Brian Colangelo , LCSW

Brian Colangelo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New Jersey who offers direct, compassionate support for people navigating trauma, addiction, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. He emphasizes openness and collaboration - if an approach is not working he encourages frank conversation so treatment can be adjusted together.

He earned a Master of Social Work from Temple University and completed extensive clinical training in cognitive behavioral therapy, addiction counseling, rational emotive behavioral therapy, EMDR, and motivational interviewing. He also completed three years of Gestalt training at the Gestalt Institute of Philadelphia. In addition to his clinical work he teaches part time at Rutgers University and Camden County College and has substantial experience providing individual and group trauma counseling for survivors of sexual assault.

Brian draws on his own healing journey as a source of resilience rather than comparison and values the relationships he has with family, friends, and support people. He is candid about learning from mistakes and brings a hardworking, down-to-earth presence to the therapy room, often tempered by a sarcastic sense of humor. Outside of work he enjoys running, cycling, time outdoors, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain.

He takes an active stance against systemic harms and is committed to supporting people affected by racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, ableism, and anti-Semitism - aiming to go beyond culturally responsive care toward undoing that harm. He uses he/him pronouns and invites people to ask questions to determine whether he is the right fit for their needs.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Brian Colangelo draws on evidence-informed methods to address a range of concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors - it is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and stress-related problems and helps people build practical coping skills. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity - it is commonly used for post-traumatic stress and intrusive distress following traumatic events. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented approach designed to strengthen a person’s motivation for change - it is frequently used with addictions, ambivalence about change, and readiness-related issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Brian works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine techniques over time to create a tailored plan. Licensed professionals and therapists often adapt strategies as work progresses to ensure the best match.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy schedules or limited local access to specialized care. Through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, clients can receive consistent support with greater flexibility in timing and location, making it easier to sustain work on recovery, coping skills, and emotional well-being.