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Meet Courtney DiFonzo, M.S. | Child, Teen, and Family Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut

At Wisdom Within Counseling, Courtney DiFonzo, M.S., offers a warm, compassionate, and supportive space where children, adolescents, and families can feel heard, understood, and accepted. As a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Courtney brings a nurturing, client-centered approach to therapy. She understands that reaching out for counseling can feel overwhelming, whether you are a parent concerned about your child, a teenager navigating difficult emotions, or an adult working through personal challenges. Courtney strives to create an environment where you can slow down, feel supported, and begin exploring what you need to feel more confident, connected, and emotionally well.

A Safe, Supportive Space to Be Yourself, Throughout Your Journey of Life

Courtney believes that everyone deserves a space where they can express their feelings without fear of judgment.

Therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut with Courtney is not about being perfect, having all the answers, or knowing exactly what to say. Instead, it is an opportunity to better understand yourself, explore difficult experiences, and develop new ways of responding to life’s challenges.

Courtney approaches each client with curiosity, empathy, and respect for their individual experiences. Whether you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, sad, frustrated, or disconnected, she works to help you feel comfortable sharing your story at your own pace.

Therapy for mothers offers a warm, supportive space where you can feel heard, understood, and cared for, too.

Motherhood can bring beautiful moments of connection alongside exhaustion, anxiety, overwhelm, guilt, and the feeling that you are constantly putting everyone else’s needs before your own.

You may be navigating postpartum emotions, parenting challenges, relationship changes, identity shifts, or the pressure to be the perfect mother. Perhaps you love your children deeply but feel depleted, touched out, emotionally stretched, or unsure how to reconnect with the person you were before motherhood.

In therapy, you have permission to share your honest feelings without judgment. You do not have to minimize your struggles or pretend everything is okay. Your emotional well-being matters, and you deserve the same compassion and nurturing that you offer your family.

At Wisdom Within Counseling, therapy for mothers can help you reconnect with yourself, understand your emotional needs, and develop healthier ways to navigate the demands of parenting.

Through a compassionate, holistic approach, you can explore childhood experiences that influence your parenting, work through guilt and perfectionism, strengthen boundaries, and learn to regulate your nervous system when life feels overwhelming.

Therapy with Courtney may incorporate mindfulness, somatic practices, inner-child healing, parts work, and practical coping strategies tailored to your unique needs. Whether you are a new mother adjusting to postpartum life, raising sensitive children, balancing a career and family, or navigating the complexities of motherhood and your romantic relationship, you deserve a space where someone is caring for you, too. You can learn to nurture your children while honoring your own needs, create more room for rest and joy, and discover a version of motherhood that feels more connected, sustainable, and true to you.

Affirming Counseling for LGBTQIA+, Queer, and Gender-Diverse Clients in Niantic, Connecticut

Courtney DiFonzo, M.S., believes that everyone deserves a welcoming, compassionate space where they can explore who they are without pressure to fit into someone else’s expectations.

At Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut, Courtney strives to provide respectful, person-centered support for LGBTQIA+ individuals, queer clients, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and people who identify as gender diverse or gender nonconforming.

Exploring your identity can bring up a wide range of emotions, including excitement, curiosity, uncertainty, relief, or fear of being misunderstood. You do not need to have all the answers or choose a label before beginning therapy. Courtney offers a supportive environment where you can talk openly about your experiences, explore your feelings at your own pace, and feel respected throughout the counseling process.

Support for Gender Identity, Self-Expression, and Personal Discovery

Your gender identity and the ways you express yourself are personal parts of your experience, and you deserve the freedom to explore them without shame or judgment. Courtney welcomes conversations about gender identity, gender expression, pronouns, social expectations, and the experience of feeling different from what others may expect.

For transgender, nonbinary, gender-fluid, and gender-nonconforming clients, therapy can offer space to reflect on personal values, explore questions about identity, and navigate the emotions that may arise when your inner sense of self does not align with other people’s assumptions. You do not have to be certain about your identity to benefit from counseling. Courtney’s person-centered approach emphasizes listening, collaboration, and respect for each individual’s lived experience, allowing clients to guide conversations about what matters most to them.

