Anxiety and Trauma Therapy in New Jersey: How Gina Totino, LCSW Helps You Find Peace

Light Street Psychotherapy | Short Hills, NJ | (973) 544-8617 | Free Consultation

Introduction

Anxiety and trauma are two of the most common — and most misunderstood — challenges people face today. They can show up quietly, as a constant hum of worry in the background of your life. Or they can arrive loudly, as panic attacks, nightmares, or an overwhelming sense that something is deeply wrong. Either way, they are real, they are treatable, and you do not have to face them alone.

At Light Street Psychotherapy in Short Hills, NJ, Gina Totino, LCSW specializes in anxiety and trauma therapy for individuals, couples, and families. Using a compassionate, evidence-based, and fully personalized approach, Gina helps clients move from a place of fear and reaction to one of clarity, resilience, and genuine peace.

If you are searching for an anxiety and trauma therapist in New Jersey, Gina offers in-person sessions in Short Hills, NJ and telehealth sessions throughout New Jersey and Florida.

📞 Call us today: (973) 544-8617
✔️ In-person and telehealth sessions available
✔️ Free consultation available
✔️ Serving New Jersey and Florida

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. It is a persistent, often overwhelming sense of fear, dread, or unease that can interfere with everyday life — your relationships, your work, your sleep, and your sense of self. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, yet it remains widely undertreated because many people do not recognize what they are experiencing, or they believe they simply need to push through it on their own.

Anxiety can take many different forms, including:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — persistent, excessive worry about everyday situations
Social anxiety — intense fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations
Panic disorder — sudden, intense episodes of fear accompanied by physical symptoms
Health anxiety — excessive worry about illness or physical symptoms
Separation anxiety — fear of being apart from people or places that feel safe
Performance anxiety — fear of failure, evaluation, or being observed

Anxiety is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It is a signal from your nervous system — and with the right support, it can be understood, managed, and significantly reduced.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to an event or series of events that felt threatening, overwhelming, or impossible to process at the time. Trauma is not defined by the event itself — it is defined by the impact that event had on your nervous system, your sense of safety, and your sense of self.

Trauma can come from many different experiences, including:

Childhood developmental or attachment trauma
Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
Neglect or abandonment in early life
Traumatic accidents or medical events
Loss of a loved one or complicated grief
Relationship betrayal or emotional abuse
Workplace trauma or burnout
Community violence or natural disasters
Military or first responder trauma

Many people living with the effects of trauma do not realize that what they are experiencing has a name and a cause. They may feel broken, disconnected, or simply unable to understand why they react the way they do. Trauma therapy in New Jersey with Gina Totino, LCSW helps clients make sense of their experiences and build a path toward genuine healing.

How Anxiety and Trauma Are Connected

Anxiety and trauma are deeply intertwined. In many cases, anxiety is a symptom of unprocessed trauma — the nervous system’s way of staying on high alert to protect you from a threat that may no longer be present. When trauma is left unaddressed, it can manifest as chronic anxiety, panic attacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or a persistent sense that the world is not safe.

Understanding this connection is at the heart of Gina Totino’s approach. Rather than simply treating the symptoms of anxiety in isolation, Gina works to identify and address the underlying trauma that may be driving it — helping clients achieve deeper, more lasting relief.

Signs You May Benefit from Anxiety and Trauma Therapy

You may benefit from working with an anxiety and trauma therapist if you experience any of the following:

Constant worry that is difficult to control or turn off
Panic attacks or sudden episodes of intense fear
Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts or nightmares
Feeling on edge, irritable, or easily startled
Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger anxiety or fear
Flashbacks or intrusive memories of a past event
Feeling emotionally numb, detached, or disconnected from yourself
Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
Physical symptoms such as tension, headaches, or stomach problems linked to stress
Shame, guilt, or a deep sense that something is wrong with you
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
A persistent feeling that you are just going through the motions of life

These experiences are common, they are valid, and most importantly — they are treatable. If any of these resonate with you, reaching out to Gina Totino, LCSW at Light Street Psychotherapy is a powerful first step.

How Gina Totino, LCSW Treats Anxiety and Trauma

Gina Totino takes a deeply integrative approach to anxiety and trauma therapy. She combines multiple evidence-based treatment modalities, tailoring each session to the unique needs, goals, and inner world of each client. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that behavior is our first language — and that understanding your own patterns with curiosity rather than judgment is the foundation of lasting change.

1. EMDR Therapy — Healing the Root of Trauma

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is widely recognized as one of the most effective treatments available for trauma and trauma-related anxiety. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories that have become stuck — so they no longer trigger the same intense emotional and physical responses.

EMDR is highly effective for:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety rooted in childhood or past trauma
Phobias and panic disorder
Medical trauma and accident-related PTSD
Grief and loss
Performance anxiety and negative core beliefs

If you are looking for an EMDR therapist for anxiety and trauma in New Jersey, Gina offers this treatment both in-person in Short Hills and via telehealth.

2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — Managing Emotions with Skill

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a highly effective, structured approach that teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships. For clients struggling with anxiety, DBT provides tools to interrupt the cycle of worry, calm the nervous system, and respond to difficult situations with greater balance and intention.

