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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 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.

As a therapist who specializes in loss and grief, Pat Obst has walked the grief journey with many clients and has experienced losses personally. This led her to create the Afterwards Journey, to help clients grieve, heal, and recreate their lives after loss.

She began practice more than twenty years ago as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and life coach. In addition to counseling and earlier in her career, Pat was a case manager in a mental health outpatient facility. She was then a care coordinator of in-home care giving services for older adults. Then, as a hospice social worker, Pat facilitated care and support for hospice patients and their families.

Her specialization in grief counseling came about 19 years ago after the loss of her infant son Ricky. Pat developed her specialization in grief therapy through years of additional training. Within that, she specializes in working with parents who have lost children.

Pat co-created and co-facilitated a program called Afterwards, LLC., which was dedicated to helping those 1-5 years past a major loss to step forward into the next chapter of their lives. She has led grief lectures, workshops, and done podcasts for The Starting Point, Inc. of New Jersey. She has also presented at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) annual conference.

 Specialties

• Loss & Grief
• Divorce
• Grief-related depression
• Grief -related anxiety
• Grief related to life changing illness/injury
• Grief-related trauma

Type of Therapies

• Compassion Focused Therapy
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Humanistic Therapy
• Mindfulness Based CBT
• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

Education: MSW – Master of Social Work, Rutgers University-Camden, NJ; BA -Sociology, Eastern College, St. Davids, PA;
Licenses: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), NJ
Additional Training: Continuing Education in grief and loss through The Columbia Center for Complicated Grief. Life coach training through the GROW Training Institute, Inc.

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.

Dr. Kathleen MacFarlane is a NJ licensed psychologist who specializes in health, psychology, and aging. Kathleen has worked at Lourdes rehabilitation in Camden for the past 19 years.

Kathleen assists individuals who are confronting both acute and chronic illness. She treats adults,  primarily those 60 and older. Her areas of interest include anxiety,  care-giving support, grief/bereavement, mood disorders, adjustment to retirement and, cognitive deficits. She provides individual, couple and family counseling.

Dr. MacFarlane is primarily a cognitive-behavioral practitioner. In her therapy practice, she emphasizes on the need of clients to tell their story and she believes that clients have the ability to find within themselves ways to cope with life’s challenges.

Dr. MacFarlane accepts both Medicare, Medicaid, and most managed Medicare plans.

Kathy is a marriage and family therapist with many years of experience counseling individuals, couples, and families. She is a genuine, compassionate, and non-judgmental therapist who offers a safe and supportive space for clients to be authentic and work towards their personal goals. She strives to help clients increase emotional security and strengthen connections within the family unit and intimate relationships.

Kathy has a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology from Temple University and recently completed the Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Council for Relationships. She is currently pursuing her LMFT. Her areas of expertise include building healthy relationships, developing effective communication skills, addiction and recovery, codependency, anxiety and depression, grief and loss, and healing from trauma. To increase self awareness and emotional connection to self and others, she uses an integrative approach, which typically includes interventions from the Emotionally Focused, Bowen Family Systems, Internal Family Systems, Structural, Attachment, and Mindfulness models.

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.

Erik received his graduate degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of New Jersey. He studied and is interested in working with vulnerable populations. He initially served as an intern at The Starting Point and chose to remain after his graduation to start his own practice.

Erik works with children, adolescents, and adults who are seeking help with issues such as self-esteem/worth, anxiety, sexuality, recovery from trauma, feeling stuck in life, codependency, and relationship issues. He offers his services in individual and family sessions, implementing various therapeutic approaches catered to the client’s needs. He is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for his clients.

Erik’s philosophy is that the role of the counselor is to take the journey of healing with the client, not lead the client.

Susan is a seasoned, licensed clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist who has worked for over three decades with a wide range of clients, including young adults, couples, families and children. Her modalities of practice include both traditional and alternative therapies, including (but not limited to) Behavioral Cognitive Therapy, relaxation therapies, talk therapy, family therapy and developmental psychology.

She has worked with child protective services (and other related services) in both agencies and in private practice. Notably, she spent 15 years working on child study teams in both public and private school systems.

Susan works with most of the regional insurance providers, including Aetna, Magellan, Tricare, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medicare and many local unions Health and Welfare plans (to name but a few.)

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

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.

Karyn is a Certified Spiritual Life Coach. She is an active and vibrant individual with a charismatic personality that lifts up the energy in a room full of people.  

Karyn’s personal and professional journey has helped her accumulate in-depth experience and expertise as a Spiritual Life Coach specializing in addiction, narcissistic abuse, co-dependency, confidence building,  self-love, self-care, health and wellness.  She helps individuals reprogram their lack and limiting belief mindsets, overcome their struggles, and pursue the life they always dreamt of living. She assists in building confidence, self-esteem, self-assurance, and healthy decision-making skills. She is a positive force who encourages individuals to believe in themselves, tapping into their potential to lead successful, happy, and inspirational lives. She enables individuals to choose life beyond the pain, traumas, suffering, and failures they have encountered in their lives and transform themselves into a magnet of success in all areas of life by becoming the best version of themselves emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  

Karyn has worked diligently through her life lessons and has overcome many obstacles that once held her down. As a professional, her philosophy has always been to embrace adversity, to develop continuously and bring order to chaos. She aspires to devote her time, energy, and talents to educating people about perfectly nurturing self-love and assisting them in healing through in–depth Life Coaching sessions that end with a powerful spiritual mind treatment, also know as an affirmative prayer. She can provide testimonials from her clients if anyone is interested in learning more about the power of transformation when working with a coach.