GIA Institute of Psychotherapy

04/09/2026

Please join us in congratulating Dena Tartaro, LCSW for officially passing her LCSW exam and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker! 🎉

Dena specializes in the treatment of trauma and complex trauma. She is trained in EMDR and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). After 22 years of experience in the social services field, she pursued a master’s degree in social work. Outside of private practice, she continues to work for the Atlantic County Government with kids who are involved in the juvenile justice system. She volunteers her time to run an adult survivor of childhood abuse group, and has worked with people living with a range of complications such as family conflicts, anxiety, making/keeping relationships, human trafficking, and more.

If you’d like to work with Dena, give us a call at (609) 788-0771 or visit our website to learn more and schedule an appointment.

04/02/2026

Who Does Individual Therapy Help?

Individual therapy is ideal for:
* Children, teens, or adults experiencing anxiety, depression, or stress
* Those coping with trauma or major life transitions
* People navigating relationship challenges or self-esteem issues
* Anyone seeking focused, personalized support in a safe space

Some choose individual therapy over group therapy to focus on their unique challenges or explore sensitive topics privately. We have both male and female counselors that specialize in a variety of modalities to help men, women, and children rewrite their stories to a fuller, healthier life.

03/28/2026

At GIA, we offer a variety of therapy types to find the best fit for you.

Our most popular modalities:
* CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Changes unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
* DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): Builds skills for managing emotions and relationships.
* EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing): Processes trauma and reduces its emotional impact.
* Play Therapy (for children): Uses play to help children express feelings and work through challenges.
* Internal Family Systems (IFS): Helps integrate the different “parts” of yourself for greater self-compassion.
* Art Therapy:  Uses creativity and self-expression as a pathway for healing and insight.
* Relational Therapy: Focuses on how your relationships—past and present—shape your emotional life and sense of self.

Other therapies we offer include ACT, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and more.

03/27/2026

Our school advocacy program is led by Jenn Rothwell who is a COPAA-certified advocate for our families.

Jenn brings over six years of dedicated advocacy experience, nearly a decade in early childhood education, and the lived perspective of raising two neurodivergent children. She understands the special education system from every angle: parent, educator, and certified advocate.

Her work blends creativity, collaboration, and practical strategy, helping families across South Jersey access services such as IEPs, 504 plans, related services, and tailored supports. She specializes in building strong relationships with families and school teams, aiming for solutions that feel realistic, supportive, and child-centered.

If you think you’ll benefit from a school advocate, give us a call for more info. 💚

03/24/2026

When you and your therapist just click 😌

Come see us. You won’t regret it.

03/22/2026

Does your child struggle in school?

Most parents don’t realize what their child is legally entitled to at school.

A school advocate helps families understand their rights, communicate effectively with schools, and make sure kids actually get the support they need, not just what’s easiest to provide.

Advocacy is an ongoing, strategic process focused on identifying gaps, interpreting evaluations, and pushing for plans that truly fit the child, academically, behaviorally, and emotionally.

You might need a school advocate if your child is experiencing:
• Academic struggles (reading, writing, math, slow progress)
• Executive functioning challenges (focus, organization, task completion)
• Behavioral or emotional difficulties (anxiety, school refusal, discipline issues)
• A disability or diagnosis (ADHD, autism, learning differences, etc.)
• Confusing evaluations or lack of clear answers from the school
• Poor communication or unmet promises from the school team
• Big transitions (early intervention, kindergarten, middle school, etc.)
• Bullying, suspensions, or complex or special circumstances

Does this sound like something that would benefit your family? Give us a call for more info 💙

03/14/2026

When a child experiences trauma, the effects can show up in many different ways. Therapy can help them process what happened and rebuild a sense of safety.

Some ways therapy supports children after trauma:
• Creates a safe space where kids can express feelings they may not have words for yet
• Uses approaches like play, art, and conversation to help children process difficult experiences
• Teaches coping skills so kids can manage fear, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions
• Helps families understand trauma responses and learn how to support healing at home
• Focuses on connection and trust, which are key for recovery after traumatic experiences

With the right support, children can begin to make sense of what happened and move forward with confidence and resilience.

03/12/2026

A great opportunity to meet and learn from Dr. Zink at EleMental Integrative Psychiatry.

Learn more about how hormonal changes could be impacting your sleep, attention, and mood.

Tonight 3/12/2026 at 6pm at Nutriamed Metabolic & Lifestyle Center

If you’re a woman in your late 30s or 40s and wondering you might not be feeling like your best self, join me at tomorrow 3/12/26 at 6 pm to learn all about how hormonal changes could be impacting your sleep, attention, and mood.
It’s free to attend, but you need to register!

03/11/2026

Why choose GIA’s internship program?

Here is what makes it special:
• Hands on experience working directly with clients under expert supervision
• Comprehensive curriculum that moves from foundations to real world practice
• Personal development focused on self awareness, cultural humility, and resilience
• Professional readiness with licensure preparation and a portfolio to support your career
• Community impact through a mission driven institute expanding access to mental health care in South Jersey

A program designed to help future therapists grow with confidence, skill, and purpose. DM us to learn more or visit our website for more info 💙

03/08/2026

Big feelings are a normal part of being a kid. The goal isn’t to stop emotions. It is to help kids understand and express them. 💛

Here are a few ways to support children when their feelings feel big:

• Remind them that having big emotions does not mean something is wrong. Some kids simply feel things deeply.
• Instead of trying to fix the feeling, acknowledge it and let them know you are there.
• Help them put words to what they are feeling so they can communicate it.
• Keep clear, loving boundaries and routines to help them feel safe.
• Stay calm and connected. Kids learn how to regulate their emotions by watching the adults around them.

When children feel safe expressing their emotions, they learn that their feelings matter and that they are never alone in them.

For more insight on this topic, head to the link in our bio 💚

03/03/2026

Anybody ever have a week that feels like a massive rollercoaster? 😅

Sometimes there’s great weeks, and sometimes there’s those weeks where it feels like everything has happened at once. We’re here for all of it, and we’re here to help you through it because you shouldn’t deal with it alone.

02/26/2026

Who Does Individual Therapy Help?

Individual therapy is ideal for:
* Children, teens, or adults experiencing anxiety, depression, or stress
* Those coping with trauma or major life transitions
* People navigating relationship challenges or self-esteem issues
* Anyone seeking focused, personalized support in a safe space

Some choose individual therapy over group therapy to focus on their unique challenges or explore sensitive topics privately. We have both male and female counselors that specialize in a variety of modalities to help men, women, and children rewrite their stories to a fuller, healthier life.

Ready to take the next step? Use GIA’s Online Portal to schedule your free consultation with any Intake Associate - they’ll listen to what’s going on and answer your questions.

We’ll take it from there!