Insights & Resources
Articles on relationships, parenting, psychoeducational evaluations, and mental health from Fort Lee Therapy. Written by Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist.
- Therapy BasicsJuly 21, 2026
How Do AI Chatbots Differ From Real Therapy?
AI chatbots are genuinely useful for journaling, learning about mental health, and rehearsing hard conversations, but they cannot hold clinical accountability or act in a crisis.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsJuly 14, 2026
Therapist vs Psychologist vs LCSW: What Is the Difference and Who Should I See?
The credentials differ mainly in training length, testing ability, and prescribing authority, but the strongest predictor of a good outcome is fit with the individual clinician.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthJuly 8, 2026
Executive Function Coaching vs Therapy: Which Does My Student Actually Need?
Coaching builds systems for planning, time, and follow-through, while therapy addresses the emotional or attentional causes underneath, and many students benefit from both in sequence.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthJuly 4, 2026
How Do I Know If I Have Anxiety or Just Stress?
Stress is a response to something specific that eases when the pressure lifts, while anxiety tends to persist, spread to new situations, and shrink daily life.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthJuly 1, 2026
How Do You Manage Anxiety Before the SAT?
Test anxiety before the SAT is common and treatable, and the strategies that work are practical, rehearsed, and started weeks in advance rather than the night before.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 24, 2026
How Can Athletes Handle Pressure From Parents and Coaches?
Outside pressure becomes damaging when an athlete starts believing their worth depends on results. Separating performance from identity is learnable, and it usually improves results too.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 20, 2026
How Do Athletes Stop Overthinking During Competition?
Overthinking in competition is an attention problem, not a character flaw. The fix is a trained routine that gives attention somewhere specific to go under pressure.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 17, 2026
What Does a Sport Psychologist Do for Young Athletes?
Sport performance work teaches young athletes concrete mental skills such as routines, self-talk, attention control, and visualization, so their training shows up on game day.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJune 13, 2026
How Does Shift Work Affect First Responder Mental Health?
Rotating and overnight shifts disrupt sleep architecture, which amplifies irritability, low mood, and trauma symptoms. Fixing sleep is often the highest-leverage first step in treatment.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJune 10, 2026
Do 911 Dispatchers Need Therapy Too?
Dispatchers carry the audio of every call without ever seeing the outcome. That combination produces real trauma exposure, and it responds well to the same treatments used with officers and firefighters.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJune 6, 2026
How Do Firefighters Know When It Is Time to Get Help?
The signal is usually not one bad call. It is a pattern of sleep, irritability, avoidance, or numbing that has lasted more than a few weeks and started to cost you something.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJune 3, 2026
Is Therapy for Police Officers Confidential in New Jersey?
Private therapy for New Jersey police officers is protected under HIPAA and state licensing rules, with a small set of standard legal limits. Here is what stays private and what does not.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 30, 2026
How Much Does Dyslexia Testing Cost?
Private dyslexia testing in Northern New Jersey typically falls within the range of a full psychoeducational evaluation, a few thousand dollars. Here is what that buys and when a shorter battery is enough.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 27, 2026
How Do You Get an IEP in New Jersey?
Getting an IEP in New Jersey starts with a written request to the child study team and follows a defined timeline. Here are the steps and what parents can expect.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 23, 2026
What Is the Best Age to Have a Child Tested for ADHD?
Most children are evaluated for ADHD between ages six and twelve, though earlier assessment makes sense when symptoms are clearly interfering. Here is how to judge the timing.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 20, 2026
What Is the WISC-V and What Does It Actually Measure?
The WISC-V is the most widely used intelligence test for school-age children. Here is what its index scores mean and how they fit into a full evaluation.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 16, 2026
Does Insurance Cover Psychoeducational Testing in New Jersey?
Insurance coverage for psychoeducational testing is inconsistent and depends heavily on the reason for the referral. Here is how to check your own benefits before you commit.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsMay 13, 2026
How Much Does a Psychoeducational Evaluation Cost in New Jersey?
Private psychoeducational evaluations in Northern New Jersey generally run a few thousand dollars depending on how much testing is needed. Here is what drives the price and what a family actually receives.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsMay 9, 2026
How Long Does Therapy Take to Work?
Most people want a timeline before they commit. Here is an honest look at how long therapy typically takes, and what makes it faster or slower.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyMay 6, 2026
How Do We Stop Fighting About Phones and Screens?
Screen fights are rarely about screens. They are about how rules get made and enforced in your house, which is why better rules end more arguments than stricter ones.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyMay 2, 2026
How Do You Talk to Your Child About Starting Therapy?
The conversation before the first appointment shapes how a child walks into it. A few small choices in wording and timing make a real difference.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyApril 29, 2026
School Refusal: What Can New Jersey Parents Actually Do?
When a child will not go to school, punishment usually backfires and staying home makes tomorrow harder. Here is what works, and what New Jersey parents can request from the district.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyApril 25, 2026
Family Therapy or Individual Therapy: Which Does My Teen Need?
