Jianny Adamo, LMHC, LPC, MFT holds a Professional Counselor License in New Jersey, a Mental Health Counselor License in Florida, and is a certified relationship coach through Relationship Coaching Institute. Jianny speaks Spanish.
Jianny's passion to help create intimate, life-long fulfilling marriages led her to earn a Masters of Arts Degree in Counseling from Nyack College, New York, where it combined psychological and spiritual theories to understanding humanity. She believes that intimate relationships, although conflictive at times, are nature’s path to healing, personal growth, and happiness. Her interactive eclectic styles draws from Gestalt, IMAGO Relationship Therapy, Life Coaching, CBT, and Positive Psychology.
Jianny provides her clients with positive communication and conflict resolutions skills, as well as intimacy-building skills for greater success and fulfillment. For couples, her focus is to help them to grow in love, intimacy and understanding, and to recharge the love that brought them together. Jianny supports singles to heal from past relationships, break unfulfilling cycles of attraction, and prepare for and attract love. In divorce care, she supports the client to stabilize and heal, and promotes a quicker path to healthy living and love again.
Beth Anagnostis, LCSW, LCADC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor and has been a social worker for nearly twenty years. In addition to working for the Mars and Venus Counseling Center, she also works in an outpatient substance abuse facility with adolescents and with adults who have mental health diagnoses as well as addictions.
One of Beth's areas of expertise includes helping people of all ages with addictions, with a focus on twelve-step recovery as well as cognitive behavioral work and motivational interviewing techniques.
Beth works extensively with young adults who are coping with the social and academic demands of college. In addition, she specializes in working with young people who have completed college, a trade school, or high school and are struggling to transition into the world of full-time work and adjusting to being at home with their immediate family again or living on their own.
Beth also specializes in adolescents with behavioral difficulties, anxiety and depression, substance abuse, ADHD and ADD, and broken families. There is a strong focus on family work.
Beth also helps couples and individuals who are in need of better communication skills and who may be suffering from a variety of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders or personality disorders and are in need of support. In addition to cognitive behavioral work, she comes from a place of helping clients focus on their strengths and goals and also utilizing mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation.
Tricia-Leigh Best, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a relationship expert specializing in individual, adolescent, couples, and family therapy. Specializing in trauma and healing repair, she focuses on helping individuals align with themselves and become braver in relationships. She’s helped numerous couples reconnect, build healthy marriages and work through the challenges of divorce. Her experience with family therapy has equipped her to strengthen parent-adolescent relationships. At the core of her work is an integrative approach that helps women and men love themselves more and connect to others in meaningful ways.
Within her individual coaching work, Tricia-Leigh promotes courageous living through empowerment. She facilitates acceptance and transcendence to help you recognize the truth of who you are and what you need. Her guidance can help you radically reinvent your life by embracing the obstacles that keep you stuck. Tricia-Leigh offers one-on-one sessions as well as workshops to facilitate personal growth and the particular challenges of the pandemic. She comes from a family of health practitioners who have contributed to the Denville community for over 40 years.
“I'm all about heart, humor, and love.”
Michelle Branigan, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, B.C.D. is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a Masters Degree from Columbia University School of Social Work. She attained certification with Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work. She has certification in Gestalt Psychotherapy and certification in Gerontology from Rutgers University. Michelle has an extensive background in clinical social work supervision in healthcare settings and holds SIFI certification from NYU School of Social Work.
For more than twenty years, Michelle has helped individuals, couples, and families better understand themselves and develop better ways of communicating with their loved ones. Michelle specializes in life transitions such as adolescent emotions, young adults seeking career and relationships, premarital, marital, parenting concerns, middle age to advanced age, and she addresses ways in which the client can feel positive in how they are handling and navigating their lives and situations therein.
Michelle believes in the mind/body/spirit connection, and she has expertise in working with clients coping with anxiety, depression, chronic physical conditions and illnesses, as well as terminal illness. Her background provides compassion for those dealing with caregiver concerns, the aging process, or the death of a loved one, including pets. She believes that loss is a part of life and, though difficult and challenging, it can also be a time of growth. Through her bereavement work, Michelle provides clients the opportunity to discover hope and healing. Michelle will integrate your faith if this aspect is important to you in your healing process.
Dara Dwojewski, LPC, LCADC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor who specializes in working with children, adolescents and their families. After receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Education from Bucknell University, Dara began working with adolescents struggling with behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse difficulties. She earned her Master's Degree in Counseling as well as a drug and alcohol counseling certification from Montclair State University. Dara has experience working with children of all ages coping with crisis including depression, anxiety, family problems, problems in school, social difficulties, developmental delays, and substance use. She also has experience working closely with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly DYFS), children in foster care, and their families.
