Where Special Concerns
Deserve Special Care
Therapy and counseling
centers staffed with
psychologists, psychiatrists
and therapists
throughout Central
and Northern New Jersey
and Southern New York State
conveniently accessed from
all major highways.
Click here for our Locations
centers staffed with
psychologists, psychiatrists
and therapists
throughout Central
and Northern New Jersey
and Southern New York State
conveniently accessed from
all major highways.
Click here for our Locations
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Contact STA
For a convenient appointment and location near you:
Call Us : 201-488-6678
EMAIL : Information@SpecializedTherapy.com
Call Us : 201-488-6678
EMAIL : Information@SpecializedTherapy.com
Dr.Vanessa Gourdine, PsyD, MSN, PMHNP-BC, CAS, CEAP
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I believe that to live life successfully, (success defined by a full expression of self and an achievement of the most important goal in life—being the best “you” that you can be), you can be the best you with good mental, emotional and physical health with strong spirituality or philosophy of life, strengthened with skilled interpersonal functioning and life and work skills. My education and life experience prepared me to take an integrated approach with my clients. I focus on all facets of my clients’ lives with the objective of helping them not only to recover from issues and problems but to live fully and successfully. I take an integrated and holistic approach with the mind and body and teach the skills to my clients to continue to grow and develop long after our work is done. I provide a safe and secure environment for my clients to explore and express themselves. For clients who request or require additional security because they are easily known and recognized, I provide one on one secure contact (vanessa.gourdine@specializedtherapy.com).
All the letters after my name represent milestones I’ve achieved in a life dedicated to education and professional development. When I received my Doctor of Psychology degree, I fulfilled the ambition I had since childhood of becoming a clinical psychologist. My primary professional goal in life continues to be helping others live happily and successfully. There are many facets in life that contribute to happiness and success: love, work, family, spirituality and creativity. My training and professional development have been devised to practice with an integrated approach with the following objectives: (1) to help people become the best they can be and; (2) to alleviate the distress of the full range of issues that can interfere with success from mild psychological and behavioral problems up to and including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction and other diagnoses affecting children, adolescents and adults.
My training and professional development were designed to acquire the skills to help people achieve their goals. To that end, my ultimate educational goal was to attend the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers because of its excellent reputation as a leading school in applied psychology. I hoped to become part of a program that was and is primarily taught by leading psychoanalysts and behavioral psychologists with specialties in clinical, organizational and school psychology.
I was very young when I graduated from college. I realized that life experience would not only be beneficial to my goals as a psychologist, but exciting as well. I ventured into many fields to expand my knowledge of life and work. My first job was on Wall Street where I learned a great deal about business, finance, investing and technical analysis. I then gained additional work experience at AT&T in management training and development. At the same time, I continued my education at Montclair State College, where I received my Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology.
I was accepted into my program of choice at GSAPP as one of its youngest students. My training and education were truly rewarding. I learned about the various ways in which psychology can be applied in a number of settings. I was exposed to a broad range of theories and applications in psychological practice. I completed my requirements in record time and by year two I was on my way to my internship in New York at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, a leading Manhattan psychoanalytic institute.
I continued my education and training under the tutelage of leading analysts such as Dr. Eliot Adler and Dr. Janet Bachant. I was trained in techniques for children and adults. I was granted a very honorable gift of being the recipient of the Edrita Fried scholarship. When I had completed my training, I set a course to develop a practice that would be a place of excellence that mirrored the excellent training I received from top professors and faculty. In the mid 1990s I started Specialized Therapy Associates, LLC. The core values of the center have always been those of excellence, innovation, teamwork and leadership. I brought together a talented and highly experienced team of practitioners each with an average of 15 years of experience or more. They have diverse experience and talents and we work as a team so that our clients benefit from receiving the full range of services under one roof for clients of all ages in a coordinated way from one or more providers. In this way, as an example, you can combine the specialties of a family therapist, an addiction specialist and child play therapist to address a range of problems and issues in one family.
I continued my educational journey because I wanted to be more comprehensive and well-rounded in my approach. Experience has taught me that emotional and psychological stressors can often lead to physiological changes. I went back to school for medical training and received a BSN and then a MSN degree in psychiatric child and adult practice. I sought and then received a Board Certification in family psychiatric treatment providing me with prescriptive privileges so that I am licensed to provide psychotherapy and medication—combining a mind-body approach. I take not only a medical stance in regards to psychiatric problems, but my training has also expanded into health and wellness. I encourage others towards a healthy lifestyle that can often diminish the symptoms of depression and anxiety. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and became a member of the Nursing Honor Society—another organization dedicated to excellence. Along the way I also became a Certified Addictions Specialist and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional.
I not only learned the content of each of the important areas I listed for a successful life, but also the value of each of those areas. I learned leadership at AT&T, which was, at the time, the world’s largest and most successful corporation. At Postgraduate Center, I learned how to apply analysis to help people define who they are. Working with the employees of Dow Jones and Cantor Fitzgerald immediately after 9-11, I learned the importance of resilience and coping skills and how to assist others to develop those skills in time of crisis. While VP at Priority Systems and the lead clinician at Proctor Gamble, I assisted top level executives in their interpersonal and managerial problems. I taught interpersonal skills and helped many affected by drugs and alcohol. I acquired life and professional skills having helped many others at different levels in various corporations.
I decided to take what I believe to be the necessary skills for a well-rounded and successful life and offer them to our clients. I formed a second company called Life Work Strategies, LLC (LWS). LWS is designed to provide a broader range of services to help people achieve success. You may benefit from psychotherapy and medication, but you may also need life skills or work skills. At LWS, I and a team of fellow professionals developed specialized programs that allow others to acquire the necessary skills for success. For example, you may participate in an Integrated Healthcare Program to optimize your health or you may need interview skills to get the job you are seeking. Chances are we have a program or workshop to help you acquire the skills you need to succeed. Our programs are designed by experienced clinicians within the coaching model I developed to expedite the growth and change process. The model is based on the use of specific strategies that are like shortcuts to core behaviors that allow you to achieve your specific goals. You can learn more about LWS by visiting www.thelifeworkstrategies.com.
LWS is different from STA in that STA solely provides therapy and/or medication. The services at STA are all insurance-based. LWS provides the same level of services as are offered at STA, but also expands into non-traditional services not covered by insurance. Clients at LWS are offered a broad range of services no matter what their goals. We hope to be able to answer the unique needs of each client.
I am pleased with the improvements I see in my clients when they come to believe they can be the best of who they are. They feel fulfilled and gratified in their lives. Whatever their personal or professional goals, they have increased confidence that they can achieve them. I feel most gratified when they are in fulfilling and satisfying relationships. They are giving to others and receiving in return in ways that are most important.
The more life experience and skills you have as a coach or therapist, the more you can give your clients. I strive to develop a safe and supportive environment for my clients to discuss and work through their life problems and issues. I encourage clients to find themselves and to define specifically what will make them happy and fulfilled and then devise a plan together to achieve those goals. I work with children, adolescents and adults. I specialize in relationships and family life and parenting. My diverse training has prepared me to assist employees, professionals and executives with performance and work life issues. I have trained and coached others on leadership, teamwork and people skills to name a few topics.
I continue to receive and to provide education. I have a regular behavioral health column in BC Magazine. I am very pleased to hear from my readers and they appreciate the insights I provide. I have been a guest on TV shows, such as Channel Five News and Eye on Bergen County. I have been fortunate to receive the Outstanding Community Service award from Mt. Olive Baptist Church. In this way, I believe I am being the best I can be and I am fulfilled and rewarded by my clients’ progress.