LGBTQIA+ Teens, Young Adults, and Family Relationships

Adolescence and young adulthood can be especially meaningful times for exploring identity, belonging, friendships, and relationships. LGBTQIA+ and questioning teens may experience anxiety about coming out, concerns about rejection, pressure to hide parts of themselves, or uncertainty about how to communicate their feelings to parents, friends, and other important people. Courtney’s background in education and clinical counseling provides a foundation for understanding the developmental needs of children and adolescents as they navigate emotional and social challenges. She can help young clients develop coping skills, strengthen self-understanding, and explore ways to communicate their needs and boundaries.

When appropriate and consistent with the client’s needs, confidentiality, and applicable requirements, counseling may also help families work toward more supportive communication and greater understanding.

For parents seeking an affirming counseling resource for a queer, transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming child or teenager in Niantic, East Lyme, Waterford, or nearby Connecticut shoreline communities, therapy can be an opportunity to better understand your young person’s experiences and learn how to support their emotional well-being.

Navigating Shame, Anxiety, Belonging, and Authenticity

Living in a world where gender and sexuality are sometimes misunderstood can leave LGBTQIA+ individuals feeling isolated, anxious, or uncertain about whether it is safe to be themselves. Experiences of bullying, discrimination, family conflict, rejection, or pressure to conform can affect self-esteem and emotional well-being. Courtney draws from approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), person-centered therapy, and trauma-informed care to help clients explore difficult emotions, recognize unhelpful thought patterns, and build practical strategies for managing stress.

Therapy can also provide space to celebrate personal strengths, explore meaningful relationships, and identify sources of connection and belonging.

At Wisdom Within Counseling, Courtney strives to meet clients with warmth and respect, honoring their individual experiences rather than making assumptions about their identities. Whether you are questioning your gender, exploring how you want to express yourself, supporting an LGBTQIA+ loved one, or simply looking for a therapist with whom you can speak openly, you deserve care that respects who you are and supports your well-being.

Child Therapy and Young Adult Therapy That Honors Each Child’s Individual Needs

Children do not always have the words to explain what they are feeling. Sometimes emotional distress appears through behavioral changes, big feelings, difficulty with transitions, school-related challenges, withdrawal, or conflict at home. Courtney understands the importance of looking beyond a child’s behavior to explore the emotions, experiences, and unmet needs that may be contributing to their struggles. Drawing on her background in early childhood education and experience working with young children, she brings an appreciation for child development and the different ways children communicate. Her approach recognizes that children need patience, encouragement, and opportunities to feel safe as they learn to understand their emotions and develop healthy coping skills.

Teen Counseling for Anxiety, Stress, and Emotional Growth

Adolescence can be a complicated time filled with changing friendships, academic pressure, family expectations, identity exploration, and the desire to become more independent. Teenagers may experience anxiety, sadness, irritability, self-doubt, or difficulty communicating what they need. Courtney offers a supportive therapeutic environment where adolescents can talk openly about what is happening in their lives without feeling that they must have everything figured out. Through collaborative conversations and practical therapeutic strategies, she helps teens explore their emotions, recognize patterns, strengthen coping skills, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. Her goal is to help young people build confidence in their ability to navigate challenges while feeling respected and supported along the way.

Helping Children and Teens Understand Big Feelings in Niantic, Connecticut Family Therapy Sessions

When emotions feel overwhelming, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Courtney incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to help clients recognize the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Together, clients can practice identifying emotional triggers, understanding unhelpful thought patterns, and developing coping strategies for stressful moments. These approaches can be helpful for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, frustration, emotional dysregulation, or challenges with relationships.

Courtney works to make therapeutic skills approachable and practical so clients can gradually learn to use them in everyday situations, including at home, at school, and in relationships.

