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__Genesis Centers offer therapeutic counseling for recovery from addictions and for mental health concerns. This centers around our centers' core beliefs that:

Fulfillment occurs through a process of making positive changes in a caring environment, with the support of qualified highly motivated and empathic counselors.

Treatment very often involves the entire family.

Recovery from addictions can occur with the help of constructive techniques intended to promote abstinence from substance use.

An individual can be empowered to confidently manage difficult feelings and emotions.

Mental health problems can be addressed through group, family and individual counseling, education, and peer support.

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Established in 1979 by its current Executive Director Gabriel L. Guerrieri, Genesis Counseling Center, a non profit organization, has earned a reputation in Southern New Jersey as one of the finest Mental Health and Addictions treatment centers in the area

The "genesis" of Genesis was Gabe 's conviction to provide high quality and innovative mental health and addictions counseling to people in a caring way, and within their financial means. With this singular guiding ideal, Genesis has evolved from a grassroots organization offering limited mental health services in a second floor walk up, to a comprehensive human services agency offering over two dozen mental health and addictions programs to hundreds of individuals across Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

Genesis, which opened its door with only one counselor, now consists of over 50 well trained and highly educated program staff members, including masters level therapists, licensed social workers, certified addictions counselors and a licensed psychiatrist.

Today, many children, adolescents, adults, families and seniors receive caring comprehensive treatment through the various innovative programs run by Genesis. As a counseling center that believes a community is only as healthy as the individuals in it, Genesis has stepped to the forefront, offering unique programs like the Student Assistance Program (now in more than 20 schools in four counties), the Collingswood Sunrise Program, the counseling program at the Camden County Correctional Facility, the OakWood Program in Oaklyn and Woodlynne, the Comprehensive Adjustment Program in Camden for adolescents on parole from Jamesburg Prison, and the nationally recognized Camden County Adolescent and Adult Drug Court Programs.

There's no mistaking that the world at large and Collingswood, NJ have changed tremendously in the past 30 years. Genesis Counseling Center has always prided itself on being there to assist with that change and to provide avenues for individuals to grow within this evolving world. In the future, look for Genesis Counseling Center to develop more distinctive programs and services in our never ending mission to provide that high quality care and support originally envisioned by Gabe Guerrieri.

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Staff Biographies

Gabe Guerrieri, Executive Director

Gabe Guerrieri M.Div., M.Ed., M.A.C., L.P.C.,., began Genesis Counseling Center over 30 years ago with a vision to provide quality, inventive and caring mental health and addictions counseling to those who need it, regardless of their economic status or ability to pay. Gabe graduated from St. Vincents College and Theological school in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1963 with a BA in Philosophy and in 1967 a M. Div. in Theological Studies.

Gabe also graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1972 with a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. Gabe served as a guidance counselor at Camden Catholic High School, in Cherry Hill, for five years. He then moved to Houlton Maine, and worked as a counselor at the Aroostook County Mental Health Center for three years. Gabe then served as Associate Professor of Psychology and Dean of Students at Ricker College, before moving back to New Jersey.

Upon moving back to New Jersey Gabe served as the Director of Alcoholism at Achievement through Counseling and Treatment (ACT) in Philadelphia before becoming The Director of the Comprehensive Alcoholism Program at the James C. Giuffre Medical Center, also based in Philadelphia.

In 1979, after seeing a need for change, and wanting to help those in the community, Gabe founded Genesis Counseling Center. At that time is was a one room walk-up office on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey and over 25 years Genesis has expanded to two locations, and a much larger space, but still remains in Collingswood, New Jersey.

Barry Bailey, Vice President of Operations

Barry graduated from Madison University with a Masters in Chemical Dependency Counseling. Barry has worked in the counseling field for over 26 years and specializes in Adolescent and Family Issues, as well as Juvenile Justice System involved youth. Barry joined Genesis in 1987 and has worked as a Student Assistance Counselor, coordinated the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Program, and designed the Comprehensive Adjustment Program (CAP), which is a Community Day Reporting Program for Juvenile Justice Commission youth being paroled back to their respective communities. This program was established in 2000 and was later adopted as the state day reporting model.

__Barry has been responsible for the development and implementation of Genesis’ Early Intervention Program (EIP). The EIP program works with Adolescents and Families being referred from a variety of sources. Schools as well as Juvenile Probation in the Camden and Burlington County areas are this program’s primary referral source. Barry also facilitates the EIP group sessions, and meets with families participating in the process.

