Therapy for Saddle River residents who are used to handling everything
Saddle River is a small, quiet Bergen County borough of large wooded properties and long driveways. People here tend to be capable and private. They run businesses, manage households and solve problems for everyone else. That competence can make it hard to admit when something inside is not working.
Dr. Audrey Kteily, PhD, LPC-S, LMHC, CFLE is a therapist who works with Saddle River adults, teens, couples and families through secure online sessions. She holds a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor license and has more than two decades of clinical experience. Her work centers on trauma, complex PTSD and family relationships, along with anxiety, depression and life transitions.
Is what I am going through "bad enough" for therapy?
This is one of the most common questions people ask before they reach out, and it usually comes from someone who has been coping alone for too long. Therapy is not reserved for emergencies or for people who are "broken." It is a place to work on things that are costing you sleep, peace of mind or closeness with the people you love.
Signs that it may be time:
- You feel on edge most of the time, even when nothing is wrong
- Memories from the past intrude more than you would like, or you avoid certain places, people or topics
- You have lost interest in things you used to enjoy
- Arguments at home follow the same script and never get resolved
- Your teenager has pulled away, stopped eating or sleeping well, or is hurting themselves
- You are going through a divorce, a loss or a major change and feel unsteady
If any of that sounds familiar, a conversation with a therapist is a reasonable next step.
People who are used to being in charge sometimes worry that therapy will mean losing control or being told what to do. That is not how Dr. Audrey works. Sessions are collaborative. You decide what to talk about and how fast to go, and she brings structure, questions and skills that help you see your situation more clearly. Many clients say the relief comes simply from having one place where they do not have to hold everything together.
When success hides strain
Outward success does not protect anyone from anxiety, grief or a painful past. In fact, high achievers often become very good at hiding distress, even from themselves. Long workdays, constant travel and full calendars can keep feelings at a distance until a loss, a health scare or a family crisis brings them to the surface. Therapy gives that material somewhere to go before it spills into your marriage, your parenting or your health.
Focused help for PTSD and complex PTSD
Many therapists treat trauma as one item on a long list. For Dr. Audrey it is a core specialty. PTSD can follow a single overwhelming event. Complex PTSD usually develops from repeated harm over time, such as childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence or a long controlling relationship. It can affect your emotions, your self-image and your ability to trust.
Her approach builds safety first. You learn to recognize what happens in your body when you are triggered and practice skills to come back to the present. Her C-DBT certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy provides practical tools for distress, emotion regulation and relationships. Later, at a pace you help set, therapy addresses the experiences underneath. The American Psychiatric Association explains PTSD symptoms clearly, and research on trauma therapy is available through the National Library of Medicine.
Individual, couples and family therapy
Dr. Audrey's doctoral specialty is family systems counseling. That training shapes even her individual work, because she looks at how your relationships, past and present, influence what you are feeling now. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy offers background on why relational approaches can help couples and families.
In practice, she works with:
- Adults on trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and transitions
- Couples on communication, trust and recurring conflict
- Parents who want strategies for a struggling child or teen
- Teens ages 12 to 18 on school and performance pressure, self-harm, identity and mood
- Young adults ages 18 to 29 handling college, early careers and independence
- Whole families, including members who live in different homes
Her practice is LGBTQ+-friendly and LGBTQ+-owned. Learn more about her family systems approach.
Why online therapy suits Saddle River
In a borough this small, discretion matters. Sessions with Dr. Audrey take place entirely over secure, HIPAA-compliant video, so there is no office lobby, no parking lot and no chance of being seen walking into a therapist's building. You join from a private room at home and close the laptop when you are done.
- She is licensed in New Jersey, so you need to be physically in New Jersey (or New York or Texas) during each session.
- New Jersey appointments are in Eastern Time, scheduled flexibly with you.
- There is nothing to download; the session link opens in your browser.
- Family members can join the same session from separate locations.
Video sessions also fit families whose members are spread out. A college student, a parent who works in Manhattan and a parent at home in Saddle River can all join one family session, provided each person is physically in a state where Dr. Audrey is licensed. Travel schedules and long workdays become less of a barrier, because a session only needs an hour and a quiet room rather than a trip across the county.
Some clients worry that a screen will feel distant. In practice, most people settle in within a session or two. Being in your own space can make it easier to talk about hard things, and you can take a few quiet minutes afterward instead of heading straight back into traffic.
The New Jersey how-it-works guide walks through each step.
About Dr. Audrey Kteily
Dr. Audrey holds a PhD in Family Studies from Texas Woman's University, a Master's in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Texas Woman's University. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas in 2001 and a Supervisor in 2004, and she is also a New Jersey LPC and a New York LMHC. She is a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, is certified in DBT (C-DBT) and is a published author on family dynamics.
If you are comparing counselors, the National Board for Certified Counselors has general information on counselor standards and ethics. You can see more about Dr. Audrey on the New Jersey online therapy page or the Dr. Audrey home page.
Three steps to begin therapy from Saddle River
- Reach out. Text or call (917) 905-3183, email [email protected] or use the secure appointment request form. Please keep health details out of texts.
- Talk briefly. Dr. Audrey responds within one business day to understand what you are looking for and find a time.
- Meet online. At your appointment, open the link in your browser from a private space in New Jersey.
The practice is out of network. You receive a superbill to submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement, so check your out-of-network mental health benefits in advance.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911. Dr. Audrey's practice is not a crisis service.
Ready now? Use the New Jersey appointment request or text or call (917) 905-3183.