What Our Clients Say

Rachel has been invaluable in helping my teen to overcome some anxiety and self-confidence challenges she has been facing. She is always a supportive listener, but honest as well in situations where she gives advice that may challenge my daughter to see things from a different perspective. My daughter was initially resistant to the idea of therapy, and Rachel suggested getting her to agree to just one visit as a starting point. After that first visit, she was willing to go back and eventually looked forward to her time spent talking with Rachel. As a parent, I will be forever grateful for the guidance she provides to my daughter as well as the sense of empowerment she has helped her realize. 

Marisa was a huge help for my son. She was compassionate and understanding and really allowed him to see that his struggles were not something to be ashamed of and feel bad about, but rather a set of normal emotions that we just had to learn how to better manage. My son really felt like Marisa heard him and understood exactly what he was feeling - we left each session with actionable tips that really allowed him to feel in control of his struggles. In turn this provided him with the strength and growth that he needed to feel confident and supported. Since we stopped working with Marisa, my son has continued to thrive and grow in ways I did not anticipate and we certainly attribute a lot of this to the help Marisa gave him along the way!

Marisa has been my therapist for 8 years. Marisa is not only a great therapist who cares for her clients, but also an incredibly kind, intelligent, and thoughtful person. After losing my mother to cancer when I was 14, Marisa has helped me navigate grief, pain, and anxiety. She encourages me to challenge my anxious thoughts, points me in the direction of healthy coping mechanisms, and provides me with strategies to make my day-to-day life easier. She makes time for her clients when they are having a crisis, is a great listener, and truly wants what is best for them. Marisa has provided me with confidence in my own strengths as a person and I am forever grateful for her impact on my life. I would recommend Marisa to anyone looking for a therapist.

Julie is a highly professional, skilled and encouraging therapist who helped me through a very difficult time in my life. After losing my husband, her sessions provided a safe space where I could work through my grief. Julie’s gentle guidance and insight helped me heal, and I will be forever grateful to her.

Marisa has been such a ray of sunshine in my son's life! We first met Marisa nearly two years ago at a time when my middle school age son was struggling with intense emotions and OCD behavior. Marisa met him where he was, always with a compassionate, supportive and empathetic tone to help him identify personal triggers and teach him various breathing and mindfulness techniques that he uses regularly to help him cope with life's challenges. Thanks to Marisa (and her super affectionate labradoodle, Annie!) he has shown so much growth and confidence during uncomfortable situations and we are forever grateful! 

Rachel has been invaluable in helping my teen to overcome some anxiety and self-confidence challenges she has been facing. She is always a supportive listener, but honest as well in situations where she gives advice that may challenge my daughter to see things from a different perspective. My daughter was initially resistant to the idea of therapy, and Rachel suggested getting her to agree to just one visit as a starting point. After that first visit, she was willing to go back and eventually looked forward to her time spent talking with Rachel. As a parent, I will be forever grateful for the guidance she provides to my daughter as well as the sense of empowerment she has helped her realize.

I can’t express enough how grateful I am for the support I’ve received from Rachel at Brighter Living. Rachel is incredibly empathetic but also practical. She pushes me in a way that feels empowering, and she has provided me with the tools to work through challenges independently as well. Most importantly, Rachel has created a safe space for me to heal and grow. I always feel heard and understood during our sessions. I have recommended Rachel to many of my friends & family, and I can’t recommend her enough!

My 12 year old daughter has been working with Marisa for a couple years now. I can't even express how grateful we are to have Marisa as a part of our support team. She has helped to guide our daughter through some tough times, and serves as another adult that she can trust/always count on. As we approach her teen years, we are so lucky that she has Marisa to help navigate all that is to come. Marisa is warm, kind, and patient, and anyone that gets to work with her (and her super sweet pup) is beyond lucky! 

Tony has been a life saver for my son. My son struggled for years before a full and correct diagnosis was made and effective medicine started. Tony has been dedicated, patient and supportive as my son slowly opened up to him. Tony has built on this trust to give my son an outlet for his thoughts, feelings and challenges. Tony has helped him to process his thoughts and feelings and meet his challenges in a healthy and positive way. The progress they have made together is truly remarkable. Liam has tapered off all his medication and I know that that would not have been possible without Tony's dedication.

I trust Tony completely with my son's mental health and well being and recommend him wholeheartedly.

I began therapy with Julie shortly after experiencing a traumatic event that led to a series of difficult life changes. I was experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks that, despite seeking help at my college counseling center, no one around me understood. I felt incredibly lonely and isolated. When I met Julie, I felt like I could breathe again because I finally felt someone understood what I was going through. I know it can take time to connect with a therapist, but I instantly clicked with Julie. She understood me in a way that no one else could, and I could open up to her in a way that I couldn’t with anyone else. Brighter Living was a safe haven for me during difficult times, and at some points my sessions with Julie were the were the only thing that helped me get through the week. From leaving college to transferring schools, from saying an early goodbye to my athletic career to facing health issues, Julie helped me navigate my new normal, offering support through both tears and laughter along the way.

I started seeing Julie after the death of my wife. I had a daughter who was young, and I was trying to cope with not only the grief, but the weight of being now an only parent to a young girl. Julie worked with me continuously through the years to work through the different levels of grief. She gave me tools and ways to adapt and deal with my grief as well as enabling me to help my daughter and the issues that she would be having from the loss of a parent. Besides the grief counseling, Julie helped me navigate the world of my teenage daughter by providing guidance and support. Julie is intuitive, kind, and a very caring person. She shares her insights and recommendations in ways that are extremely helpful. We’ve built a relationship of trust over the years and her help and guidance has helped me get through a traumatic time in my life… I am forever in her debt…

Mr. Tony Ferruggiaro, MA,LAC, is a superb, thoughtful and compassionate therapist. At all times he is non-judgmental, provides practical and thoughtful behavior recommendations through the lens of your strengths and his knowledge of therapy and best counseling practices. He provides a welcoming and comfortable counseling environment . It really is "Brighter Living" with Tony.