Blog Archives


Melissa Yaeger

Melissa is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania who works with adolescents and adults who struggle in a number of areas. These include depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, recovery from physical/emotional abuse and the processing of grief. Importantly, Melissa is accessible to those who simply need someone to talk to during a difficult time.

Melissa uses a number of approaches when providing counseling services, but her primary approach is that of client-centered therapy. This allows her clients the room to “open up” and share at their own pace. Melissa helps to provide an empathetic and compassionate environment which aids her clients in their healing. In this way, she endeavors to help others work through current and/or future challenging situations and to achieve goals which they create for themselves through the counseling relationship.

Melissa is an honors graduate of Rider University with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

 

James Whitaker

James has specialized in the mental health and substance abuse treatment field for over eighteen years. He has seen first-hand how establishing a good therapeutic relationship throughout the counseling process makes treatment a successful experience. Through various strategies and techniques that are evidenced based, patients have been able to raise their own insights and gain a healthier sense of self.  As a result, patients have been able to develop and establish positive coping skills to assist with combating their own self-defeating behaviors associated with anxiety, depression and addiction.

In addition, James is an approved provider able to conduct assessments for individuals who have been found guilty of driving under the Influence (DUI) in New Jersey and surrounding states. If you have completed your required 12 or 48 hour classes or have been identified as a Multiple Offender, he is authorized to complete your evaluation and provide the mandatory treatment needed to comply with your IDRC requirements.

Of particular interest to Camden County Probationers, James is a preferred provider for drug and alcohol assessment and anger management classes. He understands how important it is to have your evaluations completed and forwarded to your Probation Officer especially when this is the last task a client needs done before completing probation. All reports are completed and faxed within 24 hours from the clients initial meeting.

Types of Therapy: 

Gestalt, Mindfulness-Based (MBCT), Person-Centered and Family Systems

Modalities:

Individuals, Couples and Groups

Specialties:      

Substance Use, Dual Diagnosis, Mood Disorders, Early Intervention (EI), Solution Focused Brief (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Strength-Based and Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT)

 

 

                                                                                  

 

 

 

                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

Anita Novembre

Anita is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mentor/Life Coach with a Master’s in Education. She is comfortable working with Individuals, couples (married and/or partnered) and groups.

Philosophy:  The way to inner peace, balance, wholeness, and healing is to embrace thought patterns and a belief system that lead to an empowered lifestyle.

Specialization:
  Helping to re-frame thought patterns so that clients may create a map of their world that moves from a stuck and painful place to a path of action; action that leads to wholeness and the realization of personal, professional, and /or relationship goals achieved.

Healing Approach:
  Anita provides a safe and comfortable environment that offers acceptance and support to all who come.  She looks at the whole person with the intention of enhancing and restoring well-being by using a combination of the following Cognitive

Therapies:
 Rational-Emotive-Behavioral Therapy (REBT)  and Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP). The focus of each session is to empower clients so that they are not victims to whatever past, present, and/or future circumstance encountered.

Anita works with: 
 Individuals, Couples (married and/or partnered), and Groups

Issues to Resolve:
  Codependency, ACOA Issues, Depression, Relationship Issues (self-esteem, marriage, partner, professional, etc.), Loss (of a loved one, pet, divorce, separation, health, job, etc.), Life Transitions, Stress/Anxiety Management, Communication Skills Enhanced.

 

Lauren Morrison

Lauren is a Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor-dual Master’s from University of Pennsylvania in School Counseling as well as Mental Health Counseling. She has her Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University in Education. Lauren specializes in working with children and adolescents and families as well as eating disorders, anxiety and school related issues.

Lauren has experience as a school counselor at Hartranft Elementary School in Philadelphia, PA. She has private practice counseling experience at Starting Point in Westmont, NJ. Lauren also has experience in working with woman and girls suffering from eating disorders at the Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Marlton, NJ.

