Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac, PhD Trauma Therapist in MA

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” - Brené Brown

Own your story. Live it fully.

Blonde haired woman in glasses with a black and white shirt and a sepia toned map in the background, a Hanover therapist offering online therapy
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At True Pathways Therapy, I work with adults who are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship difficulties or major life transitions. You may be managing the demands of everyday life while feeling overwhelmed, stuck or disconnected from yourself. You might find yourself repeating patterns you don't understand, questioning your choices or wondering why things that once felt right no longer do.

Therapy offers a space to slow down and make sense of what's going on. Together, we can explore how past experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, relate to others and respond to life's challenges. We can work toward understanding patterns that keep you stuck, developing new ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings and making choices that reflect what matters to you.

Whether you're working through the effects of trauma, struggling with anxiety or depression, rethinking your relationship with alcohol or other substances, navigating relationship difficulties or facing a major life change, our work will be shaped around your experiences and what you hope to change.

My approach is compassionate, thoughtful and grounded in evidence-based therapies. You don't need to have everything figured out before starting. We can begin with where you are and work together to help you better understand yourself and find a way forward that feels right for you.

Therapy isn't about becoming someone else. It's about understanding yourself more fully and finding a way of living that feels more like your own.

Weathered wood dock in the foreground and water of a lake with rushes in the background, the site of someone pondering online therapy with Dr. Aida
Blonde haired woman in glasses with a black and white shirt and a sepia toned map in the background, a Hanover therapist offering online therapy

Meet Dr. Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac

My clients often describe me as kind, compassionate, direct and motivating. I bring these qualities into our work together, creating a space where you can feel understood, explore difficult experiences and be challenged to look at things in new ways.

I believe therapy is about more than managing symptoms or finding ways to get through the day. It's also an opportunity to better understand yourself, the experiences that have shaped you and the patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I take the time to understand your unique story and what brings you to therapy, tailoring our work to your needs and goals. Together, we'll explore what's been difficult, what you want to change and how you want to move forward.

My role isn't to fix you or tell you how to live. It's to help you make sense of your experiences, develop new ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings and make choices that reflect what matters to you. I bring both compassion and honesty to this process, helping you recognize patterns that may no longer serve you while building on your existing strengths.

My interest in psychology is deeply connected to my own life experiences. Growing up during the war in Bosnia, I witnessed the impact of trauma, loss and displacement. These experiences shaped my understanding of how profoundly our circumstances can affect us, but also how people find ways to adapt and move forward. After coming to the United States, I pursued advanced education and clinical training, eventually becoming a licensed clinical psychologist.

Today, I bring my clinical experience and personal perspective to my work with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship difficulties and major life transitions. I believe meaningful change begins with feeling understood and having the space to look honestly at our lives. My hope is to help you better understand yourself and find a way forward that feels more authentic and more your own.

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) - a widely used therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It aims to help individuals identify and challenge negative or distorted thoughts and beliefs that contribute to emotional distress or maladaptive behaviors. Through structured techniques and exercises, such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments, CBT teaches clients new ways of thinking and responding to challenging situations. The goal is to promote positive changes in thoughts and behaviors, leading to improved emotional well-being and functioning.

    Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) - is a type of therapy commonly used to treat PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other trauma-related issues. It's based on the understanding that how we think about traumatic events can influence our emotions and behaviors. During CPT, clients work with their therapist to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to the trauma. Through structured exercises and discussions, clients learn to develop more balanced and realistic ways of thinking about themselves and their experiences. This process can lead to a reduction in PTSD symptoms and an improved quality of life.

    Exposure Therapy (EP) - a type of therapy used to treat anxiety disorders, particularly phobias and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). It involves gradually exposing individuals to the source of their fear or trauma in a safe and controlled environment. By repeatedly confronting the feared object or situation, individuals learn that their fear diminishes over time, leading to decreased anxiety and increased confidence in managing their reactions. Exposure therapy helps individuals break free from avoidance behaviors and regain control over their lives by facing their fears directly.

