Dear Valued Patients,
This letter is to inform you that I, Dr. Amanda Aster-McKenna, Psy.D., will be taking maternity leave from approximately Saturday June 3rd, 2023 through Sunday, October 1st, 2023, with an anticipated return-to-work date of Monday, October 2nd, 2023. During this time, I will only be checking patient voicemails, text messages, phone calls, and emails sporadically, and will not be available to hold weekly individual therapy appointments or phone check-ins.
Below you will find recommended workbooks and mindfulness/meditation practices to utilize, if interested, in an effort to maintain treatment gains while on leave:
2. Practice Mindfulness from your Smartphone
Click icons to go to website:
3. Formal Meditation Practices
Dr. Kristin Neff – Self-Compassion: https://self-compassion.org/
Here are some resources in case of emergency:
If at any time during Dr. Aster-McKenna’s maternity leave, you or someone you know is experiencing a true psychiatric emergency (e.g., having intense thoughts of hurting himself/herself/themselves, hurting someone else, seeing things or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear, experiencing severe intoxication or withdrawals from substance use) please stop what you are doing and call 9-1-1, go to your nearest emergency room, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), and/or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line (741741).
Below is a list of nearby hospitals for you to contact should you need immediate assistance:
Emergency Rooms
Psychiatric Emergency Screening Service
Our hospitals have state-designated emergency screening services in the Emergency Rooms. Crisis intervention, stabilization and treatment are all provided. Mobile outreach to all area residents experiencing acute psychiatric distress and traumatic incident debriefing are provided as well. Services can be accessed through the PESS Department by calling toll free 866.904.4474.
| Hospital | Hospital | 24-Hour Hotline |
|---|---|---|
| St. Barnabas Emergency Room | 94 Old Short Hills Rd, Livingston, NJ 07039 | 973-322-5181 |
| Clara Maass Medical Center | 1 Clara Maass Dr, Belleville, NJ 07109 | 973-844-4357 |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | 201 Lyons Ave, Newark, NJ 07112 | 973-926-7444 |
| Jersey City Medical Center | 355 Grand St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 | 866-367-6023 |
| Monmouth Medical Center | 300 Second Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740 | 732-923-6999 |
| Monmouth Medical Center South | 600 River Ave, Lakewood, 08701 | 866-904-4474 732-866-4477 |
| RWJ University Hospital Rahway (AES) | 865 Stone St, Rahway, NJ 07065 | 732-381-4949 732-499-6165 |
| Saint Clare's Psychiatric Emergency Unit | 50 Morris Ave, Denville, NJ 07834 | 973-624-6150 973-625-6160 |
Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding during this time period. I look forward to returning to the office in October of 2023 and resuming our great work together!
For now, please be well and stay safe!
*Peace, Love, & Fierce Acceptance*
Dr. Amanda Aster-McKenna, Psy.D.
(She/Her/Hers)
NJ Licensed Psychologist #5888, Private Practice, Montclair, NJ
Adjunct Professor, Kean University, Department of Advanced Studies in Psychology
Manager, New York City Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
Board Member, Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris