About Ascend Behavioral Wellness
Ascend Behavioral Wellness & Assessment Services LLC was founded to provide compassionate, culturally responsive behavioral health support for adults seeking greater emotional wellness, stability, resilience, and connection. The practice combines counseling, behavioral health assessment, psychoeducation, care coordination, and community partnership support to help individuals and organizations navigate behavioral health needs with clarity and care.
Kadiatu Tarawalie, MA, NCC, LPC
Founder & Clinical Director
Kadiatu Tarawalie is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. She graduated with Honors from Rutgers University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and later earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Kadiatu brings extensive experience in behavioral health counseling, crisis intervention, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, telehealth, intake coordination, triage, community mental health, supportive housing, care coordination, and clinical leadership. Throughout her career, she has supported adults navigating anxiety, depression, workplace stress, relationship challenges, housing-related stress, social isolation, cultural adjustment, serious mental illness, grief, and complex life transitions.
Her therapeutic approach is practical, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. Kadiatu is committed to creating a warm, respectful, and nonjudgmental environment where every client feels heard, understood, and empowered to build resilience, overcome challenges, and make meaningful, lasting progress toward their personal and emotional well-being.
Insurance & Payment
We believe that everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care. Whether you plan to use insurance or prefer to pay out of pocket, we're here to help you find the option that works best for your needs.
We accept most major insurance plans. If you're unsure whether your insurance is accepted or have questions about your mental health benefits, please reach out. We're happy to help verify your coverage and answer any questions before you schedule your first appointment.
We also welcome self-pay clients.
Accepted payment methods include: Credit cards, Debit cards, Zelle
Sliding Scale
We understand that financial circumstances can sometimes make it difficult to seek support. To help make therapy more accessible, we offer a limited number of reduced-fee appointments for clients who are uninsured or experiencing financial hardship.
Sliding scale fees begin at $75 per session and are available based on financial need and current availability.
If cost is a concern, we encourage you to discuss your situation during your consultation. Together, we'll explore available payment options and determine whether a reduced fee may be appropriate.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide accessible, person-centered behavioral health services that strengthen coping skills, promote emotional wellness, support resilience, and help individuals move forward with greater confidence and clarity. We recognize the whole person—not only symptoms or diagnoses, but also culture, family, values, identity, strengths, relationships, goals, and lived experience.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you are seeking virtual counseling, assessment support, or referral coordination — the practice is here to help you begin with clarity and confidence.