Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services: Whole-Person Mental Health Care at the Jersey Shore (Episode 12 Recap)
Looking for compassionate, practical mental health support in Ocean or Monmouth County? In Episode 12 of the Shop Jersey Shore Podcast, host Lisa Mazzuca sat down with Trish Magnotta, founder of Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services (MICS), to unpack how her team blends evidence-based therapy with body-based wellness – so clients can heal, build skills, and feel better in daily life.
Below is a helpful guide to what MICS offers, who they help, and how to get started.
What “Integrative” Means at MICS
MICS treats mind, body, and soul. Traditional talk therapy and medication management are available, and the practice also layers in supportive, body-based modalities that help regulate the nervous system and reinforce gains from therapy.
Examples from the episode:
- Mindfulness & Breath Work: brief guided breathing in sessions and free or low-cost mindfulness yoga, sound bowl, and breath work classes offered through the Brick office (free to current clients; low cost for guests).
- Specialized Trauma Care: therapists trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
- Care Team Model: therapy, prescribers for medication management, and wellness instructors working in sync, one coordinated team around the client.
Who MICS Serves
- Kids & Teens (12–17): anxiety, depression, device stress, cyberbullying, impulsivity, relationship challenges.
- Adults & Older Adults: trauma recovery, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship concerns.
- Couples & Families: communication, boundaries, conflict repair, and skill-building.
Trish emphasizes authentic, honest work, some weeks are tough, and that’s okay. Progress can look like simply getting your feet on the floor and starting your day.
Evidence-Based Modalities You’ll Hear About
EMDR for Trauma
EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer hijack the present. Over time, clients can recall events without reliving the panic, shame, or fear attached to them.
DBT Skills (Great for Adolescents)
DBT teaches practical tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier interactions. A core DBT idea MICS teaches: two opposing thoughts can be true at the same time (e.g., “I’m angry at my parent and I love them”).
Grief Counseling
With a clinical background in grief and trauma, Trish supports clients moving through loss with skill-based strategies and steady, validating care.
Medication Management (On-Staff Prescribers)
When symptoms block progress (no energy, sleep disruption, panic, appetite changes) your therapist can coordinate a consult with a prescriber. Decisions are collaborative; sometimes skills alone are enough, other times a short-term or ongoing Rx helps stabilize daily functioning so therapy can work.
Telehealth Across New Jersey
- HIPAA-compliant, encrypted platform
- Join by smartphone, tablet, or computer; phone sessions available if needed
- Helpful for homebound clients, those with high anxiety, or tight schedules
- Since adopting telehealth, MICS has seen higher appointment attendance
Groups, Classes & Community Programs
- Adolescent DBT Skills Group (8-week, rolling admission)
Wednesdays in Brick; led by a DBT-certified LSW - Grief Recovery Skills Group (Brick)
- Mindfulness Yoga + Sound Bowls + Breath Work (Brick; free for clients, low cost for guests)
- Coming Soon: nutrition education, parent education on devices/cyberbullying, and more
Giveback & Drives:
- Partnering with Each Stitch Counts (dish soap donations + hand-knit dishcloths for local food banks)
- Annual Food Drive (Oct 20–Nov 14) with free wellness class entry when you donate
- Intimate Partner Violence & Healthy Relationship Awareness Day (Oct 16): awareness and fundraising; wear purple
What Clients Appreciate About MICS
- Warm, real conversations, no judgment, no sugarcoating
- Trauma-informed care led by trained clinicians
- Actionable skills (breathing, DBT tools, grief practices) you can use tomorrow
- Integrated team so you don’t feel like you’re coordinating care alone
- Access: in-person in Manasquan and Brick, plus telehealth statewide
A Note From the Episode
Trish shares her own lived experience as a teen – surviving a suicide attempt at 13 – and how that moment sparked a life’s work: building an accessible, authentic mental health practice at the Shore. Her message to the community: asking for help is okay.
Share your goals; the team will match you with an appropriate therapist or group and explain next steps
Ask about wellness classes and current community drives if you’d like to get involved
Start by Calling 732-231-5170 or Visit https://micsmentalhealth.com/ to request an appointment
Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services
Healing that honors your full humanity – mind, body, and soul.
Locations in Manasquan • Brick • Telehealth statewide (NJ)
If You’re in Crisis Right Now
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7), or dial 911 for emergencies.
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