When Nancy MacGregor and Danielle Mikol opened Key Counseling in 2021, they did it with a mission of offering quality, accessible therapy to their clients while providing a supportive environment for their clinicians.
“We don’t want our clients or staff to feel like a number. Therapy should feel human and relatable,” MacGregor says.
The decision to open the private psychotherapy practice was inspired by the great disconnect both women were seeing in the therapy space, working for companies that felt divided based on corporate and clinical needs. MacGregor and Mikol knew they could do better—for clients, for clinicians and for themselves.
Wellness first
MacGregor and Mikol first met in grad school and had kept in touch over the years following their graduation in 2000. When COVID-19 struck and mental health needs rose sharply, the pair found themselves frustrated with the corresponding lack of connection to the provision of care.
“We saw a big gap between ownership and client experience,” MacGregor says. “The clinical care and the care of the staff was starting to get really spread out.”
Mikol said she and MacGregor had a vision to provide more responsible care that would benefit both clients and therapists.
“I think in some of these bigger agencies, therapists get a lot of pressure to have a lot of volume and see as many clients as possible—even if someone is not a good fit,” Mikol explains. “We want to make sure our clients match well with our therapists. We want our therapists to have agency around who they see and around their schedules. It can be very emotionally taxing to be a therapist.”
Rather than focus on quantity, Key Counseling focuses on the quality of care.
“Research always shows that the relationship between the therapist and the client is what is healing and what people cite as being what matters most,” Mikol says. “If there’s not a good fit, there’s not going to be a good outcome.”
Finding the best match
By being particular about the clinicians who join the practice, MacGregor and Mikol can ensure they offer services in a variety of specialties. At its most basic, services offered are individual, couple and, at times, group therapy.
“We like to be really inclusive, too. We are open to all kinds of people and all kinds of presentations,” MacGregor says.
Treatment plans are highly individualized, not only with the client, but also with the clinician and their approach. This plan is always developed with client input and revisited every 90 days, which is a way to make certain goals are in alignment.
“Not only do our therapists have different specialties, they can utilize theoretical approaches based on client need and how it resonates with that individual,” MacGregor explains.
Some therapies and treatments at Key Counseling include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, exposure response prevention, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, internal family systems therapy and art therapy. Clinicians specialize in trauma, grief, anxiety and depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anger management, self-esteem, life transitions, relationship issues, phobias and several other areas of need.
“Many people share that in past therapy experiences, while their therapist was affirming and validating, they didn’t always experience real change,” MacGregor says. “Our therapists will absolutely hold a safe and supportive space for you. At the same time, they will also challenge you to step into some of the uncomfortable places—because that’s where meaningful change often begins. Together, we’ll balance compassion with growth so you feel both supported and empowered to move forward.”
Starting the process
Those who are ready to seek Key Counseling’s services can begin the process by calling the office or filling out a form on the website. Some clinicians are dually certified in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which can be especially helpful for college students spending time living in both states. Appointments can be in person or virtually via telehealth, the latter of which MacGregor and Mikol see as a boon to therapy as a whole.
“One of the biggest hurdles in therapy is attendance,” Mikol says. “There are a lot of advantages to telehealth. It really does allow people to access services they wouldn’t otherwise make the time or have the energy for.”
Once a client reaches out, the office coordinator will be in touch within a couple of days, and therapy can typically start within a couple.
“We have a great office coordinator who is fabulous at helping people ease into this process, understands the insurance process, understands the logistics,” MacGregor says.
“That’s another thing that differentiates us,” Mikol adds. “There’s communication. There’s that personal touch.”
The overall personalized approach found at Key Counseling not only effectively addresses individual needs, it also helps ease any apprehensions one may have about seeking out their services.
“To enroll in therapy, it can be scary. It can be stressful,” Mikol says. “But our clients report being really relieved once they do, and that it’s not what they feared it would be.”
Key Counseling
Oaklyn
(609) 535-2155
KeyCounseling.net
