Meet Our Therapists
Our counselors and therapists have years of experience and are knowledgeable and empathetic in order to meet our client’s needs.
Dr. Simone Wright, LPC
Executive Director & Psychotherapist
Dr. Simone Wright, PhD, LPC, ACS (she/her) recently obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in November 2021 and is currently pursuing her hours towards a license as a Psychologist in the State of New Jersey. She is an alumnus of Bloomfield College, Kean University, Bowie State University, Liberty University, and Walden University. For her education background, please check out her LinkedIn profile page. She is licensed at the masters level as a professional counselor and is an approved clinical supervisor, providing supervision to counseling interns and associate level counselors.
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Dr. Wright provides outpatient mental health/behavioral health therapy and have over 20 years of experience working with individuals, adolescents, and families with various issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar, conduct disorder, adjustment disorder, trauma, mild PTSD, etc.). She also worked with couples in helping to improve communication as well as bring stability to their relationship. My therapeutic approach is from a family system perspective with focus on reaching the goals established at the start of treatment. Positive psychology techniques with utilization of Christian principles are used when needed.
Dr. Wright has over 25 years of interacting with the adolescent population whether in church, community, and or the legal system. She worked with challenging youths, especially those who have encountered severe challenges or trauma in their lives. She also worked over 17 years with parents who struggle with parenting their adolescent or a child who exhibits emotional and behavioral issues. She worked with the Developmental/intellectual disabilities population for 5 years. Furthermore, Dr. Wright spend over 2 years working with juvenile sexual abuse perpetrators as well as those who exhibits sexually inappropriate behaviors. Over the years, Dr. Wright gained much experience in working and helping individuals from diverse cultures who presents with many different psychological issues and problems.
On your first visit, expect to meet someone who is willing to listen and help you to develop realistic goals that you could work towards. In therapy, we work as a team in helping you with whatever issue that you present. Therefore, expected to be an active participant in the therapeutic process. As the client, you are an important part of the therapeutic process and the eventual change that results.
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Member of the following organizations: American Psychological Association (APA),
Taryn Ongsiako, LPC
Children, Adolescent, and Adult Psychotherapist
Taryn Ongsiako, LPC, NCC (she/her) have been providing outpatient mental health/behavioral health therapy and intensive in-home therapy to individuals, groups, and families since 2012. She has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and parent skill building. Her therapeutic approach is client-centered and from a family system perspective, working on reaching established treatment goals based on the client’s needs. The focus is on identifying and processing feelings, and learning how to more effectively cope in the future.
She has been working with children, adolescents, and young adult with autism spectrum disorders (primarily high functioning, Asperger’s) in social skills building groups for over 10 years, incorporating healthy communication, coping skills, and life skills for clients to utilize in their daily lives.
She also has on-going training and experience working with children and adolescents, individually and in groups, with sexually inappropriate and harming behaviors (both adjudicated and non-adjudicated). She has spent time working with victims of child sexual abuse, exposure to trauma, and youth in therapeutic foster care.
In addition, she works with parents on skill building, both individually and in group settings. Parenting sessions are structured to provide psycho-education on: communication, parental stress and coping skills, increasing positive nurturing, understanding of positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, clear and consistent consequences, empathy building, and increasing your child’s self-worth and self-confidence.
On your first visit, expect to meet someone who is warm, open, and is willing to listen and help you develop realistic goals for either you or your child to work toward. In therapy, we work as a team to address concerns, work toward goals, and maintain treatment gains. When working with children and adolescents, sessions incorporate play and creative/expressive techniques to assist with communication of feelings.
Member of the following organizations: American Counseling Association (ACA)
Tara Ehmann, LPC
Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapist
Tara Ehmann, LPC, NCC, ACS (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor who has worked in the field of psychology since 2005. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Seton Hall University.
