End of Year Celebration

June 7, 2015 

By Marion Houghton, EdS, LMFT

"It's not just the words, it's the music that carries your meaning..."  

Veronica Bearison, quoting Al Shire, 6/7/2015

This year's Celebration truly embodied the words and the music of the CPPNJ 2015 experience. Beginning with Seth Warren, Director, who welcomed everyone for the occasion, to the presentation of the Candidates' Organization previous and incoming Boards, to the recognition of faculty members who served as instructors this year, to the faculty graduates of the Supervision Training Program-all of us who attended the program (including faculty, candidates, and families and friends of our graduates) were treated to a feast of accomplishments as well as the good food and company we shared.

And for the first time ever, we had a Master of Ceremonies, Andy Roth, to keep the party going!

The Graduation part of the celebration began with the recognition of the graduates of the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program; John Charles, EdS, MS and Lisbeth McGovern, LCSW.

Then followed the presentation of the graduates of the New Jersey Couples Therapy Training Program (NJCTTP); Lauren Becker, PhD; Meryl Dorf, PhD; Alexandra Granville, LCSW; Lisa Grossi, MSW, LCSW; Arlene Kappraff, LCSW and Donna Schatten, PhD.

We paused for a moment to witness and celebrate the transition in leadership of the NJCTTP from the team that began the program seven years ago; Daniel Goldberg, Director, Rose Oosting, Associate Director and Tom Johnson, Director of Training.

To the new team; Maureen Gallagher, Director, Sandra Sinicropi, Associate Director and Ellie Muska, Director of Training.

The Couples Program is clearly thriving and assimilated into the CPPNJ experience!

The moment arrived: Seth Warren and Michelle Bauer introduced the graduates of the Program in Psychoanalysis; Debbie Frank, LCSW and Lauren Meyer, PsyD.

Debbie and Lauren each spoke about her journey from candidate to full-fledged member of the CPPNJ community. They were acknowledged by all for their achievements.  

And finally, a tribute to the person who has given 32 years of service to IPPNJ-CPPNJ- beginning as a member of the first IPPNJ class of candidates in 1983, Veronica Bearison, MSW, LCSW. Ronnie was recognized by Susan Masluk, Shawn Sobkowski and Michelle Bauer, in turn, for her many contributions to our Institute, and was honored with a plaque. She then took the opportunity to give the speech she never had to give at her own graduation! And we all heard her tell her own CPPNJ story.

I think Ronnie captured the "CPPNJ experience", so much in evidence at our End of the Year Celebration today, when she said:

"...because we try to pay attention to both the wordsand the music, we have evolved into a culture that is warm and open, open to people and to new ideas. It (CPPNJ) has become an environment that is exciting and creative, and cares about its members."

Happy Summer, everyone! 

Lauren S. Becker

When it came time to balance all the roles of teacher, supervisor, researcher and clinician with family life, I moved to NJ and focused on my first (professional) passion--psychotherapy. I developed a private practice for adults and adolescents, primarily individuals, with the occasional family or couple in my caseload. I often treat eating disorders, adult children of alcoholics, and trauma survivors, as well as individuals struggling with relationships and life transitions.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming a student again in the pursuit of a new expertise in couples' therapy. I am extremely grateful to the institute and faculty for providing this opportunity, as well as to my colleagues who have joined me in this path and become my friends.  I have grown tremendously in my knowledge and comfort level with treating couples of all kinds, and hope to grow this part of my practice moving forward.  I have also been surprised by the extent to which the training has positively impacted my work with individual clients. I have always viewed myself as integrated in my theoretical orientation, and this will continue in my work with couples. I look forward to an ongoing association with CPPNJ.  

Debbie Frank, LCSW

I am very excited to be graduating from the psychoanalytic program at CPPNJ. It has always been a dream of mine to find a clinical training program where I could settle in and address issues related to the human condition, both within the relationship and the individual. CPPNJ has been that program. I have truly enjoyed the learning experience within the relaxed and safe environment provided by this institute. During my journey at CPPNJ I discovered a community rich with diversity, support, and seasoned colleagues who have been willing to share their wealth of knowledge.

My experience for the last ten years has given me so much: wonderful colleagues and friends, and increasingly enriching and gratifying work with patients. Through classroom learning, supervision and analysis I can honestly say that my life is forever changed.

In 1982 I obtained my MSW from Barry University in Miami, Florida. This program leaned heavily on classical psychoanalytic theory, which piqued my curiosity and left me wanting to learn more. I spent the next twenty years in Miami developing myself as a clinician. I started working at Jewish Family Service and continued for the next eight years working with families, couples and individuals. It was the time that Family Systems Theory was in ascendance, and this theory of family and relationships caught my attention. When I returned to psychoanalysis, my experience as a Family systems therapist helped me to segue into understanding relational theory.

