Gabriella earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology, with a dual certification in Elementary Education and Special Education from Centenary University in 2011. She has experience teaching students from preschool through age 21. During her teaching career, she realized that her true calling in life was helping her students succeed beyond the classroom setting. 

Gabriella graduated from Montclair State University with a Master’s of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2017. Gabriella is board certified through the National Board of Certified Counselors. She holds a license to practice in the state of New Jersey; license number is: 37PC00730900, and Rhode Island; license number is: MHC02022. To continue to build upon her love of teaching, in 2022, Gabriella became an Approved Clinical Supervisor, ACS. As a clinical supervisor Gabriella supervises interns and Licensed Associate Counselors helping them develop their clinical skills. Since 2018, Gabriella has served on the Children's InterAgency Coordinating Council (CIACC) and in 2025 she was appointed the Co-Chair of the Education Subcommittee in 2025.

Gabriella has over ten years of counseling experience working in mental health agencies in Bergen County as a supervisor of an adolescent partial care program and as a school based clinician. She has also supervised interns during their masters programs and licensure process. Gabriella has created and facilitated various trainings and workshops for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. 

Gabriella enjoys working with children and adolescents, and their parents to help them achieve their individual goals. Her unique perspective as a former educator and current counselor allows her to combine her skill sets during counseling sessions. Gabriella believes growth comes from within and sometimes we need the help of a therapist to guide us. 

In her spare time, she appreciates trying new recipes for her family, reading, and gardening. Gabriella has also founded a small moms group in her town for new mothers to feel connected during the early stages of motherhood. 

Jamie Biddleman, MSW Group Facilitator & Trainer

Jamie also has a deep love for sports and enjoys playing lacrosse. Jamie played lacrosse from the age of 13 all the way through college at the collegiate level, Division II. Her dream is to one day work with student athletes to address the mental health crisis they face.

Jamie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Dominican University in 2020. She then worked with adults at a support organization, helping those find the right services they needed and providing assistance while doing so. During that time, Jamie realized that her passion was helping young adults and that her goal was to one day work within a school district.

Jamie earned a Master’s degree in Arts in Social Work from Ramapo College in 2022 within the advanced standings program. For the past few years, Jamie has been working as a high school social worker, advocating for students with disabilities and the general education population. Jamie herself was a student who had a learning disability who utilized the support from an individual educational plan to achieve her goals, and she wants all other students to know they can too. Her passion is to help students of all ages understand their true potential and that nothing is impossible. 

Jamie is also a certified trainer of the Nurtured Heart Approach. This is a parenting and teaching method for intense or challenging children, including those with ADHD, that reframes their energy from negative to positive by strategically rewarding success and avoiding traditional methods. 

Amy Abate, MA, SAC Group Facilitator & Trainer

action plans, and working closely with the principal to create a warm, safe school climate and community. Most of all, her passion in this role is advocating for all students and collaborating with teachers, administrators, and parents to meet every child’s unique needs.

Amy has supervised school counseling interns and not only enjoys being a mentor to others, but enjoys learning from them as well. Amy has also earned her Student Assistance Coordinator certification and Director of School Counseling certification from Montclair State University.

Amy continues to learn and has taken numerous continuing education classes as well as training courses on various topics such as Nurtured Heart, Social Emotional Learning, Teen Mental Health First Aid, Bullying Prevention, mental health challenges, and chronic absenteeism.

In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her children, reading, working out, and going for long runs or walks. Summer is her favorite season and the beach is her favorite place. This summer Amy will work as a co-director for Next Level Camp.

Amy has over 20 years of experience working with children. From the time she was little playing school in her basement, Amy always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Rowan University and taught fourth grade for over ten years. During that time, Amy realized that the emotional and social well being of her students were just as important to their success as the academics. It was then that Amy decided to go back to school for School Counseling and she earned her MA from Montclair State University. Amy transitioned into the role of school counselor at the same school she was teaching in and has not looked back since!

Amy loves everything about being an elementary school counselor in a kindergarten to sixth grade school. The facets of her job include classroom lessons based on social emotional learning, facilitating groups, individual counseling, building 504 coordinator, holding I&RS meetings and writing