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Erika Kao, LCSW

(she/they)

Minds Wide Open Psychotherapy, LLC

LCSW

Clients I Work With

Couples

Approach

I approach therapy with an awareness of the social and cultural forces that shape our lives, including race, identity, power, and access. As a white therapist, I’m mindful of my privilege, and I work to be accountable and informed. My aim is to honor and take seriously your lived experience. Healing is shaped by the world we move through and the histories we carry. I’ll help you notice what’s happening inside of you and between you and your partner. We’ll explore your emotions, reactions, and deep needs beneath the surface, as we reshape what no longer serves you. My style is collaborative, mindful, and deeply relational. I help you tune in to your inner wisdom, build emotional resilience, and create healthier, more connected relationships with yourself and the people you love. Healing isn’t linear, but with the right support, it can open up profound shifts in how you live and relate.

Beliefs & Lived Experience

I started out in therapy on the other side of the room, as a client. My therapist, Susan, was both nurturing and unafraid to help me gently stretch myself where it mattered. That experience shaped me so profoundly that I chose this path for myself. Now I offer a similar space—supportive, honest, and human—where you can feel yourselves growing into the people you want to become.

More About My Practice

Minds Wide Open Psychotherapy provides couples therapy for partners seeking deeper connection, improved communication, and more secure ways of relating. Focusing exclusively on couples, including LGBTQ+ couples, we offer in-person relationship counseling to clients in Montclair, NJ, as well as over telehealth throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Florida.

Ages Served

Adults

Services Provided

Couples Therapy

Languages Spoken

English

In Person Availability

Montclair, NJ, on Sundays

Specializations

Modalities

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Attachment-Based
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Insight Oriented Therapy
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Person-Centered Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Specialties

Addiction
ADHD
Attachment
BIPOC
Codependency
Divorce
LGBTQ+
Relationship Issues

Insurance and Payment

Payment Accepted

Credit
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Out of Network (Superbills Provided)
Private Pay (Superbills Not Provided)

Session Fees

$250
-$300

State Licensed In

Connecticut
Florida
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania