Dominick Zadera is a Licensed Associate Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey with Blue Nexus Counseling and Wellness. He works with adolescents and adults, helping clients navigate mental health concerns, substance use challenges, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and the everyday stressors that can leave people feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves and others.

Dominick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Kean University and his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Stockton University. Throughout his career, he has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences in both mental health and substance use treatment settings. His clinical experience includes working with anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, self-esteem concerns, co-occurring disorders, and substance use recovery.

Dominick's therapeutic style is authentic, collaborative, and engaging. He believes that meaningful change occurs when clients feel both supported and challenged. His approach combines emotional exploration with practical skill-building, helping clients gain insight into the patterns, experiences, and emotions that may be contributing to their current struggles while developing concrete strategies to create lasting change. He integrates evidence-based approaches including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing, and other strength-based interventions tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.

As an LCADC, Dominick has extensive experience working with individuals navigating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health concerns. He is passionate about helping clients understand the relationship between emotions, behaviors, and coping patterns while building healthier ways of managing stress, relationships, and recovery. He believes that recovery involves more than abstinence—it involves creating a meaningful life that feels worth maintaining.

Dominick also brings significant experience facilitating therapeutic groups and helping individuals develop skills related to emotional regulation, communication, boundaries, self-awareness, vulnerability, relapse prevention, and healthy relationships. He enjoys helping clients connect insight with action, ensuring that therapy conversations translate into practical changes outside of the counseling room.

At the heart of his work is the belief that people are capable of growth, resilience, and change, even during life's most difficult seasons. Dominick strives to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to move toward lives that are more aligned with their values, goals, and sense of purpose.

Outside of the therapy room, Dominick enjoys spending time with his dogs, exploring new restaurants and local food spots, and fueling his passion for film. A self-described movie buff, he appreciates the stories, perspectives, and human experiences that great films can offer. These interests help him maintain balance, stay curious, and bring authenticity and relatability into his work with clients.