For the next year and a half I worked in an inpatient adolescent treatment center, which was quite an intense and challenging experience. My experience at this treatment center created the opportunity for my family systems and developmental theory to come alive in the room. At this point in my journey I joined several colleagues and began my private practice career. I spent the last twelve and a half years I lived in Miami working privately and raising a family. Along with working in private practice, I developed workshops on parenting which I taught at the local community college.

When it was time to move north, I returned to New Jersey with my family, my partner and three children. I wanted my children to have the experience of living twelve miles outside of NYC and all that it had to offer. A lot of my friends and family could not believe I was leaving sunny Florida for New Jersey but I could not wait to be back home. I looked forward to experiencing the four seasons, especially because I got to purchase a wonderful winter wardrobe. We moved to Montclair, where we continue to reside and where I established a general private practice. I work with individuals, couples and families, I am particularly interested in the separation-individuation process of young adults, and in psychotherapy of traumatized people.

After I moved to New Jersey, I hit the ground running, continuing my journey as a developing clinician. I enrolled in CCAPS, attended workshops and joined a variety of training and educational groups. For the last eleven years I have been participating in The Metropolitan Center for Object Relations, Couple and Family Psychotherapy of New Jersey training group. This group provides clinical reading material which we then utilize and apply to case presentations. I also joined the board of The New Jersey Association of Women Therapists, a group of well rounded women clinicians who come together for networking and training purposes. I spent eight years on the board eventually serving as president for a two year term.

I am very happy that I completed the six year program and look forward to my continued participation within the CPPNJ community.

Alexandra Granville, LCSW

I began the New Jersey Couples Therapy Training Program when it began in January 2010. During the intervening years, I returned to work after an extended maternity leave, opened a private practice and completed the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy program.

Prior to being a CPPNJ candidate, I worked in supported work programs and on inpatient psychiatry units, first at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City where I met my husband Tolga Taneli, and later in rural Fort Kent, Maine (population: 4000), where our sons Kaan and Eser were born. In 2000, I was accredited as a Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW) through the National Association of Social Workers and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Throughout my career, I have drawn heavily on my experiences over 10 years of competitive swimming at the club, collegiate and Masters levels.

Tolga, Kaan, Eser and I moved to New Jersey in 2005. My practice is in Morristown where I work with young adults, adults and couples with mood and anxiety disorders, work-place/career concerns, addictions, issues of sexuality, and couple distress. 

I enjoy gardening, cooking and eating, being outdoors, visiting museums and historical sites, laughing and the everyday triumphs and tribulations of parenting Kaan and Eser with Tolga.

Lisa Rapuano Grossi, LCSW

Another amazing CPPNJ (formerly IPPNJ) journey!!

I am so honored and proud to complete another program through CPPNJ. After completing the Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, some time ago now, I was able to focus some time in growing a family, home and establishing a sense of community. I was able to continue to grow my practice and also had the opportunity to work as a consultant in a therapeutic school and to develop a Therapeutic Program in a public school system.

My private practice is in Westfield, NJ.   I specialize in adolescents, families, young adults and adults, often dealing with mood and anxiety disorders related to loss, challenges and transitions.

I received my MSW from Fordham University. I have had extensive training in working with adolescents, families and schools on the topic of school avoidance and anxiety. I enjoy spending time with my family, running, yoga, reading and cooking. Recently, I began participating in a community mediation group through our CPPNJ community and volunteering through A Home Within.

Over the years, I continued my affiliation with the Institute as it continued to change, grow and further develop. I continued in supervision and attended classes and workshops when able through the years. I was not sure how my training would continue until the development of The Couples Therapy Training Program of NJ.

Daniel, Tom, Rose and the CPPNJ community welcomed me into the program with open arms. They, along with a gifted faculty, created and conducted a safe and secure educational environment where candidates could, learn, explore and grow. They provided space where candidates could share personally and playfully. I strive to create this type of space with the couples I treat. As well as "stay slow, slice it thinner, take risks and take deep breaths."

I am grateful to my family John, Jack (16) and Emily (12) for all of their support, patience and guidance. They are my greatest source of inspiration to be a better person. For helping me get there I am especially grateful to my supervisor, my supervision group and my analyst.

I am grateful to my old friends through IPPNJ and my new friends that I served with on the COEC and fellow candidates of the Couples Therapy Training Program.

Congratulations fellow graduates!!

Arlene Kappraff, LCSW

I am very happy to have been welcomed into the CPPNJ community and to be graduating from the Couples Training Program.

