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)
Donna Pucci

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.
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.
Kevin Lenny

Kevin is a licensed clinical social worker who provides individual, couples, family, and group counseling.
He has counseled and advocated for people with substance abuse related concerns and those who suffer from various mental health diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder, etc., for more than 25 years.
Additionally, Kevin has worked with both adolescents and adults, addressed men’s and women’s issues, and works within a holistic approach. He uses an empathetic client-centered model that “meets the person where they are”. Kevin believes in providing a safe and nonjudgmental atmosphere for people to mend, increase their strengths, and evolve to be the person they choose.
He has been in private practice at The Starting Point, Inc. for more than 10 years and accepts a variety of insurances.
Theresa Johnson

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 Farnsworth

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.
Barbara Faracchio

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
Janice Britt-Meadows

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

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.