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - a type of therapy originally developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but it's also effective for other conditions such as mood disorders, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices. It focuses on teaching individuals skills to manage their emotions, improve relationships, and cope with distress in healthy ways. DBT emphasizes the acceptance of difficult emotions while also encouraging change towards more effective behaviors. It typically involves individual therapy, skills training groups, phone coaching, and therapist consultation teams. Please note in my practice I provide individual therapy only where I teach skills.

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - a form of psychotherapy that combines mindfulness strategies with the acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings, and commitment to taking action aligned with personal values. ACT aims to help individuals develop psychological flexibility by learning to be present in the moment, accept their inner experiences, and take actions that enrich their lives. Instead of trying to eliminate or control negative thoughts and emotions, ACT encourages individuals to observe them with openness and compassion while focusing on what matters most to them. This approach can lead to greater psychological resilience, improved well-being, and a more meaningful life.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for substance use - a structured therapeutic approach that targets the underlying thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with substance abuse. It helps individuals recognize and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs related to substance use, such as cravings or urges. Through CBT, clients learn coping skills to manage triggers, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build resilience against relapse. The goal is to empower individuals to change their relationship with substances and develop a fulfilling, substance-free life. CBT for substance use is often delivered in individual or group therapy sessions and may be combined with other treatments, such as medication or support groups, for comprehensive care.

    Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented approach to therapy that aims to evoke motivation and commitment to change in individuals. It is based on the understanding that ambivalence about change is normal and that individuals possess the resources and capacity for change within themselves. Key principles of Motivational Interviewing include expressing empathy, developing discrepancy between current behavior and values/goals, rolling with resistance rather than confronting it directly, and supporting self-efficacy or confidence in one's ability to change.

  • Northeastern University - Bachelor of Science

    Saint Louis University - M.S. (Research) and Ph.D.

  • Massachusetts License PSY9356, Verify a license

  • I grew up in the former Yugoslavia and came to the United States as a teenager. Although I've now spent more of my life here, my connection to my culture remains an important part of who I am. I love celebrating holidays, cooking familiar dishes and discovering new recipes.

    One of my greatest joys is being a mom to my energetic and enthusiastic son, who brings so much curiosity and laughter into my life. As a family, we love traveling, spending time near the water and exploring nature on hikes. Our family wouldn't be complete without our sassy, fun-loving dog, who keeps us entertained and adds plenty of personality to our everyday lives.

Specialties

Trauma

Anxiety

Depression

Substance Use

Hanover, Massachusetts Office

  • grey couch, coffee table with tissues and hand sanitizer, cream curtains with birds and a dark blue chair with a yellow round pillow, the office of a Hanover therapist.
  • Cream curtains with birds, a side table with clock and yellow flowers, a lamp with cream lampshade, and a dark blue chair with a yellow round pillow, the office of a Hanover therapist.
  • Grey therapy couch with 2 grey and white pillows and a grey, white, and yellow pillow, pillowcoffee table with tissues and hand sanitizer, the office of a Hanover therapist.
  • Waiting room at a therapists office with a blck ottoman and a book shelf with ocre boxes, carpeted stairs upstairs to the office of online therapist, Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac
  • White table with a fake fire place, sound machine, vase with green rushes and 4 wicker art pieces, the waiting room of online therapists, Hanover office
  • Black ottoman, large bull rushes in the corner, a picture of a boardwalk leading to a beach, a glass coffee table with brochures, the waiting room of Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac, online therapist in Hanover Massachusetts
  • directory for an office building, brick walkway with white office buildings on either side. The office park of Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac's Hanover office
  • Blue door to the Hanover office of online therapist Aida Cajdric-Vrhovac, a small vertical window to the side with brown trim, a door mat with an anchor on it and white siding of a building.

Are you ready to take the first step towards healing and growth?

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