Dr. Caruso offers guidance on executive functioning stress
Have you been experiencing difficulty focusing, or been having difficulty with your motivation to do things you used to do or to plan for your future? These executive functioning skills are how our brains help us to set goals, create plans, and to carry out those plans. When we are experiencing a high level of stress, we hit a brick wall and all of those skills stop functioning properly.
With stress, an individual may feel overwhelmed and cannot make decisions, they may experience difficulty with organizing, planning, and getting started. An individual under extreme stress may lose interest in activities, have mood swings, and be unaware or deny poor decision-making.
To regain temporary focus, an individual might want to work on simple problem-solving strategies:
– First, they will need to identify what the problem is.
– Next, they can consider some alternatives and options and create a list of strategies to move forward.
– Next, they can create an effective plan by laying out the steps to that plan.
– Finally, they may consider creating the plan in writing and planning and initiating action for that plan.
Sometimes it is difficult to initiate these steps on your own and we can help guide you through that process. At Specialized Therapy Associates and Fx Med Centers, our therapists and specialists are trained to help guide individuals to carry out these goals and plans.
You may also be concerned about the way you are processing information, and at Specialized Therapy Associates we can evaluate the way you learn information for planning and processing potential. (What does she mean by processing potential?) Some of our evaluations include neuropsychological evaluations, ADHD evaluations, and dementia identification.
If you are interested in an evaluation, you can contact our offices at (201) 488-6678. All evaluations are being conducted virtually at this time.
Author: Jill Caruso, PsyD
Assistant Director, Specialized Therapy Associates
4 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
(201)488-6678
Dr. Caruso is an Assistant Director with Specialized Therapy Associates (STA), in Paramus, N.J. She began working at STA with over 10 years of experience in practicing psychology, specializing in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her specialization has focused on treating a wide variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and other life stressors.
Before coming to STA, Dr. Caruso worked as a School psychologist focusing on the learning styles of students with special needs. She also specialized in coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression experienced in the school system by students, teachers, and staff. Some of her research has focused on the impact that mindfulness had on parents of children with special needs. Other research she has focused on looking at the impact that electronics/media have on individuals, both mentally and physically. She thoroughly enjoys this work and is now working on specializing in the care of individuals within the LGBTQ community as well as identification of how individuals learn and their current behaviors.
Dr. Caruso practices person-centered psychotherapy and utilizes positive psychology, empowerment, and relational approaches to therapy, as well as Cognitive Behavioral approaches. She values diversity in all forms, including race, ethnicity, sexual identity and gender expression, and sexuality. She looks at each person as a unique individual considering all factors that contribute to the issue at hand and views therapy as a partnership with her client. She focuses on creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients feel as comfortable as possible.
She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology at William Paterson University and her Master’s in Psychology and School Psychology Certification from Montclair State University. She received her doctorate in psychology from St. Elizabeth University with a focus on Social Justice. She also is currently an adjunct professor at the St. Elizabeth University working in the Master’s programs focused on Theory development, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Child Development, and Introduction to counseling. She also works with the undergraduate program on incorporating Mindfulness, and Positive Psychology to achieve a work/life balance.
Dr. Caruso has provided numerous training and workshops to professionals on a variety of issues. During the pandemic, Dr. Caruso has worked on completing evaluations virtually to help identify issues with executive functioning, ADHD, and identification of dementia with her patients.