Play Therapy and Creative Ways to Communicate

For children, talking about difficult experiences can sometimes feel confusing or intimidating. Play can offer another way to communicate, explore feelings, and make sense of the world. With her background in early childhood education and training in play therapy, Courtney recognizes the value of developmentally appropriate approaches that meet children where they are.

Depending on a child’s needs and treatment plan, therapeutic work may incorporate play-based strategies, emotional identification, and opportunities to practice problem-solving and coping skills. Rather than expecting children to explain everything with words, Courtney values their individual ways of expressing themselves and works to create opportunities for connection, understanding, and emotional growth.

A Collaborative Approach to Family Counseling

When a child or teenager is struggling, the effects are often felt throughout the family. Parents may feel worried, exhausted, confused, or unsure how best to help, especially when conversations repeatedly turn into arguments or everyday routines become stressful. Courtney understands that families are navigating their own emotions and challenges while trying to support one another. Her approach to family counseling draws on family systems perspectives, recognizing that relationships, communication patterns, and the surrounding environment can all influence emotional well-being. She works collaboratively with clients and families to explore concerns, strengthen communication, identify helpful changes, and develop practical strategies that support healthier interactions at home.

Trauma-Informed Counseling Expertise That Respects Your Pace

Difficult experiences can affect how people see themselves, relate to others, and respond to stress. Trauma, grief, family conflict, and other painful life events may leave someone feeling overwhelmed, guarded, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward.

Courtney incorporates trauma-informed principles into her work, emphasizing emotional safety, respect, collaboration, and an awareness of how past experiences can influence present-day reactions. She recognizes that every person’s story is different and that healing should not be rushed. Therapy can provide an opportunity to explore difficult feelings, identify existing strengths, and develop coping strategies while honoring each client’s boundaries and readiness for change.

Building Confidence, Coping Skills, and Resilience

Courtney draws from several evidence-based and supportive therapeutic approaches, including person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, CBT, and DBT. Rather than assuming that one approach will work for everyone, she considers each client’s needs, strengths, goals, and developmental stage when determining how to structure treatment.

Some clients may benefit from exploring patterns that contribute to distress, while others may want practical tools for managing anxiety, improving communication, or navigating everyday stressors. Courtney values a collaborative process in which clients can recognize their progress, build on their existing strengths, and develop skills that support greater confidence and emotional resilience over time.

Working Together Toward Meaningful Change

Finding the right therapist is an important part of the counseling process. Courtney aims to make therapy feel approachable, supportive, and grounded in the real-life concerns that bring people through the door. Whether you are seeking child counseling, teen therapy, family counseling, or support as an adult, she welcomes the opportunity to understand what you are experiencing and what you hope to change. At Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut, Courtney offers a compassionate, individualized approach that respects each person’s experiences and encourages growth at a manageable pace. You do not have to navigate every challenge alone, and you do not need to know exactly where to begin. Therapy can be a place to start asking questions, exploring possibilities, and taking small, meaningful steps toward feeling more supported.

Connect With Courtney at Wisdom Within Counseling

If you are looking for child, adolescent, or family counseling in Niantic, East Lyme, or the surrounding Connecticut shoreline communities, Courtney may be a supportive resource for your family. She works with clients experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral difficulties, grief, trauma-related concerns, and family conflict. Courtney is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate working toward licensure; services and supervision are provided in accordance with applicable professional and state requirements.

To learn more about getting started at Wisdom Within Counseling, text 1-860-451-9364 to ask about availability and the intake process.

Courtney believes in meeting children, adults, and families where they are. Using a holistic approach, she treats the whole person.

As well, Courtney is a compassionate and skilled therapist on the team at Wisdom Within Counseling. She has experience working with individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, adults navigating traumatic life experiences, and those facing marital challenges and a variety of mental health concerns. Courtney is dedicated to helping clients feel seen, heard, and supported as they work toward healing and personal growth.

She takes a holistic-centered approach, tailoring therapy to meet each person’s unique needs while providing a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

Courtney is passionate about helping clients develop coping strategies, emotional resilience, and stronger interpersonal connections, empowering them to move forward with confidence and hope.

