building on 9th Street, right across the street from our previous JC office. The same top-notch IPG therapists, in a refreshingly new and spacious environment.The Institute for Personal Growth - New Jersey City Office
January 27th, 2023
Happy 40th Birthday to IPG!Founded in 1983, IPG turns 40 this year. Four decades of commitment to mental health, to the residents of New Jersey, to the LGBTQ+ community, to personal growth. Read more about our history here.

OUR OFFICE LOCATIONS
220 9th St., Suite 380
Jersey City, NJ 07302
1119 Raritan Ave.
Highland Park, NJ 08904
90 West Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728