I received my BA in English and French from Hunter College and my MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work. My goal was to become a psychotherapist/psychoanalyst and I received my Certificate from the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health. I have been in private practice since then, working with adults and couples. I currently practice in Maplewood, New Jersey. Along with my practice, I have worked in a variety of other settings: in-patient psychiatric services, out-patient mental health services, and family service agencies. In addition, I was a medical social worker in the first Liver Transplant program in New Jersey. Finally, as a social worker for Spence-Chapin Services, I counseled birth parents considering adoption.

The Couples Training Program has been extremely valuable in providing a grounding in the many approaches available to me as I do this complex and challenging work. I appreciate the high level of skill, experience and dedication of the faculty who created excellent courses. My supervisors helped me become a more competent therapist, enabling me to improve, deepen and truly enjoy my couples work.

Although I am graduating, I feel that there is so much more to learn. I look forward to my continued connection to the Institute and I already have my eyes on some of the couples' courses to be offered next year.

In addition to my work as a therapist, I enjoy many forms of dance -Argentine Tango, Swing and Contra dance and I am a student of Tai Chi.

Lisbeth McGovern, LCSW

Completing the Three Year Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy has been an enriching journey of which I am very proud. I sought this training for many reasons; primarily to deepen my clinical work, and to become part of a community that values the importance of understanding people and their relationships through a psychodynamic lens. I have fulfilled these goals in ways greater than I could ever have imagined. The relationships, readings, and discussions have enlivened me and provided intellectual stimulation that I did not even realize was missing.

I graduated from Boston University in 1990 with a BS in Business Administration and a Concentration in Marketing. After working for three years at CBS, Inc., I could not visualize myself moving up in the ranks, and occupying the positions that seemed to be valued and sought after. As I crossed town once a week to participate in my volunteer position as a "reading buddy" to a 9 year old girl struggling to read, it became crystal clear that this relationship offered much more passion for me than my job at CBS. I received my MSW from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service in 1995. I began my career at Catholic Charities, working with children in Therapeutic Foster Care. (How I wish I had the training and support of CPPNJ to have helped me work in that environment!) After three years at Catholic Charities, I reunited with my second year internship supervisor, for whom I had interned at St. Clare's Inpatient Eating Disorder Unit in Boonton, NJ. I joined her at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders and proceeded to "grow up" in a wonderful, nurturing environment, learning from brilliant women and immersed in Feminist Relational Psychodynamic literature. I had my first baby (Julia, now 16) during those years.   After years of working with women in individual, family and group settings, as well as running their Adult Intensive Outpatient Program, I left my full time position to begin my part time private practice. I worked part time while I had two more children (Michael, 13 and Madeline, 8). When Maddie started preschool, I knew it was time to do what I had always wanted to do...begin my psychoanalytic training!

I currently have a private practice in Montclair where I continue to work with people with eating disorders, as well as issues of anxiety and depression. I live in West Caldwell with my husband, Joe, and three children. I am VERY appreciative of my family's patience as I spent vast amounts of time reading never ending articles over the past several years, not to mention the additional time spent working on the third year exam! I am so grateful for all of their support.

Lauren P. Meyer, PsyD

I am happy and proud to be completing the psychoanalytic program. It has been a journey. What a gratifying culmination of classes, supervision, analysis, and control case--not to mention miles of driving hither and yon. I have gained from each step along the way. It has made a great difference in my work with patients, my involvement in our profession, and my personal development.

I live in Montclair, NJ with my husband Peter--who has been a stalwart and good-natured support throughout this experience. When I started the program, my daughter Rebecca was just out of school and my son Nathan was in college. As I graduate, nine years later, they are both adults with their own interesting lives.

My first career was in publishing as a developmental editor of sociology and psychology books. Eventually, I decided to become a practitioner. I returned to school, earning a PsyD from NYU's child/school psychology program and now I have a private practice in Cedar Grove.

It has been very satisfying to combine my clinical training with other interests. For many years, as part of my synagogue life, I have worked with special needs youngsters to personalize and give meaning to their bar/bat mitzvah experience. And as part of a mission providing cateract operations in El Salvador (initiated by my sister), I was able to lead pre-surgery relaxation exercises for the patients.

I have so many people to thank for contributing to my learning and growth. I am grateful to be part of the CPPNJ community and look forward to continuing to participate.

Donna Pass Schatten, PhD

I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from New York University in 1989. I worked in hospital, university and community mental health settings; as well as at a center for the treatment of eating disorders. I have been in private practice for more than twenty-five years, and currently have an office in Livingston, New Jersey. In addition to my couples work, my areas of specialization include divorce, eating disorders, women's issues and bereavement.

I joined the Couples Therapy Training Program in January, 2012. After seeing Sue Johnson present at a CPPNJ conference, I developed a special interest in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I subsequently pursued advanced training in EFT and am en route to becoming a certified EFT therapist. I believe that the training I received at CPPNJ and the New York Center for EFT has significantly enriched and deepened my individual and couples work. I am delighted to be part of the CPPNJ community.