She also specializes in….. Child and Adolescent and Family Therapy, Individual Anxieties, School & Group Counseling, Children and Adolescent Counseling, Eating Disorder Counseling, Divorce Recovery and Peaceful Resolution of Family, Education Counseling for Elementary Students and Special Education Students and Parents, Educational Plan and IEP consulting, and Social Skills and Conflict Resolution.

Kevin Elsey

Kevin is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors, Inc. His office is located at The Starting Point of New Jersey Inc. in Haddon Township, a single level building that can be easily accessed by both disabled and non-disabled persons.

His practice is devoted to helping his clients clearly conceptualize the “what” that is hampering their well-being, decide on a practical strategy, and begin the journey of living a healthier, more fulfilling life. In other words, Kevin collaborates with his clients to empower them to make better choices.

Kevin is confident that making better choices will enhance clients well-being throughout their lifespan. As with most things worth having, wellness requires effort, consistency, and accountability. Because everyone is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness, Kevin’s therapeutic method is tailored to each client’s individual needs. Evidence based approaches utilized include Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, CBT, and Solution Focused Therapy. Clients can expect that their first session will be geared toward developing a therapeutic alliance.

A new journey can begin today. Join Kevin and start making “better choices” toward wellness!

Gary Dock

Gary has over 25 years of experience managing and providing various mental health and addiction services. He has been responsible for the coordination of reentry services for individuals returning to the community from correctional settings and State/County psychiatric hospitals. These services include the supervision of individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, substance abuse disorders, Megan’s Law, domestic violence and other criminal offenses.

In private practice Gary utilizes a client-centered, evidenced-based approach to provide services. Gary works with individuals, families, and groups to address the negative impact addiction can have on these systems. He utilizes interventions such as (CBT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational interviewing, and brief solution-focused interventions. Gary provides training on various topics such as trauma and addiction, stages of change, medication assisted treatment and anger management. His work is guided by the belief that each day brings with it new opportunities of hope and redemption.

Maria Brent

Maria is a Licensed Professional Counselor and health care provider. She has had 20+ years experience in helping people get better at navigating what we all have to contend with. Maria’s overall goal is to help people live more peaceful, joyous, rich, full, and meaningful lives.

Maria works with adults who are experiencing suffering related to Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, and/or a poor sense of self. Some clients are also facing serious health problems. Most have difficulties with family, friends, co-workers, and of course difficulties with themselves.

Respect, kindness, and caring form the foundation of Maria’s therapy. Her practice is based on Cognitive Behavioral and Acceptance and Commitment Therapies.These therapies have demonstrated their effectiveness and are currently “the state of the art.” Additionally, she uses a variety of related interventions, ancient and modern. She incorporates mindfulness, spirituality, music and art, and strongly recommends paying attention to physical and mind-body health: sleep, nutrition, exercise/movement, and spending time with Mother Nature.

We humans need meaningful and supportive connections with others. Maria helps clients develop, strengthen and use their communication, relationship, and social skills, enriching their lives.

Maria’s experiences have taught her over and over again that trying to control what you cannot control results in immediate and long-term misery in countless, vast, and various ways. She helps people figure out how to “do acceptance” and helps them cope with the distresses that inevitably arise. She has found that making room for all of our emotions and responses allows us to develop wisdom, self-acceptance and self-contentment, and more peace.

 

Vince Di Pasquale – Founder

Vince, a noted lecturer and educator in the tri-state area, has been active in the field of addiction since 1977. He is the founder and former director of The Starting Point, Inc. of NJ in Haddon Township, New Jersey. The Starting Point is an outpatient counseling center specializing in the areas of dependencies and functions as a support system for each individual’s personal growth.

With his friendly manner and down-to-earth lectures, has assisted many to enter a new sense of awareness and come to realize and accept that the power to institute change comes from within. While sharing his own spiritual and emotional growth, he guides his listeners in increasing their self-esteem and allowing old fears and behaviors to make way for a new and fulfilling lifestyle.