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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)

Joanne has an eclectic background beginning with her first degree in Laboratory Medicine. After many years of experience in a variety of clinical laboratories (hospital, oncology, reference labs), she returned to college to achieve her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from Rutgers University, from where she graduated with honors. She has also drawn on her determination and abilities to survive as a single parent of 2, even managing her own home-based childcare business, coupled with a weekend lab job to make ends meet. Tenacity is her middle name; resourcefulness her forté.

Joanne’s passion for helping people is fueled by her ability to truly empathize with you, regardless of your situation. Her sincerity and compassion are palpable; she draws from her life experiences, her open-mindedness, her insight, and her innate ability to listen with an open mind, heart, and spirit.

Believing in a “team approach”, Joanne will help you to prioritize your own needs, with the goal of leading you to view your options from different perspectives, thus enabling you to make decisions that are otherwise difficult or that seem insurmountable.

She is strongly supportive of the under-served needs of those who are stressed by their role as caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. She is also well-versed in helping those with depression, anxieties, grief in its many forms, relationship difficulties, and mindfulness (including self-care).

Currently, Joanne does not accept insurance (that option is in process). Fee will be decided at your first session, based on what is amenable to both parties.

Donna believes that one’s past informs, but does not define who a person truly is. A lyric Donna cites which succinctly underlines this idea was penned by singer\songwriter Holly Near; “The past has brought me brilliantly to here.” 

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in the field of addictions and mental health, Donna is a multi-faceted practitioner who meets each client in the present moment, creating a working partnership to address each individual’s specific needs and concerns. Using a client-centered approach which respects an individual’s personal perspective, beliefs and preferences, she assists clients in understanding how one’s beliefs influence one’s behavior.

Donna offers her unique skills and perspective to all those navigating the journey of healing, recovery and life.

Marie is a clinically certified Individual, Marriage and Family Therapist, Reiki Master and Emotion Code Practitioner which is a simple but powerful method of finding and releasing negative trapped emotions stored in the subconscious. She believes in a holistic approach to life and preventative health care as a basis for dealing with daily stress. She has an extensive background in energy work and offers workshops and retreat experiences focusing on spiritual growth and development.

Frankie welcomes clients from all walks of life. Her particular areas of expertise are depression, addiction, and codependency, couples counseling, gay and lesbian concerns, and adolescents.

She has been in private practice for over 20 years at The Starting Point. In using various forms of therapy she establishes a rapport with clients so they can move forward in their lives.

Frankie is also a professor and field consultant for Rutgers University in the School of Social Work.

Theresa is a licensed clinical social worker who began her career in 1992 working with caregivers of elderly and disabled people.

She has since counseled elderly people in their homes and worked with the severe and persistent mentally ill in a partial care setting.  She earned her clinical license in drug and alcohol counseling while working with individuals with co-occurring disorders.

She has built a reputation in the community as a client-centered therapist who focuses on “unconditional positive regard and the client’s unique world view.”  She has experience with various populations and mental health disorders.  Her social work background has taught her that people are predisposed to illnesses and that one’s environment plays a critical role in how these illnesses impact an individual’s life.

Theresa works with individuals, couples and families suffering from trauma, self-esteem, family crisis, and anxiety and mood disorders.  She accepts private insurance and private payment.

Geoff is a Certified Hakomi Mindful Somatic Therapist (CHT), life & relationship coach who helps people who are feeling stuck, struggling with relationship issues or just want more out of life.

He specializes in assisting people to free themselves of unresolved emotions and limiting beliefs so they are free to make new choices for a happier and more fulfilling life and create vibrant, loving relationships that last. He specializes in codependency and ACOA issues. Geoff draws from his studies of mindfulness, psychology, compassionate communication, addictions, spirituality and life coaching. He provides coaching in person at his office in Haddon Township, New Jersey or by telephone or Skype call. Geoff offers a wide range of programs and services from individual and couples coaching to webinars and workshops.

