First Step Counseling Services

16 Wernik Pl
Metuchen, NJ 08840

First Step Counseling Services NJ 8840

About First Step Counseling Services

First Step Counseling in Metuchen, New Jersey provides mental health care and addiction recovery support for youth and adults. Court mandated services are available.

Counseling and recovery education programs are offered for individuals and groups in an outpatient setting. They also prioritize family education and counseling to ensure you have a strong and healthy support system to help you maintain your sobriety over the long term.

Their facility is wheelchair accessible. A urine screening may be required in some cases of court mandated programs. You can ask their staff about telehealth options for remote aftercare and long term checkups.

They emphasize psychological screenings and mental health counseling to support clients’ emotional wellbeing. I like that they have gender separate support groups and programs for members of the LGBTQ+ community and caregivers of the elderly who often have special emotional needs that go unrecognized.

One patient said their counselor helped them make a personal breakthrough during their regular meetings by gaining her trust and helping her to open up. Other people remarked that some of the administrative and insurance tasks were mishandled and communication could be improved.

Latest Reviews

Maricarr A
2 years ago on Google
2
therapist does not call back when requested.... not 24-48-72 hrs later.... no communication between administrative staff and therapist...... i appreciate the front desk quick response to an inquiry..... on call person tried reaching out to the therapist but even he didn't get response, was waiting for a courtesy call back after 10 mins but didn't come, on call still trying to reach her, turns out she called a different number and not the one she left a message she will call back so almost missed that call and charged for nothing.... voicemail after a missed 1st call said to call her back but number was "unknown" so couldn't call back...... should really answer calls with company name instead of "hello?".....
Jenny Muschinske
2 years ago on Google
5
Marty
5 years ago on Google
5

Location

Accepted Insurance

First Step Counseling Services works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, please contact to verify your specific insurance provider.

Other Forms of Payment

Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.

Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.

Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.

Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

outpatient iconOutpatient
Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
aftercare iconAftercare Support
Clients in a rehab aftercare program have typically completed detox and intensive inpatient and are medically stable. These programs are designed to address addiction recovery as a life-long process. Outpatient counseling and recovery education are typically categorized as drug rehab aftercare, but many clients continue to receive support after being discharged from formal outpatient treatment. Case managers and recovery teams facilitate clients' access to peer coaching, career counseling, 12 step program induction, and related services.
12-step icon12-Step
12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
heart-hands iconIntervention Services
A drug intervention in New Jersey is more than a confrontational conversation. This organized effort is specific and goal-oriented. During the intervention, family members share specific examples of how the person's addiction has impacted their lives and spell out what they will do if the individual does not get treatment. The intervention also presents a clear treatment plan, which typically involves input from intervention services.

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug rehab in New Jersey is the process of addressing the complex issues involved with addiction. Challenges are identified and addressed through individual and group counseling. Participants learn how to manage these issues without the use of substances.

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Programs

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Teen Program
Teen programs are designed to address the unique pressures teens face, pressures that can drive them to experiment with dangerous, addictive substances. They need programs that meet them exactly where they are and give them tools for long-term recovery. Therapy can help teenagers understand and work through underlying issues so they can reclaim the life ahead of them.
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Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
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Program For Men
Men face specific challenges and concerns when seeking addiction treatment. Gender-specific recovery programs help them tackle these issues head-on in an environment that's focused, targeted, and distraction-free. It also gives them the opportunity to connect with and learn from other men who have been through a similar journey and can offer support for the next step.
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Program For Women
Rehabs for women provide a safe, nurturing space for female clients to heal. These treatment programs consider the specific obstacles that women can face during recovery and place a special emphasis on mental, social, physical, and reproductive health. They explore how each woman's experience has shaped the trajectory of their substance use, addressing issues such as sexual abuse and past trauma.
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Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
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HIV/AIDS Program
HIV/AIDS programs support disease prevention and management in high-risk individuals in recovery. Individuals who engage in intravenous drug use and other addictive behaviors are at a higher risk of becoming infected with HIV. Rehab centers that specialize in treating this population typically have a high number of nurses, physicians, and psychiatrists on staff who can make sure both their medical and mental health needs are met.
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LGBTQ Program
Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
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Military Program
Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
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Postpartum Program
The postpartum period is a sensitive time, especially for women in addiction recovery. Rehabs with specialized programs for new mothers will offer compassionate, personalized care to meet each client's needs as they transition from pregnancy to this season of life. Care teams may include obstetricians, pediatricians, and social workers working collaboratively to give women, children, and families a healthy future.

Clinical Services

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Amenities

  • luxury iconLuxury Accommodations

Accreditations

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.

SAMHSA Listed: Yes

Contact Information

Phone icon (732) 549-0401
Building icon

16 Wernik Pl
Metuchen, NJ 08840

Fact checked and written by:
Courtney Myers, MS
Edited by:
Terri Beth Miller, PhD

Reviews of First Step Counseling Services

3.4/5 (11 reviews)
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Google Reviews

3.4 (11 reviews)
Maricarr A
2 years ago
2

therapist does not call back when requested.... not 24-48-72 hrs later.... no communication between administrative staff and therapist...... i appreciate the front desk quick response to an inquiry..... on call person tried reaching out to the therapist but even he didn't get response, was waiting for a courtesy call back after 10 mins but didn't come, on call still trying to reach her, turns out she called a different number and not the one she left a message she will call back so almost missed that call and charged for nothing.... voicemail after a missed 1st call said to call her back but number was "unknown" so couldn't call back...... should really answer calls with company name instead of "hello?".....

Jenny Muschinske
2 years ago
5

Marty
5 years ago
5

Manny Montalbano
5 years ago
5

It is a tremendous help for me now. 10 years ago I took my son there when his best friend was killed in a car accident. They are grear

teri r
6 years ago
5

This center has help my family in a large way , The staff is great in the office and the counselor s I would recommend them highly and I have Thank you for the service ! I was not one to go and talk to someone about my issues but I m sure glad I have ! Thanks to my Ex husband

Rich Hand
7 years ago
5

Janine
7 years ago
1

Saira Aslam
7 years ago
5

Kat C
10 years ago
1

A waste of time and money. My daughter was worse off after therapy sessions with counselor, Kerry Fleming, than prior to visiting. Ms. Fleming did not address my concerns or problems. She felt is was better not to speak about them at all. But isn't that why one seeks therapy in the first place... to discuss problems you are having? She never responded to my phone calls or emails. And after writing a letter of complaint to owner, Monica Sosnowitz, I was told she was on vacation for two months over the summer and could address my concerns upon her return. Counselors have very poor skills and management is not much better. Stay far away! I have since found counselors with higher education levels and am much more satisfied.

V B
10 years ago
1

Agree. They are very disrespectful. They don't call your one day before to remind you on the appointment. Their appointments are on the pages and don't use computer appointments. Admin staff has big attitude problem.

Michael Di Tomasso
11 years ago
2

Staff is disrespectful, money is being pocketed (reported by more than 10 other people) and there's always a reason for you to pay some outstanding fee, God forbid you have a family emergency and can't show up you still will owe $50, therapists flip-flop and lie to you, and unless you are already clean for a year don't even bother signing up because you will just get the boot as soon as they can suck a good grand out of you. THIS IS THE TRUTH AND PROVEN THROUGH RESEARCH FROM MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS.

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