Some teen problems live inside the teenager, and some live in the space between family members. Knowing which you are dealing with points to the right kind of therapy.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyApril 22, 2026
What Are the Signs Your Teen Needs Therapy?
Moodiness is normal in adolescence, but certain changes point to something a teenager cannot manage alone. Here is how Bergen County parents can tell the difference.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 18, 2026
What Questions Does a Couples Therapist Ask in the First Session?
A first couples session covers what brought you in, your history together, and how conflict unfolds at home. Here is what to expect and how to prepare.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 15, 2026
How Much Does Couples Therapy Cost in New Jersey?
Couples therapy in Northern New Jersey generally runs 175 to 350 dollars per session, with longer couples sessions at the upper end. Here is what drives the range.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 11, 2026
Does Couples Therapy Work If Only One Partner Wants It?
Therapy can still help when one partner is reluctant, though the format may need to change. Here is what actually works in that situation.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 8, 2026
Is Marriage Counseling Worth Trying Before Divorce?
Marriage counseling before divorce is worth trying for most couples, even when the outcome is separation. Here is what it can and cannot do.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 4, 2026
How Do You Find a Good Couples Therapist in Bergen County?
Finding the right couples therapist comes down to training, fit, and logistics. Here is a practical way to narrow the search in Bergen County.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsApril 1, 2026
How Long Does Couples Therapy Take?
Most couples work through a focused course of therapy in roughly 12 to 20 sessions over three to six months. Here is what shapes that timeline.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsMarch 10, 2026
5 Signs Your Relationship Needs Professional Support
When conflict becomes a pattern, it may be time to consider couples therapy. Five signs that professional support could help.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsMarch 3, 2026
Gottman Method vs Emotionally Focused Therapy: Which Is Right for Your Couple?
The two most evidence-based approaches in couples therapy — and how to decide which one fits your relationship.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsFebruary 24, 2026
How to Rebuild Trust After an Affair: A Therapist-Informed Guide
Rebuilding trust after infidelity is possible — but it requires more than an apology. Here is what the structured work looks like.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsFebruary 17, 2026
Discernment Counseling: What It Is and When to Choose It
Discernment counseling is not couples therapy. It is designed for one thing — helping a mixed-agenda couple make a clear decision.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsFebruary 10, 2026
Premarital Counseling: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Marry
Premarital counseling is not about finding problems. It is about building the conversational skills you will need for the next fifty years.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsFebruary 3, 2026
Conflict Resolution Skills Every Couple Should Learn
Healthy couples do not argue less than unhealthy couples. They argue differently. The difference is a learnable set of skills.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsJanuary 27, 2026
Why Couples Fight About Money and How to Stop
Money is rarely about money. It is about safety, power, values, and identity. Here is how to get past the surface fight.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsJanuary 20, 2026
What Couples Therapy Actually Looks Like: A Session-by-Session Overview
If you have never been in couples therapy, it can be hard to know what to expect. Here is a realistic look at the first several sessions.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsJanuary 13, 2026
First Responder Marriages: Unique Stresses and How Therapy Helps
Police, fire, and EMS marriages face pressures most couples never encounter. Therapy with someone who understands the job matters.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- RelationshipsJanuary 6, 2026
Long-Distance Relationships: When to Seek Professional Support
Long-distance relationships have unique strengths and unique failure modes. Knowing the difference helps you decide when to get help.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyDecember 30, 2025
How Family Therapy Helps Teenagers in Crisis
When a teenager is in crisis, the whole family is in crisis. Family therapy treats the system, not just the teen.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyDecember 23, 2025
Blended Family Challenges: A Guide for New Step-Parents
Blended families are formed in love and stress-tested by logistics. A guide to the challenges most new step-parents hit in the first two years.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyDecember 16, 2025
Parenting Through Divorce: Protecting Your Child’s Emotional Health
Divorce does not have to damage kids. The research is clear about what protects them — and what to avoid.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyDecember 9, 2025
When a Teen Refuses Therapy: What Parents Can Do
A teenager who refuses to see a therapist is not unusual. Here are the practical moves that actually help.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyDecember 2, 2025
Navigating Cultural Differences in Family Therapy
Every family therapy case is a cross-cultural case. Why the quality of that conversation shapes whether therapy works.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyNovember 25, 2025
Sibling Rivalry: When Normal Conflict Becomes a Problem
Some sibling conflict is normal. Some is not. A guide to knowing the difference and when to bring in support.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- FamilyNovember 18, 2025
Empty Nest Syndrome: Rebuilding Identity After Kids Leave
The empty nest is not a disease. It is a life transition. But it is a transition that can surface questions worth taking seriously.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsNovember 11, 2025
What Is a Psychoeducational Evaluation? A Parent’s Guide
A comprehensive guide to what psychoeducational evaluations test, how long they take, and how the results can be used to advocate for your child.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsNovember 4, 2025
Independent vs School District Evaluations: Which Does Your Child Need?