Lisa is a licensed psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages.  She recognizes that at times anyone can experience anxiety and/or depression as they navigate through life’s challenges, whether it is struggles with school or career, relationship difficulties, parenting challenges, or coping with illness, trauma, loss, and aging. These challenges can sometimes lead to detrimental behavioral changes, especially for children and adolescents. In an atmosphere of collaboration and empathy, Dr. Farkas aims to help clients find joy in their lives, using a variety of empirically based treatment techniques.  She employs psycho-education to help clients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that create barriers to their own happiness and fulfillment. She firmly believes that most issues can be addressed in a short-term therapy model when both the client and therapist are motivated to affect change.

Barbara is a Licensed Professional Counselor in NJ and PA, and a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor in NJ.  Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Temple University and received her master’s degree from Chestnut Hill College in Counseling and Clinical Psychology.  Barbara’s approach is warm, encouraging, and collaborative.  She has experience working with adults in early and long-term recovery.  Barbara practices trauma-informed counseling and has experience working with clients who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, and neglect. Barbara believes our upbringing contributes to how we interact with others today and working through past trauma may help improve present relationships.  Barbara’s background also includes working with adults experiencing a variety of concerns such as, but not limited to:

•     Adult children of alcoholics/addicts/dysfunctional family systems
•     Co-dependency
•     Communication and intimacy-individual and couples counseling
•     Compassion fatigue (therapists, medical professionals, animal care workers, etc)
•     Depression, anxiety, other mood disorders
•     Grief and loss
•     Issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity
•     Recovery from trauma using both talking therapy and EMDR
•     Relationship and Interpersonal stress/conflict
•     Situational stress and adjustment

Martha has worked as a school counselor since 1994, primarily at the middle school level, along with some high school experience. Prior to that she was an elementary school teacher for five years. Martha has recently retired from public education after serving 33 years. Martha is a licensed professional counselor. She is also the mother of four children.

As a therapist with a school counseling background, Martha’s approach to counseling is client centered and reality based. Focusing on setting achievable goals and initiating common sense strategies serve her clients well. Helping clients make behavioral change and/or becoming more balanced in attitude and emotion is the basis of Martha’s counseling style.

Martha specializes in working with school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults. Areas of expertise include:

• Academic struggles
• Anger Management
• Behavior concerns
• Family conflict
• Family relationships
• Focus/Attention issues (ADHD)
• Organizational skills
• Peer conflict
• Peer relationships
• School & general anxiety
• Social integration
• School refusal/disengagement
• Self-esteem concerns
• Stress (school related stress/time management)  

Martha hopes she can help her clients better manage personal, peer, school and life situations. She wants to help clients make sense out of how they approach and respond to conflict, stress, relationships, and life in general, especially as they navigate their growing years.

Janice is a psychotherapist and an eclectic individual with a broad range of experience. She believes that during the cycles of ones life – as part of the human condition – individuals are presented with challenges and conflict. At times, one can get “stuck“.

Using a team approach, Janice and her clients work together in a dedicated partnership to work through distress and conflict. Janice has years of clinical experience and is continuously updating her skills.  She is comfortable with all age groups. She specializes in trauma therapy, mood disorders, conduct disorders (with adolescents), and runs both groups and workshops. Janice believes that utilizing these tools and modalities foster change and personal development.

Throughout her career, Janice has found that conflict, turmoil and personal distress respond positively to the application of various clinical modalities.

Angela K. Baxter BS, CADC has been involved in the addictions field since April of 2011.

Her background is in Behavioral and Addictions Counseling from Drexel University and she is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Angela utilizes evidenced- based practices to help her patients gain knowledge of the disease of addiction, learn to implement coping strategies, and relapse-prevention skills in their recovery process.

Angela brings positive energy to her patients while being an empathic and compassionate counselor. She is dedicated to help support and guide the patients and loved ones by walking along side of them through the treatment process.