Madison Lukenda, M.A.

Madison specializes in working with children ages 3 and up, supporting a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. She has experience treating children facing challenges such as difficulties with adjustment/transitions, behavioral concerns, emotion regulation difficulties, and traumatic experiences. She is passionate about helping children navigate these challenges in ways that are developmentally appropriate and tailored to their unique experiences.

Madison’s therapeutic approach is integrative and developmentally informed, drawing from a range of evidence-based modalities to best meet the unique needs of each child and family. She prioritizes creating a warm, supportive, and safe environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves and building trust. She incorporates techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), dynamic therapy, and play therapy. Her work is grounded in the belief that children communicate most effectively through play, and she frequently incorporates play therapy techniques to help younger clients communicate their emotions, build coping skills, and develop healthier behaviors in a way that makes sense to them. Madison believes that meaningful progress occurs when caregivers are involved in the therapeutic process, and she works closely with families to support skill development, strengthen relationships, and foster lasting change both in and outside of the therapy room. 

Madison has extensive experience working with children across a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, schools, community mental health centers, and diagnostic treatment centers. She has also worked in the field of child abuse and neglect, providing individual and family-based support to help children process traumatic experiences, rebuild a sense of trust, and strengthen family relationships through compassionate, trauma-informed care. These diverse clinical experiences have deepened her commitment to fostering healing, connection, and resilience in the lives of children and their families.

Madison earned her bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and went on to complete a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in child and adolescent development at Montclair State University. She is currently in her final year of doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University.