Tara began in this field working with adolescent youths with inappropriate sexual behaviors. Additionally, Ms. Ehmann has been a member of The Association and Treatment of Sexual Abusers since 2008, where she currently serves as a Board Member for the New Jersey Chapter. As a board member she works on the Membership, Social Media, and Mini-Grant Committee, where her focus is on recruiting up and coming individuals in the sex offender specific field. Tara is also a member of the New Jersey Counseling Association. Tara has also worked with couples, children and adults through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness.
Tara provides outpatient mental health/behavioral health therapy. My goal is to help individuals, families, and couples to strengthen, heal and promote change. She understands that one single approach does not always work with clients, so She offer a variety of approaches which include Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness, and Rational Emotive therapy styles that are used to treat individuals with symptoms of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, postpartum, sexually inappropriate behavior, victims of sexual abuse, and marital/couples’ issues. She specializes in addictions, mood disorders, and running social skill and anger management groups. Tara’s primary interests are staying current with up-to-date research, supervising interns as watching clients grow and develop.
On your first visit, expect to meet someone who is willing to listen and help you to develop realistic goals that you could work towards. In therapy, we work as a team in helping you with whatever issue that you present. As the client, you are an important part of the therapeutic process and the eventual change that results.
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Charu Bhardwaj, LPC
Child ,Adolescent, & Adult Psychotherapist
Charu Bhardwaj, MS, LPC (she/her) is a License Professional Counselor. Charu completed a Masters in Applied Psychology from Delhi University, India. Additionally, she completed a second Masters Degree in Human Services and also earned a Graduate Certificate in Professional Counseling from Post University.
Since 2017, Charu has been working as a psychotherapist with SAW Counseling Center LLC, conducting individual therapy and co-facilitating groups for school-age children, adolescents, and adults. Before joining SAW Counseling Center, Charu worked as a career counselor in India for 7 years. She speaks English, Hindi, and Punjabi.
Charu believe that culture influences health and healing. Her goal is to help clients explore healthy solutions, develop resilience, and build coping skills through a deep understanding of their cultural uniqueness. Charu places great importance on cultivating a better understanding of how cultural identities and beliefs impact a client’s perceptions.
On your first visit, expect to meet someone who is empathetic, engaging, and humble and will inspire you towards positive change. Therapy is a positive and an empowering journey wherein the client and the therapist together – in a safe and supportive environment – reveals destructive patterns, recognize strengths, and reinforce healthier ways of coping. This reflective and therapeutic experience is a non-judgmental commitment to facilitate a client’s healing.
Katarina (Kat) Kiseli MA, LPC, NCC
Katarina (Kat) Kiseli MA, LPC, NCC (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor in the state of New Jersey. Kat received her Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University. She has worked with adolescents, adults, and couples, and has experience in several therapeutic approaches, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindfulness/Wellness, and other integrative therapies. Katarina focuses on helping clients understand their unique patterns and history so that they can create positive change and release the hold past traumas have on their current reality.
Katarina wants clients to know that change is possible, no matter how defeating it might feel right now. Sometimes, it can be easy to feel like the next quick fix or achievement will make a lot of things better, but counseling is here to provide the longer term solutions - the deeper work that really brings about lasting change. Kat would also add that counseling can be a beautiful space not only to grow and change but also to celebrate the wins and successes of the day with someone who will honor them and acknowledge them with you.
Kat currently balances her LAC role with her role as a Certified Life Coach and Certified Personal Trainer, elements she brings into her holistic health approach with clients. Prior to Kat's work in the holistic health and mental wellness space, Kat graduated from Boston College with a degree in Sociology and worked for 7 years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as an analyst.
Linda Parreott, LAC, Pastoral & Clinical Councselor
Linda Parreott is a Pastoral Counselor and Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) based in New Jersey. She brings extensive experience in both pastoral and clinical counseling, integrating faith-based wisdom with evidence-informed therapeutic practices to help individuals and families experience healing, growth, and renewed purpose.
