Dera Kanhai, LCSW, Therapist in Bloomfield, New Jersey

Dera Kanhai, LCSW, helps children, adolescents, teens, and adults throughout New Jersey navigate emotional and behavioral challenges with compassion, structure, and evidence-based care. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at LifeStance Health, she provides individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, case management, and intensive outpatient services to support patients at different stages of life. Dera works with a wide range of concerns, with particular expertise in anxiety, ADHD, and depression, while also offering support for additional mental health needs. A significant focus of Dera’s work is helping children and teens experiencing childhood behavior issues and school avoidance. She understands how emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges can affect a child’s confidence, relationships, and overall well-being. By partnering closely with families, caregivers, and patients, she creates practical strategies that support healthy development, emotional regulation, and success both at home and in school. Her approach emphasizes building resilience, strengthening communication, and helping young people develop skills that serve them long after therapy ends. Dera tailors treatment to each person’s unique goals and circumstances, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and family therapy, among other evidence-based interventions. She believes therapy is most effective when patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take an active role in their growth. Her experience working across different ages allows her to adapt treatment approaches to meet the developmental and emotional needs of each individual. Outside of her clinical work, Dera enjoys reading, coloring, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.