Dara has also worked with adults managing mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring diagnoses. She has experience working with people facing a wide variety of challenges including family conflict, addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizo-affective disorder, schizophrenia, and career and financial difficulties. Dara often draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but frequently employs a variety of techniques such as play therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and solution-focused techniques.
As a former Division 1 athlete, Dara also enjoys working with young athletes and incorporating elements of sports psychology. She believes in a strength-based and goal oriented approach to counseling, and is passionate about helping others reach their full potential and attain positive emotional health.
Lauren Gates, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in a variety of settings. Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Masters in Social Work from NYU.
Lauren worked with military Veterans for over 13 years. Additionally, Lauren has extensive experience with high-risk clients with a myriad of diagnoses, including Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and PTSD. Lauren has worked with couples and is trained in Imago Therapy, which puts the focus on repairing communication patterns in relationships and understanding each partners’ needs. Lauren has also worked with families, children, and adolescents and enjoys working with young adults assisting them through life’s transitions.
Lauren provides a positive, warm, and caring approach in which the goal is for clients to feel safe and heard. Lauren is flexible and will tailor her approach, meeting the client where they are at. She is trained to utilize CBT, person-centered therapy, psycho-dynamic, mindfulness, and self-care.
Caitlin Helder, MSW, LSW is a dedicated licensed social worker with a Master's Degree from New York University School of Social Work. With a passion for helping others, Caitlin specializes in providing individual, family, and couples counseling. Her journey in the field began at an inpatient adolescent substance use facility, where she served as the coordinator for adolescent services.
Currently, Caitlin is an integral part of a school district, offering her expertise to children from K-12 dealing with a spectrum of challenges, including school refusal, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral issues. With a profound understanding of the complexities students face both inside and outside the educational setting, Caitlin is committed to making a positive impact on their lives.
Caitlin possesses extensive experience working with families and individuals, fostering a positive and relaxed atmosphere in her sessions. She firmly believes in the importance of creating a safe environment where every person can express their feelings freely. Caitlin's approach is characterized by positivity, nurturing, empathy, and a nonjudgmental demeanor, aiming to instill a sense of security and well-being in her clients. Her ultimate goal is to empower individuals to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience.
David Kaplan, LCSW is a highly qualified Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Rutgers University. With a robust career spanning over two decades, Dave has honed his expertise in providing compassionate and effective support to a diverse range of clients. His extensive experience includes working with individuals, couples, and families who are navigating various crises and challenges.
Throughout his career, Dave has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of human behavior and the nuances of different therapeutic approaches. His work is characterized by a client-centered approach, emphasizing empathy, active listening, and a commitment to helping clients achieve their personal goals and overcome obstacles. Dave’s rich background includes managing acute crises, facilitating long-term therapeutic processes, and guiding clients through periods of significant transition and stress.
Dave's commitment to his field is reflected not only in his substantial experience but also in his continuous pursuit of professional development and knowledge. His therapy is informed by the latest research and best practices in social work and mental health, ensuring that he provides the highest standard of care to those he serves. Whether working one-on-one with individuals, supporting couples through relational difficulties, and assisting families in navigating complex dynamics, Dave Kaplan brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and dedication to his role as a clinician.
Susan Keefer, Ph.D., LPC, New York City Co-Director is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Susan works with couples experiencing relationship issues, such as difficulties in communicating or resolving conflict, and with individuals experiencing a variety of concerns, from mood disturbances, such as anxiety and depression, to struggles with addiction.
Susan utilizes an integrative approach in counseling that helps clients to discover and build upon their unique strengths, and that emphasizes each person's responsibility for affecting and improving his or her own life circumstances. Fluent in cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic theory and techniques, Susan also relies on contemporary and more contextual approaches to counseling, such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
Susan is also a passionate believer in the mind/body connection. With 10 years of experience as a yoga teacher, she has seen the positive results that physical exercise, proper nutrition, and meditation can play in creating a balanced lifestyle and improving psychological well-being.
Kimberly Kempey, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor having received her Master’s degree from Montclair State University. Her experience includes providing therapeutic services in various settings, including school districts, partial care programs, and government venues. Kimberly also has extensive experience counseling students with disabilities, assisting in transition planning, and preparing students for adulthood.
Kimberly provides individual, child/adolescent, couples, and family therapy. She specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, and mood disorders. Kimberly believes in a person-centered/strength-based approach, creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment. She utilizes a blend of evidenced based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, EMDR, and Play Therapy.
Kimberly invites you to imagine talking to a trusted friend who offers trained therapeutic support and guidance. She offers a warm and caring environment where therapeutic goals will be created together. Kimberly then works with each person’s unique needs, promoting empowerment, healing, and growth.
