https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog daily 0.75 2019-01-14 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/2019/1/14/three-tips-to-support-your-friend-who-is-a-caregiver-what-about-your-friends-caregivers-edition monthly 0.5 2019-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1547486663255-H6I0S1EDNGBFOJSKVKC5/IMG_7719.JPG Blog - Three tips to support your friend who is a caregiver https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/category/Caregivers monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/category/Mental+Health monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/category/Stress monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/Caregivers monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/stress monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/anxiety monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/Vanessa+Watson monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog/tag/social+work monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/images daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1543147089814-9HH63I45R7VNXXJT506U/1231E846-EAE0-4CDD-A42F-22D7B8CE2112.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1543147380387-8HOW4DHIBJR1T2IOD0VO/A87BE5DC-2F52-420C-BE5D-279EA62AD780.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544886200314-0O5DZ7RU8U8CUE1CMR5Y/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1764780800964-KZKMPP1NKH0T1IJCFKQO/image-asset.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1764780997632-TH0UJRKVN64EERQHQS5W/image-asset.jpeg Images https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/home daily 0.75 2016-06-30 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3 daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1590701425334-9T7RZ9HXCBR6TFIDM26D/image-asset.jpeg Blog https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2025/12/3/you-are-allowed-to-change-mama monthly 0.5 2025-12-03 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2020/5/28/a-womans-work monthly 0.5 2020-05-28 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2020/2/3/the-1-reason-black-couples-go-to-therapy monthly 0.5 2020-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1580783082617-FSKC04GFJACT528ZW8OZ/8234DF4B-EA0D-4401-8C87-7C8EB993D571.jpeg Blog - The #1 Reason Black Couples Go to Therapy Please email me at therapyfor@livinginthesecondhalf.com or call me at 646-859-0125 to schedule a free 15 minute consulation https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2020/1/14/f-you-survived-childhood-emotional-abuse-know-that-what-you-faced-is-valid-also monthly 0.5 2020-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1579032630669-OF66JIFC0J5VD05PI51Q/3B952F8A-6DA1-433C-9EB1-02385BF4AB4E.jpeg Blog - If you survived childhood emotional abuse know that what you faced is valid! https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2020/1/11/how-emdr-sessions-can-stop-living-in-survival-mode-finally monthly 0.5 2020-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1578775233099-US1SUFD6TZPFYRDCSR1X/8127B6D5-03C4-46C2-913D-0ADA83BDE97D.jpeg Blog - How EMDR sessions can help you stop living in survival mode finally? Please email me at therapyfor@livinginthesecondhalf.com or call me at 646-859-0125 to schedule a free 15 minute consulation https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/12/31/how-a-fearful-avoidant-attachment-style-stop-you-from-living-your-best-life-in-2020 monthly 0.5 2020-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1578596091838-DBATYX32ZRWQ818DB484/B35E9A6B-D82E-4D85-B6EB-633FE2BFC8D0.jpeg Blog - How a fearful avoidant attachment style may stop you from living your best life in 2020? https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/11/25/protecting-your-boundaries-and-sanity-during-the-holiday-season monthly 0.5 2020-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1578597125269-MOLGWMLCGDWVCG162A5S/926368A6-8A84-46A1-A616-A282319778CC_1_201_a.jpeg Blog - Protecting your boundaries and sanity during the holiday season. Vanessa Watson, LCSW is a therapist who practices in Montclair, NJ. She is a New Yorker turned suburbanite who lives with her Husband and Cat Isabella Gato and is the owner of Living In The Second Half L. L. C. therapy practice. https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/11/11/remember-caregivers-of-veterans monthly 0.5 2019-11-11 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/10/7/is-being-a-caregiver-wrecking-your-marriage monthly 0.5 2019-10-07 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/9/15/what-in-the-world-is-emdr monthly 0.5 2019-09-16 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/7/5/the-armor-can-come-off-sometimes-right monthly 0.5 2019-07-05 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/2019/1/14/e11pjde4rh9addsc7ulc4wmqhotscx monthly 0.5 2019-01-14 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Caregivers monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Montclair monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Mental+Health monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/NJ monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Trauma monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/Couples+Therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/category/African+American monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Caregivers monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Christmas monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/mental+health monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Vanessa+Watson monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Mental+Health monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/social+work monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Thanksgiving monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Marriage+Therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Black+Therapist monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Generation+X monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/family+therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/African+American+Therapist monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/childhood+trauma monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/attachment monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/essex+county monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/NJ+Black+Therapist monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/EMDR monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/me monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/boundaries monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Anxiety monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Social+Work monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/trauma monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/stress monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/ptsd monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/childhood monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Maternal+Mental+Health monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/em monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Black+Woman monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Trauma monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/New+Jersey monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/anxiety monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Holiday+season monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Postpartum+OCD monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Family monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/couples+therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/Postpartum+depression monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/depression monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-3/tag/family monthly 0.5 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/welcome-1 daily 1.0 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1570463289534-LAHORC8XBC51V0UFIZYH/fullsizeoutput_180d.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544885862918-8MIRUK5RY7PTFZX86Q3F/mg_09661.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544973957799-1HUNCWEUGPCD4MAW8XS0/mg_09699.jpg Welcome Is the weight of always being the strong one becoming too much to carry? To the outside world, everything looks perfect — the career, the family, the checked boxes of success. But inside, you’re struggling. You feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and filled with self-doubt. Joy feels out of reach. Peace feels like a luxury. You’re being pulled in so many directions — and you know something needs to change. Whether you’re navigating the demands of motherhood, the stress of caregiving, or the pressure of being the emotional backbone in your family, you don’t have to do it alone. As a therapist trained by Postpartum Support International and a mother myself, I specialize in supporting women during the prenatal and postpartum periods — especially those who feel unseen, overwhelmed, or emotionally stretched thin. I also continue my work with Gen Xers, particularly those in the sandwich generation — adults balancing care for both children and aging parents while managing careers, marriages, or major life transitions. With over 17 years of clinical experience, I offer a relatable, down-to-earth approach that honors the real-life challenges of living in the second half of life. My goal is to create a safe, judgment-free space where you can release the pressure to hold it all together — and receive the support you deserve to heal, grow, and thrive. If you’re ready to move beyond survival and reclaim joy, I’m here to help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544883605119-G5I4XT26WCXSWUVW67XT/mg_09693.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1552753135569-QPDNK0JVYTG05WZM746S/GdlCY0LiRqyuuXH5T6RIJA.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1545072263844-W0HT0WJX2Y4OR4U65HZP/mg_09671.jpg Welcome https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/coverpage daily 0.75 2018-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544885961374-CX670XZ873JSCI7ZXWSE/IMG_8076.JPG Main Page https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/new-cover-page daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/about daily 0.75 2018-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544502014188-GLDNBYL5XAVVPF1W08RF/Vanessa%27s+Photo+Shoot+Formal.jpg About https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/face daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58485db8cd0f682de7b28f5c/1492443753233-X8JF57F8BGNDB6FFEYZI/10_06_20161116S1_SPA_005-retouched-v2.jpg Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544651806886-EF34TMKTC3TMN56O11GY/mg_09693.jpg Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58485db8cd0f682de7b28f5c/1485985040832-7DRC9PLKJU5D04EZJ1OD/13_06_20161116S1_SPA_015-v2.jpg Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58485db8cd0f682de7b28f5c/1488829384701-YP74U4YJCBF9VV6TD0LO/image-asset.jpeg Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58485db8cd0f682de7b28f5c/1488829221129-CYFS165MGQBT0A0J3OVC/15_06_20161116S1_SPA_087.jpg Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544651530329-T8613WTQOHUMU8K5C5V8/mg_09726.JPG Face https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544651405680-1JX8B077KASDQNSWP7PF/Vanessa%27s+Photo+Shoot+Formal.jpg Face https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/contact daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/welcome daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/576ae204e58c625f37d961d1/1472590015046-6EWF4LQWDT1HUX2Q45OP/toothbrush-v6.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e53b5e9bfdfe232b630c3/1544652785300-N4XRO2YHFNMNGVY1NX58/mg_09693.jpg Welcome https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/blog-1 daily 0.75 2019-01-14 https://www.livinginthesecondhalf.com/new-page daily 0.75 2020-05-02