By Michaela Lind, Marketing & Outreach Specialist, Exceptional Wellness Counseling
This year marks over a decade of Exceptional Wellness Counseling serving individuals and families across New Jersey. What began as a small practice in Manalapan has grown into a team of more than 40 clinicians and a staff of around 60 dedicated professionals supporting clients across the lifespan.
I recently sat down with our CEO and founder, Lisa Hillman, MSW, LCSW, CP, to talk about what inspired her to start the practice, the values that shaped its growth, and what continues to guide Exceptional Wellness Counseling today.
What inspired you to start Exceptional Wellness Counseling in 2013?
At the time, I was a solo practitioner specializing in children and teens. I was receiving more calls than I could handle and was constantly referring families out. What was difficult was that many of those same families would call back asking if I could take them because there simply were not enough specialists in the area.
I realized there was a real need in the community and wanted to find a way to help more people than I could on my own.
When you first opened EWC, what vision did you have for the practice and the type of care you wanted to provide?
Honestly, I did not have a grand vision at the time. I never imagined we would grow to over 40 clinicians and a staff of around 60.
My goal was simply to help the community. As a mom myself, I know how important it is to be able to get help for your children when they are struggling, and it was heartbreaking to see families having such a hard time finding the support they needed.
Over the past 13 years, what moments or milestones have felt most meaningful to you?
Reaching our 10-year anniversary was incredibly meaningful. Many small businesses do not make it that far, and the fact that we also made it through the challenges of COVID made it feel like an especially important milestone.
Our growth and expansions have also been significant moments. Right before COVID we expanded our Manalapan location from six offices to fourteen and opened our Shrewsbury location with a five-office suite.
After reopening from the pandemic, the demand for services continued to grow and we quickly ran out of space. We expanded again into an eleven-office suite in Shrewsbury, and this past September expanded that location again into a seventeen-office suite.
What values have guided the way EWC has grown and served the community?
From the beginning, the guiding value has really been compassionate connection. We believe meaningful healing happens when people feel seen, heard, and supported.
We have always tried to build a practice where clients feel safe and respected, and where clinicians feel supported in doing their best work. Our goal has always been to create a place that prioritizes quality care, strong relationships with our community partners, and a culture that values both clinical excellence and genuine compassion.
What do you believe makes the care at EWC different from other therapy practices?
One of the things that makes EWC special is the thought and care we put into building our team. We are very intentional about who joins the practice and about supporting our clinicians so they can provide the best care possible.
We also work hard to thoughtfully match clients with therapists who are the right fit for their needs. Our goal has always been to create a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable reaching out for support and know they will be treated with kindness and professionalism.
How has the practice evolved from the early days in Manalapan to where we are now?
In the early days, it was a very small practice focused primarily on children and teens. Over time, as the need in the community continued to grow, we expanded our team and the range of services we offer.
Today we have clinicians who work with individuals across the lifespan and who specialize in many different areas of mental health. As we have grown, we have also expanded into additional locations so we can better serve the communities around us while maintaining the same level of personal care that has always been important to us.
What do you hope clients feel when they first walk into an EWC office or start their first session?
I hope they feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe.
Reaching out for therapy can feel vulnerable, so it is important to us that people feel respected and supported from the very first interaction. Our goal is to create an environment where people feel at ease and know they are in a place where they can talk openly and be met with compassion.
What has it meant to you personally to watch EWC grow alongside the communities we serve?
It has been a wonderful and humbling experience. As I mentioned, I never intended for EWC to grow into what it is today.
There is a deep sense of pride and gratitude for our staff, who are truly wonderful, dedicated, and talented professionals. I also feel grateful to our community partners and to the individuals and families in our community who trust us with their care.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of EWC?
What excites me most is continuing to build on the reputation we have developed in the community. We take our values seriously and strive to provide care that reflects those values every day.
I am excited to continue growing in a way that allows us to serve more people while staying grounded in the principles that guided us from the beginning.
If someone is considering therapy but feeling hesitant, what would you want them to know?
I often say, what do you have to lose?
In all seriousness, therapy can be a powerful place to hold up the mirror and better understand ourselves. It gives us an opportunity to reflect, grow, and sometimes remember that the only person we can ultimately control is ourselves.
Therapy can help people learn how to make peace with the experiences they are going through. As the saying goes, pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Therapy can help shift the mental story so we do not continue to suffer or create more suffering for ourselves.
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For over a decade, Exceptional Wellness Counseling has grown alongside the communities we serve—remaining grounded in compassionate, client-centered care while expanding access to support for individuals and families throughout New Jersey.
Learn more about Lisa’s story here.
Email us at info@exceptionalwellnesscounseling.com
Call us (908) 415-2042
Next Steps & Resources
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