Rob Klein, Ph.D, LSW has been working in the fields of mental health and education for more than 25 years. He is a teacher at heart, helping clients to move past just “fixing the problem” by teaching skills that sustain healthy, meaningful relationships, refine communication, and improve collaborative problem-solving.
Rob offers sessions for couples, individual, adolescent, and family counseling, as well as support for clients involved in 12-step programs for addiction recovery. His focus is on identifying patterns of behavior that act as obstacles to growth in order to promote better understanding and self-awareness. He frames sessions with a strength-based, goal-oriented approach that helps clients discover and build upon their own unique traits. His work emphasizes positive communication, building skills for greater relationship success while at the same time creating a safe space for conflict resolutions to support healing and acceptance. He is passionate about helping his clients reach their full potential and emphasizes personal responsibility for improving their own life circumstances.
After completing his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at Brandeis University, Rob started his career working with adolescents struggling with behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse issues. Rob holds both a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership from New York University. As a school Learning Specialist and certified School Social Worker, Rob brings decades of experience assisting students and their parents with various school-related issues; attending to academic and behavioral challenges as well as other problems connected to social-emotional learning. He specializes in adolescent and family counseling to address issues related to Specific Learning Disabilities, ADHD, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and substance abuse, with an emphasis on family systems work to strengthen parent-child relationships.
Tracie Orozco, LMFT graduated with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nyack Graduate School of Counseling and has obtained her License in Marriage and Family Therapy in the state of New York and New Jersey.
Tracie has had a passion for as long as she could remember for assisting others in creating and obtaining their goals, in mental, emotional, physical, educational, financial, and spiritual areas of their life and helping facilitate the growth and improvement of the quality of their life.
We are all on a journey, each day making choices that can change the trajectory of our lives. Tracie enjoys walking with her clients on their journey to self-discovery and well-being. She works with couples, individuals, and families and specializes in a systemic and solution focused approach.
Jennifer Pinto, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received her Master's in Counseling from Nyack College. Jennifer provides individual therapy, couples counseling, and family counseling. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, grief and bereavement, and strengthening relationships through more effective communication.
Jennifer also has training in Christian Counseling, which can be incorporated into therapy upon request. In addition, Jennifer holds a Bachelor's in Education and she has a specialty in working with children and teens, their schools, and their parents to help with anxiety, depression, grief and bereavement, divorce, troubles in school, ADHD, behavioral issues, and parenting support.
Jennifer Pinto is married and lives in North New Jersey with her husband and three children.
Michele R. Resnick, LCSW/MBA is a seasoned therapist and has been practicing Social Work in a variety of settings for more than 20 years. In working with couples, her goal is to help them heal from current and past hurts, understand the impact of individual family history on the present day relationship, and lay the foundation for a satisfying and loving relationship in the future. In addition to working with couples, she is also committed to working with adult individuals to help them achieve greater personal satisfaction and fulfillment.
Michele earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baruch College and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. With her passion for working with couples, she trained at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in NYC. In addition to the Ackerman Relational Approach, Michele is influenced by John Gray, the Gottman approach, Esther Perel, and Terry Real, all renowned and well-respected couple’s therapists. Michele is a Bergen County Resident and lives with her family.
Silver Saporito, LCSW, FNTP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker having received her Masters degree from Rutgers University School of Social Work. She is also a Certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner through the Nutritional Therapy Association. Silver provides individual, family and couples counseling. She specializes in the treatment of relationship issues, depression and anxiety disorders and nutritional health. Silver uses an integrative approach in counseling drawing upon Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and many others.
One of Silver’s areas of expertise is the food/mood connection, what we eat and how it has a direct impact on how we feel. She believes in the importance of a whole food, nutrient dense diet in order to achieve optimal mental health. By focusing on physiological function, lifestyle choices, culinary wellness, and social and emotional well-being, Silver helps individuals support their bodies innate ability to heal itself. She assesses client’s bio-individual needs such as blood sugar regulation, food allergies, digestive distress, hormonal imbalances, emotional stress and nutrient deficiencies. She offers comprehensive strategies such as nutritional plans, lifestyle and behavior modifications, stress and nervous system re-patterning and supplemental nutrients in order to progress the body toward a state of balance.
Silver works with couples experiencing relationship issues such as communication problems, difficulties involving trust, frequent arguing and feelings of disconnection. Silver integrates many theories and models when working with couples including John Gray, Terry Real the Gottman approach, Imago therapy, and other influential leaders in the field.
Silver’s work experience includes school counseling where she worked with elementary aged students experiencing behavioral issues. Additionally, she has experience in community mental health agencies where she has helped individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mood disorders.
Silver is married and lives with her husband and two children in Northern New Jersey.