As a counselor at SAW Counseling Center, Linda provides compassionate, professional care that supports emotional restoration and spiritual well-being. She offers individual and family counseling to clients of all ages, addressing life transitions, relationship challenges, anxiety, and personal development through a holistic, Christ-centered approach.
In addition to her clinical work, Linda serves as Executive Pastor and Treasurer at Higher Purpose Fellowship in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. In this role, she directs church operations, mentors leaders, teaches, and facilitates discipleship programs that strengthen both the spiritual and organizational health of the ministry.
Linda is a self-employed entrepreneur with New Life Investors LLC, where she oversees the acquisition, renovation, and rental or sale of investment properties throughout Burlington, Monmouth, and Middlesex Counties. Her leadership in both business and ministry demonstrates her dedication to empowering others and promoting growth—spiritually, personally, and within the community.
She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling, a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, and is an Ordained Licensed Minister. Linda is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders, promoting emotional and spiritual wellness, and helping others reach their God-given potential through faith, wisdom, and intentional growth.
Sharrique Livingston, MA, LAC, NCC
Sharrique Livingston, MA, LAC, NCC (she/her) is a Licensed Associate Counselor and National Certified Counselor in the state of New Jersey. Sharrique earned her Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, with a concentration in couples’ work. She also has experience in various therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy, which has been instrumental in assisting clients in working towards making the positive change they desire to see in their lives.
During your first session with Sharrique, you can expect to meet a down-to-earth, empathic counselor who is committed to helping you navigate through this transitional period in your life; whether it's supporting you as you experience challenges or celebrating your wins, she is ready to embark on this journey with you. She believes the
key to a successful therapeutic alliance is trust, respect, a bit of humor from time to time, and creating an environment where the client feels free to be their authentic self. Sharrique often reminds her clients “There is no magic wand to wave, counseling requires work. It may be challenging, but the end result will be worth it.”
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Catherine Steers, LPC, MA
As a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Counseling from Northwestern University, Catherine takes an eclectic approach to treatment, tailoring each session to the unique needs of her clients. Catherine believes in meeting clients where they are, fostering a collaborative and non-judgmental environment that encourages growth and healing. Her goal is to support individuals in overcoming life’s challenges and achieving a sense of well-being, using a blend of therapeutic techniques to guide the process.
Catherine is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which allows me to help clients develop coping skills, manage intense emotions, and build resilience in the face of adversity. Catherine is also trained in brainspotting. With a foundation in psychodynamic therapy, Catherine works with clients to explore the unconscious factors that may be influencing their current thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. This helps deepen understanding and promotes long-term change.
Catherine specializes in working with individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. Whether you’re struggling with overwhelming emotions, navigating a significant life transition, or seeking to process past experiences, she offers compassionate support to help you move forward. Her approach is flexible, warm, and designed to empower you to find balance and healing in your life.
Emily Rehorn MS, LAC
Emily Rehorn MS, LAC (she/her) is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of New Jersey. Emily received her Master’s in Counseling from Cairn University. She has trained and worked with the SAW Counseling family since 2022, working with children, adolescents, and adults seeking individual, family, and/or group counseling. She has experience in treating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and relational problems. Emily utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities, especially Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and some dialectical and narrative techniques, with a person-centered approach. In her work with clients, Emily aims to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be freely explored, validated, and challenged to increase mental clarity, harmony, and inner peace.
On your first visit, expect to meet someone warm, compassionate, and willing to listen as you present your concerns. Together, we can establish realistic goals towards decreasing inner turmoil and increasing self-awareness and self-confidence as you navigate life’s challenges. Emily wants clients to know that hope, joy, and peace are possible even in the midst of challenging circumstances, and looks forward to seeing her clients grow and succeed.
We currently have interns on staff who provides quality therapy under weekly supervision at a discount rate or lower fee. They are a great alternative when you are watching your budget. Please inquire via the contact form
