Carol M. Pedro

M.A. LPC in Counselor Education

Executive Director

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Carol joined YFCS in 2007 and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2011.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a graduate of Kean University, where she earned an MA degree in Counselor Education.

 

She specializes in counseling children, teens and adults who experience relationship issues, poor self-images, feelings of anxiety and depression.  Carol’s background includes treatment in substance abuse and mental health.  She has many years of experience working with adolescents, children and families.  Carol has developed and implemented Parent, Children and Family Programs for East Orange General Hospital and other Private Community Mental Health Programs.

 

 

 

 

Lisa DeVries

M.A. LPC, NCC

 

Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over twenty-five years of experience counseling at-risk youth, primarily teenagers. From 1985-2011, she worked in the New Brunswick School System with students who had left the traditional school setting and who were preparing for their diplomas via alternative programs. At that time, she worked closely with other community agencies and served as a liaison with the Juvenile Justice System.

 

Lisa has a background in theatre and art and uses both in her counseling. She earned her M.Ed. from Rutgers and her M.A. in Counseling from Kean University.

 

She is a certified Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has advanced training in Couples Counseling

 

 

 

Brian Glass

LCSW, LCADC

 

Brian is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He earned a Masters degree in Social Work with a Concentration in Clinical Practice with Children and Families from Monmouth University in 2011. He has seven years experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings, including residential settings for children/adolescents; hospital based mental health/substance with adults; and community based mental health/substance abuse with adults.    

 

His clinical approach is person centered where the client is the expert on their lives. He specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to treat issues such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, substance abuse, and behavioral problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allan Iuspa

LCSW, CSW

 

Allan graduated from Fordham University School of Social Work with a Masters in Social Work and became licensed in New Jersey and certified in New York State. He has been employed in family Counseling Agencies and Community Mental Health Centers as well as private practice. Allan has clinical experience with marital issues, parent-child relations, individual adjustment disorders as well as severe mental disorders. His clinical orientation is eclectic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Loffredo

M.A., LPC, LCADC

 

Todd has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2007 and is a graduate of Montclair State University receiving his Bachelor's in Human Development of Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island. He recieved his Masters in Counseilng from Montclair State University in 2001. Todd is certified as a "Substance Awareness Coordinator". His experience includes group counseling for children, crisis counseling for children in a school setting, creating plans, and progress goals for treatments.

 

 

 

 

Andrea Peyser

LCSW

 

Andrea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a graduate of Hunter College School of Social Work and brings to Youth and Family Counseling Service an extensive career background in law. She is experienced in Family Therapy and works with children alone and conjointly with their parents. Andrea works with new parents, particularly mothers with post-partum depression and anxiety. She has run groups for adolescent girls, children with special learning issues, and youth at risk of becoming involved in delinquency. Andrea trained at the Bronx VA Hospital and counseled veterans on a range of issues including trauma, substance abuse, relationship violence and adjustment after service. Using a solution-focused approach, she provides both short-term solution-focused therapy and more intensive psychodynamic therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brittany Halpern

Office Assistant

 

Brittany graduated Suma Cum Laude with her Bachelors in Business Science with a concentration in marketing. She has recently joined the Youth and Family Counseling Service family to assist with daily operations and facilitate marketing our services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Blanco

LCSW

 

Andrew has been a licensed clinical social worker since graduating from New York University in 2008. His clinical experience is focused on adolescent psychotherapy and family counseling, and he is also trained to teach yoga and meditation. Having worked in public schools for almost a decade, he has helped many teens overcome their struggles with suicide, depression, bullying, and gang involvement, and helped many families regain hope for their children's futures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diana Shoback

Office Manager

 

Diana graduated from Moravian College with a B.A. in Buisness Management. She has been working in the medical field for the past 30 years and has been working at Youth and Family Counseling Service for 2 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maureen Ambinder, APN

Nurse

 

Maureen Ambinder has been a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse for the last 25 years; working with children, adolescents and adults in multiple settings including Residential, Partial Care and Outpatient settings.  Maureen is a graduate of Rutgers University where she earned a Master’s degree in Adult Mental Health.  She has worked in various child/adolescent programs.  Maureen has pursued continuing education in alternative therapeutic modalities and she uses an integrated approach, considering all aspects of an individual’s life in working with her clients.