Meet Dr. Heather Bense
Hello! I am an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work Policy and Practice where I received my Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) in 2020 and Rutgers University where I received my MSW in 2011.
I have worked in the field of mental and behavioral health since 2007. Additionally, I have been a New Jersey Approved Clinical Supervisor since 2016, and have experience providing clinical supervision for Licensed Social Workers (LSW) and Licensed Associate Counselors (LAC) towards terminal licensure.
In addition to providing clinical supervision, consultation, and professional presentations I have extensive clinical experience working in various settings with a wide variety of populations as a clinical social worker. I have experience working with many clinical concerns, including: depression, mood dysregulation, decision-making issues, anxiety, obsessions and phobias, self-harm, self-esteem, traumatic stress, family conflict and relationship issues, sibling rivalry, bereavement and grief, environmental stressors, and challenges specific to the LGBTQ+ community.
My clinical work focuses in particular on the following approaches include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Approaches, Narrative Therapy, Relational Therapy, Anti-oppressive and intersectional perspectives, Solution Focused and Strengths Based Therapies, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Psychodynamic theories of counseling
Beyond my clinical experience I am also an adjunct instructor, have experience in human service program management, and volunteer as part of New Jersey’s Traumatic Loss Coalition (TLC) and Disaster Relief Crisis Counselors (DRCC). I believe in bringing insights from these experiences into my clinical and supervisory relationships, as they offer a richness and context to those discussions.
Meet Meghan Privitello
Hi, there! I am an alumna of the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research where I received my Masters Degree in Social Services (MSS) in 2020. I received my BSW from Stockton University in 2019, in addition to a BA in Literature and Creative Writing in 2007.
Since 2018, I have worked in the field of mental and behavioral health, with clients in domestic violence and sexual assault agencies, substance use rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy in both an FQHC and private practice setting. Prior to working in the mental health field, I was involved in the creative arts field, publishing my own work, and leading poetry and memoir workshops for teens and older adults with a focus on understanding and processing traumatic life experiences.
Therapy provides a unique environment to explore these issues. Together, we will co-construct a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. We can then begin to discover the ways in which your past informs how you experience and interact with your present world. I believe in the potential of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate acceptance and warmth toward what might feel like the most painful or shameful parts of yourself.
I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions and approach the therapeutic process with a mixture of empathy, curiosity, creativity, and humor. I enjoy working from various treatment approaches. This allows me to listen closely to your needs and tailor a plan that focuses on your strengths and meets you at your stage of readiness. My favorite approaches include Psychodynamic, Relational, Creative Arts, Narrative, and Internal Family Systems therapies.