Janine Belcastro, LCSW is the owner and primary therapist at Olive & Oak Counseling. Janine has been providing clinical services for over 20 years, in a variety of settings. Janine graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in psychology and earned her MSW from Hunter College. Her approach is strength-based, down-to-earth, and empathetic. Janine draws from multiple modalities, including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and experiential approaches, to help clients explore the connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. She incorporates strategies that emphasize emotional regulation, rational thinking, and resilience. Janine has training in EMDR, which integrates cognitive, somatic, and experiential elements to support trauma processing and healing.

Personal Note:

The bulk of my clinical career has been in New York State, with extensive experience working in NYC. I’ve lived in Monmouth County, by the NJ shore, for over 20 years. In 2024 I obtained my New Jersey clinical license and founded Olive & Oak Counseling, so I could offer services closer to home. I’m currently licensed in both New York and New Jersey. While I previously maintained offices for in‑person therapy in New York, I’m currently seeing New York clients via telehealth only. In New Jersey, I offer both telehealth and in‑person sessions.

I started my career, many years ago, in a foster care agency, in NYC, where I worked with children, parents, and foster and adoptive families. I witnessed trauma, strength, and the complicated realities people live through. Those experiences taught me how to hold complex stories without judgment. After my work with foster and adoptive care, I’ve worked in a NYC outpatient mental health clinic, in the NYC public schools, and in private practice. These experiences have given me an appreciation and a belief that we all share certain human experiences, and we all have our own unique challenges. I don’t assume anything about someone’s experience. I stay open, curious and focused on understanding each individual front of me.

In my personal life, I’m someone who enjoys both connection and quiet. I love to laugh, whether it’s from a comedy, a ridiculous video, a good story, or just at myself. I believe that the ability to laugh at ourselves is important; it keeps things human and makes life feel a little lighter. I love being outdoors, especially in nice weather, and I’m happiest when I can incorporate movement into my day, whether that’s a walk, a hike, Pilates, or yoga. I also enjoy good food, live music, and spending time with the people I care about. Some of my favorite memories are simple ones: a day at the beach, walking my dog, reading a good book, or taking my daughter into the city to see a Broadway show.