__Barry has worked to expand services in Camden City, New Jersey and helped develop the many services offered in Camden, where he has worked for many years, and is responsible for the high standards that all adolescent and family programs meet today.

__Barry continues to be intimately involved with the agency’s fund raising and public relation efforts, and he works to maximize agency productivity through his management of the entire agency’s day-to-day operations which is his primary responsibility.

Kevin Gregan, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services

Kevin graduated from Antioch University with a Masters Degree in Educational Counseling and is a Certified Clinical Supervisor for the State of New Jersey. He has worked in the counseling field for over 30 years specializing in both adolescent and adult substance abuse treatment. Kevin has served on various state wide teams responsible for the expansion and the development of substance abuse and mental health services in New Jersey. He has served as a counselor, therapist, director, trainer, supervisor, educator and lecturer for the fields of substance abuse and mental health since 1972.

Abbie Kasoff-Gray,
Public Relations/Marketing Representative
and Student Assistance Program Coordinator

__Abbie Kasoff-Gray is a skilled marketing and community relations professional and is a returning member of the Genesis team. Abbie has over 18 years experience in adolescent services. Through her work with Boys & Girls Clubs, The Work Group, Cross Roads, Archway Programs, & Volunteers of America Abbie has worked with diverse populations in a wide range of service arenas. Abbie has extensive knowledge in drug & alcohol prevention/intervention, residential program management, employer relations for hard to serve populations and childcare. Abbie’s proven track record in community outreach and networking is a great addition to the Genesis team.
 
In addition to her work in Human Services Abbie has a passion for the arts and is a clay artist herself .

William Weiley, Vice President of Finance

William graduated from Glassboro State College with is M.A. in Education. He then worked in the educational field as a guidance counselor for over 16 years, and after that worked for 17 years as a controller for a transportation company. Bill joined Genesis in 2005 and worked in Human Resources and Bookkeeping before taking on the Finance role.

Lyne Purul, Human Resources Coordinator

__Lynne was previously a supervisor of 23 employees in a large Insurance Company for 37 year, as well as the Human resource coordinator of a Branch office. Lynne then retired from Insurance and in 2003 joined the Genesis team in the billing department. Lynne quickly moved up to become the Executive Assistant for the Executive Director and then in 2008 became Director of Human Resources.


Karen Vernon, Office Manager

__Karen began her career in Special Education but circumstances moved her life in another direction. She worked at Cooper Orthopedics as their Account Manager then in physical therapy, general practice and now in counseling as Office Manager. She is very knowledgeable with regards to insurances and funding sources.

Steven Ginsburg, Addiction Services Supervisor

__Steven has a masters of education, is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor and a national certified counselor.

__As the addiction services supervisor here at Genesis, he is responsible for providing clinical supervision to the interns. Also, he conducts evaluations and psychotherapy. His specialty is helping those persons with co-occurring disorders.


James Jackson, Addiction Services Supervisor

James has worked in the Addictions field for over 25 years and has a LCADC from NJ Department of Consumer Affairs. He is also a certified HIV counselor. James joined Genesis in 2003 as a therapist for the Adult IOP program in Camden and a therapist in the Jail Second Chance Program. In 2004 James was promoted to Addictions Coordinator for the Camden programming and has been responsible for helping to develop this program to the high standards it achieves today. In 2006, James has become Clinical Addictions Supervisor.

Scot Ailes, Mental Health Supervisor

Scot graduated from The University of Michigan with a Masters in Social Work. Scot has had over 25 years experience in the counseling field and specializes in Mental Health services. Scot joined Genesis in 1990 as a Mental Health Therapist. In 1993 Scot became Clinical Director and then in 2003 became Mental Health Supervisor. Scot has been responsible for guiding Genesis in obtaining Mental Health Licensure through the State of New Jersey. Scot has also ensured that Genesis maintains a high standard of Clinical Excellence, through Quality Assurance, and licensure standards.


__________________Heather Gregan,
____Coordinator of Adolescent Substance Abuse Services

__Heather coordinates the adolescent substance abuse treatment program in our Collingswood office. She comes to us with a background in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, and specializes in emotion-focused interventions geared towards helping individuals meet unmet needs. Heather was exposed to adolescent substance abuse treatment at a very early age growing up with parents who worked in the field. She has worked with adolescents in varying capacities: as a child youth worker in a group home setting, with homeless youth in an employment program and as an individual counselor/therapist with young adults. She has been with Genesis for three years and as coordinator she continues to seek new ways to reach out to adolescents and their parents in helping them transition into healthier, happier families.

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Board of Directors

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