School evaluations and independent evaluations are not the same thing. Knowing the difference is critical when advocating for your child.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsOctober 28, 2025
ADHD in Girls: Why It’s Often Missed and What to Do
ADHD in girls presents differently than in boys and is routinely missed until middle school or later. A guide for parents.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsOctober 21, 2025
Signs of a Learning Disability in Elementary Students
Learning disabilities are most effectively supported when identified early. The signs parents and teachers can watch for.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsOctober 14, 2025
How to Prepare Your Child for a Psychoeducational Evaluation
A little preparation makes the evaluation experience smoother for kids. A practical guide for parents.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsOctober 7, 2025
Understanding Your Child’s Evaluation Report: A Parent’s Decoder
Evaluation reports can read like a foreign language. This guide translates the most important sections.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsSeptember 30, 2025
IEP vs 504: What’s the Difference and Which Does My Child Need?
IEPs and 504 plans are both legal protections for students with disabilities. They are not the same thing. Here is the difference.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsSeptember 23, 2025
How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting in New Jersey
IEP meetings are working meetings, not ceremonies. Prepared parents get better outcomes. A practical checklist.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsSeptember 16, 2025
School Advocacy: Your Rights as a Parent in Bergen County
New Jersey parents have more rights in the special education process than most realize. A plain-language overview.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsSeptember 9, 2025
Gifted and Twice-Exceptional: Identifying Kids with Complex Learning Profiles
Twice-exceptional kids are gifted and have a learning or attention difference. Their profile often hides both. A guide.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsSeptember 2, 2025
Dyslexia Testing: When, Where, and What to Expect
If you suspect dyslexia, a comprehensive evaluation is the gold standard. Here is what the process actually involves.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- EvaluationsAugust 26, 2025
SAT and ACT Testing Accommodations: How a Psychoeducational Evaluation Helps
A current psychoeducational evaluation is the documentation most College Board and ACT accommodation requests hinge on.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsAugust 19, 2025
Finding the Right Therapist in Bergen County: What to Look For
Fit matters more in therapy than almost anything else. A practical guide to finding a therapist who will actually work for you.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsAugust 12, 2025
How to Pay for Therapy When You Don’t Have Insurance
Quality therapy is accessible even without in-network insurance. The options most clients never get told about.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsAugust 5, 2025
What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
The first therapy session is an assessment, not a treatment. Knowing what to expect helps you get the most out of it.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsJuly 29, 2025
Telehealth Therapy: Is It as Effective as In-Person?
The research on telehealth therapy is more positive than most clients assume. When it works, when it does not, and how to decide.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsJuly 22, 2025
How to Find a Therapist Who Understands Your Culture
Cultural attunement is not a nice-to-have. It can make or break the therapy. How to find a clinician who gets it.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Therapy BasicsJuly 15, 2025
Boutique vs Group Practice: Choosing the Right Therapy Setting
Large group practices and small boutique practices offer different things. Which fits you depends on what you actually need.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJuly 8, 2025
PTSD in First Responders: What Families Should Know
PTSD in first responders looks different than the textbook picture. A guide for families on what to watch for.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJuly 1, 2025
Confidential Counseling for Police Officers: How It Works
Confidentiality concerns are the single biggest barrier to officers seeking mental health care. Here is what the law actually says.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- First RespondersJune 24, 2025
EMS and Burnout: Recognizing the Signs Before It’s Too Late
EMS burnout is the mental-health crisis of the profession. The signs are identifiable, and recovery is possible.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 17, 2025
Performance Anxiety in High School Athletes: A Parent’s Guide
Performance anxiety shows up in talented athletes, not just anxious ones. A parent guide to recognizing and supporting it.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 10, 2025
Mental Recovery from Sports Injury: The Psychological Side
Physical rehab is only half of recovering from a sports injury. The psychological work is the other half.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Sport PerformanceJune 3, 2025
The Mental Game: How Sport Psychology Helps Student-Athletes
The mental game is the part of sport you can train directly. How sport psychology works for competitive student-athletes.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthMay 27, 2025
When to See a Psychologist vs a Psychiatrist: Key Differences
Psychologists and psychiatrists are not interchangeable. Knowing which one you need saves time and money.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthMay 20, 2025
Anxiety in Bergen County Teens: What Parents Should Know
Anxiety rates in adolescents have climbed for a decade. What parents in high-pressure Bergen County districts should know.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthMay 13, 2025
Executive Functioning in Teens: When Smart Kids Can’t Get Organized
Executive functioning challenges often look like laziness. They are neurological, not motivational — and they respond to the right support.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
- Mental HealthMay 6, 2025
Perfectionism in High-Achieving Students: The Hidden Cost
Perfectionism is often praised. It is also one of the most reliable predictors of anxiety and depression in adolescents.
By Dr. Lisa Barrows, Licensed Psychologist