At Wisdom Within Counseling, Courtney works collaboratively with clients (children and adults) to address the root causes of distress and anxiety and supports them in creating meaningful, lasting change in their lives and relationships.

Courtney DiFonzo’s Counseling Specialties in Niantic, Connecticut

Now, Courtney DiFonzo, M.S., offers compassionate, individualized counseling for children, adolescents, teens, young adults, adults, and families at Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut.

Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, ADHD, emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, grief, trauma-related challenges, family conflict, and difficulties navigating relationships and everyday stress. Courtney draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), person-centered therapy, play therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy to help clients develop practical coping skills, strengthen emotional awareness, and build confidence.

Her approach is collaborative and trauma-informed, with attention to each person’s developmental stage, individual strengths, and unique experiences.

Child and Teen Therapy, Emotional Regulation, and Family Support in East Lyme, Connecticut

Courtney has a particular foundation in working with children and adolescents, informed by her clinical counseling experience and professional background in education.

She understands that children and teens may communicate emotional distress through changes in behavior, difficulty at school, anxiety, withdrawal, frustration, or conflict at home.

Her experience includes supporting young people experiencing moderate to significant mental health challenges, developing individualized treatment plans, completing assessments, and collaborating with families, schools, and other members of a client’s support system. Using developmentally appropriate therapeutic strategies, including play therapy and skills-based interventions, Courtney works to help young clients better understand their feelings, navigate difficult situations, and develop healthier ways to express their needs.

Families seeking child counseling, teen therapy, or family support in Niantic, East Lyme, Waterford, Old Lyme, Groton, and the surrounding Connecticut shoreline communities can explore whether Courtney’s approach is a good fit for their needs.

Clinical and Educational Experience

Courtney completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johnson & Wales University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Rhode Island College. Her clinical training includes work as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern with North American Family Institute (NAFI), where she provided individual, group, and family counseling in home, community, and school settings to children, adolescents, and adults.

Her responsibilities included biopsychosocial assessments, mental status examinations, risk and suicide assessments, treatment planning, crisis stabilization, clinical documentation, and collaboration with families and support systems.

Previously, Courtney worked at Fuller Hospital as therapeutic training staff and a therapeutic mentor, supporting adolescents experiencing significant mental health and behavioral challenges and working alongside clinicians and families to support individualized treatment goals.

Her additional experience as a kindergarten teacher, preschool and toddler teacher, substitute teacher, and ELA tutor strengthens her understanding of child development, learning, and the social-emotional needs of young people. Courtney is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate working toward full licensure, with services and supervision provided in accordance with applicable professional and state requirements.

Courtney is a kind and compassionate therapist who truly values creating a safe and supportive space for her clients.

She also brings a great sense of humor to her work, helping to make the therapy process approachable and engaging.

Courtney believes that healing can be both meaningful and light-hearted, and she strives to meet each client where they are.

Other Areas she specializes in Include:

Thank you for honoring yourself and taking this step into living a more fulfilling life. It will be my honor to assist you on your healing journey.

At Wisdom Within Counseling and Coaching, we are proud to serve clients from across southeastern Connecticut, including East Lyme, Niantic, Waterford, Old Lyme, Lyme, Salem, Montville, Ledyard, Groton, New London, Stonington, Madison, Mystic, Norwich, Preston, and Gales Ferry, Connecticut. Courtney supports families Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Ivoryton, Chester, and Lyme, Connecticut. She offers video telehealth to families, couples, and adults living in Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, Wilton, Ridgefield, Fairfield, Madison, Old Greenwich, Pound Ridge, Darien, Stamford, Hamden, and Litchfield, Connecticut.

Individuals, children, families, and couples from these communities seek our support for issues such as marital challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma, panic attacks, and emotional intimacy struggles. By providing compassionate, personalized care, we help clients from these towns heal past wounds, rebuild trust in their relationships, and create meaningful emotional and emotional connection with their partners.

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