Key DBT skills Gina works with include:

Mindfulness — staying present and grounded rather than lost in worry
Distress tolerance — getting through difficult moments without making them worse
Emotion regulation — understanding and managing emotional responses
Interpersonal effectiveness — communicating needs and setting healthy boundaries

3. Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Understanding Your Inner World

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful, compassionate model of therapy that helps clients understand and work with the different parts of themselves. For many people with anxiety and trauma, there are inner parts that work overtime to protect them — the constant worrier, the perfectionist, the people pleaser, the part that shuts everything down. IFS helps you understand why those parts exist, what they are trying to protect you from, and how to work with them rather than against them.

Gina uses an IFS-informed approach to help clients develop a deeper sense of self-compassion, inner clarity, and access to their own natural resilience.

4. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for Anxiety in Relationships

Anxiety and trauma do not just affect individuals — they shape the way we show up in our most important relationships. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps individuals and couples understand the emotional patterns that drive conflict, distance, and disconnection. Gina is trained in EFT for both individuals and couples, helping clients build more secure, emotionally connected relationships that support healing rather than reinforce anxiety.

5. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping)

EFT Tapping is a somatic, body-based technique that combines elements of cognitive therapy and acupressure. By gently tapping on specific points on the body while focusing on the source of anxiety or distress, tapping helps regulate the nervous system and reduce the emotional intensity of anxious thoughts and traumatic memories. It is gentle, accessible, and often produces noticeable results quickly.

6. Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Gina’s therapeutic foundation is rooted in mindfulness and emotional intelligence. Mindfulness-based approaches help clients develop a different relationship with their thoughts and emotions — learning to observe anxiety without being consumed by it, and to respond to distress with awareness and intention rather than automatic reaction.

7. Solution-Focused Short-Term Therapy

For clients who are goal-oriented or working through a specific challenge, Gina incorporates solution-focused short-term therapy — a practical approach that identifies strengths, resources, and concrete steps toward desired outcomes. This is particularly useful for clients dealing with situational anxiety, life transitions, or specific stressors that need focused attention.

Anxiety and Trauma Therapy for Couples

Anxiety and trauma frequently affect relationships in profound ways. A partner’s anxiety can create tension, distance, or conflict that neither person fully understands. Unresolved trauma can show up as emotional unavailability, reactivity, or patterns of push-and-pull that leave both partners feeling frustrated and disconnected.

Gina Totino is trained in DBT for high-conflict couples, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) — an IFS-informed approach to couples therapy. She helps partners understand each other’s anxiety and trauma responses with compassion, rebuild emotional safety, and develop the communication skills that support a stronger, more connected relationship.

Anxiety and Trauma Therapy for Families

When anxiety or trauma affects one member of a family, it affects the entire family system. Gina works with families to identify unhealthy patterns, improve communication, and create a home environment that supports healing and emotional safety for everyone — including children and teens.

What to Expect in Anxiety and Trauma Therapy with Gina Totino

Beginning therapy can feel intimidating, especially when anxiety or trauma has made it difficult to trust. Here is what you can expect when you work with Gina:

A safe, non-judgmental space — Gina creates an environment where you can speak openly without fear of criticism or judgment
A personalized approach — your therapy plan is tailored specifically to your experiences, goals, and needs
Evidence-based treatment — every technique Gina uses is grounded in current research and clinical best practice
Collaboration and curiosity — Gina works with you, not on you, helping you develop insight and tools you can use beyond the therapy room
Pace that respects your comfort — healing from trauma is not a race, and Gina is committed to moving at a pace that feels safe and manageable

Why Choose Gina Totino, LCSW at Light Street Psychotherapy?

Specialist in anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and emotional healing
Trained in EMDR, DBT, EFT, IFS, EFT Tapping, and solution-focused therapy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey and Florida
Master of Social Work with Honors — Rutgers University
BA — Washington University in St. Louis
Partner at Light Street Psychotherapy, Short Hills NJ
Works with individuals, couples, and families
In-person sessions in Short Hills, NJ
Telehealth available throughout New Jersey and Florida
Free consultation available

Start Your Healing Journey Today

You deserve to feel at peace in your own mind and body. Anxiety and trauma do not have to define your story — with the right support, real and lasting healing is possible.

If you are searching for:

Anxiety therapist in New Jersey
Trauma therapy near Short Hills or Millburn NJ
EMDR therapist for anxiety and PTSD in New Jersey
DBT therapy for anxiety in NJ
Couples therapy for anxiety and trauma in New Jersey
Telehealth anxiety and trauma therapist in New Jersey or Florida

👉 Contact Gina Totino, LCSW at Light Street Psychotherapy today and take the first step toward a calmer, more connected life.

📞 (973) 544-8617
🌐 www.lightstreetpsychotherapy.com
✔️ Free Consultation Available
✔️ In-Person and Telehealth | New Jersey and Florida

Areas We Serve — Anxiety and Trauma Therapist Near You

Gina Totino, LCSW provides anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, EMDR, DBT, EFT, and couples counseling in-person and via telehealth throughout New Jersey and Florida. If you are searching for an anxiety and trauma therapist near you, Light Street Psychotherapy proudly serves the following communities:

In-Person Therapy — New Jersey

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Telehealth Therapy — New Jersey and Florida

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