Elisa Schenker, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A graduate of Roger Williams University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she earned an MSW from the University of Maryland. Elisa’s prior experience includes working with adults in long-term addiction treatment, as a clinical supervisor of a women’s addiction recovery program and as a therapist in an outpatient treatment program.
Over the last twenty-five years Elisa has worked in a school setting with students from middle school through high school. In that role, Elisa helps them manage their anxiety, depression, social, and familial difficulties that often impede their learning. In this time of uncertainty, Elisa works with parents, teachers and clinicians to help each student reach their full potential.
Utilizing her experience, Elisa focuses on helping clients build healthy relationships through open communication, developing trust and a sense of self. With a focus on goal-oriented therapy, Elisa uses a multi-faceted approach to help parents, individuals, couples, and adolescents learn coping and problem-solving skills to better deal with life’s stressors. Through talk therapy, role playing, guided reading influenced by John Gray, Adam Grant and Brene’ Brown, Elisa encourages each of her clients to find their own voice.
Socorro Caballery-Smith, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University She has worked at Hackensack University Medical Center and the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services. Socorro began her private practice in 2003.
Clients describe Socorro as “a caring, nurturing, and gentle psychotherapist.” She strives to treat each person as a unique individual, and helps them direct the treatment that will move them beyond the problems they are facing to a more fulfilling and authentic life. Socorro enjoys witnessing the progress of psychotherapy and growth of her clients.
Socorro follows her orientation in psychoanalytical and psychodynamic work; however, she is also is interested in the interplay between the body, mind, and spirit and incorporates the techniques of psychodrama in trauma work when deemed fit.
Socorro specializes in women’s issues and empowers women by guiding them to see their inner strengths, envision their potential, and develop an awareness of how powerful they are to generate change in their lives. Socorro extensively works with clients who have anxiety and depression with a strong resolve to facilitate them to learn the lesson that is inherent within these conditions. She also has experience with high conflict couples, providing those who have lost their way with the hope of a solid reconnection in their relationship.
Socorro is bilingual and is able to work with a culturally diverse Latino population.
Socorro Caballery-Smith, LCSW es una trabajadora social clínica autorizada que recibió su maestría en trabajo social de la Universidad de Fordham. Ha trabajado en el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Hackensack y en la Junta Judía de Servicios para Familias y Niños.Socorro inició su práctica privada en 2003.
Los clientes describen a Socorro como “una psicoterapeuta amable, cariñosa y gentil”.Ella se esfuerza por tratar a cada persona como un individuo único y les ayuda a dirigir el tratamiento que los llevará más allá de los problemas que enfrentan hacia una vida más plena y auténtica.Socorro disfruta presenciar el progreso de la psicoterapia y el crecimiento de sus clientes.
Socorro sigue su orientación en el trabajo psicoanalítico y psicodinámico;sin embargo, también está interesada en la interacción entre el cuerpo, la mente y el espíritu e incorpora las técnicas del psicodrama en el trabajo sobre trauma cuando lo considera adecuado.
Socorro se especializa en temas de mujeres y las empodera guiándolas a ver sus fortalezas internas, visualizar su potencial y desarrollar conciencia de cuán poderosas son para generar cambios en sus vidas.Socorro trabaja extensamente con clientes que tienen ansiedad y depresión con una fuerte determinación de facilitarles el aprendizaje de la lección inherente a estas condiciones.También tiene experiencia con parejas muy conflictivas, brindando a aquellos que han perdido el rumbo la esperanza de una reconexión sólida en su relación.
Socorro es bilingüe y puede trabajar con una población latina culturalmente diversa.
Belinda, Administrative Director
Seeking to play an essential role in a center dedicated to applying the principles and theories of Dr. John Gray, Belinda has proudly served as the Administrative Director of the Mars & Venus Counseling Center since the year 2000. With over 28 years of experience in administrative coordination, she adeptly manages all office procedures while maintaining utmost confidentiality within the center. Belinda provides unwavering support to the co-directors and staff, acting as the primary point of contact for clients and serving as their initial guide through the complexities of health insurance.
Belinda's expertise lies in navigating the intricate process of health insurance, alleviating the burden of claims submission by handling primary and secondary claims on behalf of all clients. She skillfully overcomes insurance obstacles such as authorizations, delays, and denials, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. Furthermore, Belinda readily addresses any billing inquiries, ensuring clients receive comprehensive support and guidance.
Working closely with the counselors, Belinda collaborates on implementing optimal health insurance strategies based on plan coverage. She also assists in determining fair sliding scale fees for individuals without insurance, enabling much-needed access to counseling and coaching services. Belinda is dedicated to delivering high-quality and valuable care to all individuals seeking assistance.
Belinda holds a Bachelor of Science degree and resides in Northern New Jersey, where she has been happily married since the year 2001.
