Our Professionals

Our Mission:

To treat the whole person with therapies that release and heal.

To provide in-depth Sand Play Training for clinicians
around the world.

The Founders

Gretchen Morgan

MSW, LCSW

Gretchen is a founding partner of
Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center.

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In 1995, Gretchen graduated from Loyola College in Maryland with her BA in Psychology, followed by her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1998, Gretchen received her Level I and II EMDR training, enabling her to better assist traumatized clients with their therapeutic process. In 1999, Gretchen was introduced to Sand Play Therapy, a Jungian and play therapy based treatment modality that was transformational to her both professionally and personally. In 2018, Gretchen (along with Sally Nilsson) created Equine Facilitated Sand Play Therapy, an intensive healing modality that combines Equine Facilitated Learning with Sand Play Therapy and can be used in individual, family, group and workshop settings.

In addition to individual and family psychotherapy, Gretchen is a seasoned trainer, responsible for the creation and implementation of the Center’s Sand Play Training Series as well as several international trainings in Ireland and Costa Rica. Gretchen now works in collaboration in Costa Rica to present personal development workshops, educational tours and well as offering the only Continuing Education program in Sand Play Therapy and Equine Facilitated Sand Play Therapy in Central America. In her early career, Gretchen also was an adjunct professor and trainer at Monmouth University.

Believing in the mind-body-spirit connection to achieve wellness, Gretchen carries her passionate beliefs about natural healing into her personal life, where she practices acupuncture, and yoga. Gretchen is extremely interested in nutritional healing, having experienced the benefits of a Gluten-Free lifestyle since 2011. As an alternative to the “medicate now, ask questions later” mentality of many modern day mental health practitioners, Gretchen refers all clients for comprehensive medical evaluations and encourages holistic treatment options.

When not working, Gretchen is usually traveling (or planning to travel) and loves spending time with her family, friends and dogs

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Mary Pat McGeehin

MSW, LCSW

Mary Pat is a founding partner of
Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center.

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Mary Pat is a founding partner of Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center. Prior to starting the center with Gretchen Morgan, Mary Pat was the Director of Family Services at St. Francis Community Center in Ocean County. Throughout her years of practice and study, Mary Pat has specialized in families, focusing on trauma. That pursuit has led her to three specific modalities of practice that she feels are most effective in dealing with the issued that lead to therapy: Sand Play Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Psychodynamic Therapy.

Mary Pat has taught as an adjunct in the graduate school at Rutgers University and as a trainer at Monmouth University. Because she has a strong belief in the integration of mind, body and spirit in the healing process, Mary Pat regularly uses acupuncture and massage, has a regular practice of qi gong and strongly supports her clients in using massage, yoga, tai chi, qi gong and other modalities of healing while they are in the therapeutic process.

Our Affiliates

Toni Zachos-Kaplan

MSW, LCSW

An interest in people and helping others
led to Toni’s career as a social worker

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Toni Zachos-Kaplan, MSW. LCSW
An interest in people and helping others led to Toni’s career as a social worker, which began at Ithaca College. In pursuit of a deeper level of education, Toni received her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.

A wide range of interests motivated work with different populations. This has been accomplished through a variety of community settings including mental health agencies, schools, and families’ homes. Toni has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, in individual, couples, family and group therapy settings.

Having worked closely with families referred by DCPP (Division of Child Protection and Permanency), a strong focus of practice has been child welfare, including child abuse/neglect, behavioral and parenting issues. Play therapy and EMDR have been strongly integrated in her work.

Toni coordinated the group therapy program at Lighthouse Counseling for nine years, offering social skills and targeted groups to a variety of populations. These groups utilized a unique blend of Sand Play Therapy, yoga, art and play therapy.

Toni has shifted her current practice to working with adults. Focuses include, but are not limited to, childhood trauma, anxiety, chronic pain and fatigue related issues, parenting and family matters. Working with adults on their journeys, fostering an understanding of how their past shaped who they are, as well as recognizing their strengths and potential, has been so valuable in leaving behind what no longer serves them. Envisioning, becoming and accepting the true self and life one desires can become possible.

One of Toni’s proudest accomplishments is co-facilitating Lighthouse’s Sand Play Therapy Training Program, in which clinicians are trained to become Sand Play Therapists. Being able to witness others experiencing the power of Sand Play Therapy has been incredible. Knowing each clinician will then help many others with this technique has been a highlight of Toni’s career.

Barbara McGinley

MA, LPC

Barbara has worked with both children and adults struggling with unresolved trauma, anxiety, life stressors, and depression.

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Joan was introduced to Sand Play by a colleague several years ago after finding herself stuck with a young client who was struggling to find words to express himself. Her interest grew as she watched her young client improve after working in the sand. He went on to find words for himself, and the inner strength to advocate for himself in the classroom. Astonished she had to learn more. Since then she has gone on to complete advanced training in Sand Play and has witnessed time and time again that Sand Play gives those whose pain is so deep that there are no words to verbally explain it a place where they can express it.

Through a mind, body, and spirit approach Joan helps guide her clients to look within to find their own innate inner strength. The client is given tools so they can ground themselves as they embark on their journey to heal and meet their personal goals. Using intuition and advanced skills the sessions are guided and tailored to meet each client where they are, in a non-judgmental atmosphere, connecting to some of the most resistant clients. Joan is experienced working with clients with a variety of issues and life stressors including but not limited to: PTSD, CPTSD, ACOA’s and alike; LGBTQ+, gender dysphoria, and related issues; OCD; eating disorders; anxiety disorders; depression, grief; and neurodivergence such as ASD and ADHD. 

When not working Joan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, photography, hiking, and going to the gym. She also enjoys reading and learning as much as she can about Spirituality, world religions, symbolism, and the unconscious.

 

 

Sara E. Abbatiello, MSW, LCSW

Children and Adolescents

After graduating from Monmouth University in 2017 with a Master Degree in Clinical Social Work Practice with Children and Families, Sara expanded her knowledge base by focusing on childhood trauma and the impact of domestic violence on Children and Adolescents.

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Sara comes to us with a wide variety of expertise ranging from The NJ System of Care, PALS Creative Arts Program, Community Mental Health, Intensive Supervised Visitation Program, and Private Adoption.

 Currently, she holds the title of Mental Health Clinician and Student Ambassador/Freshmen Transition Coordinator at Pinelands Regional High School though School Based Youth Services. Sara is trained in Sand Play and utilizes both creative arts and mindfulness techniques to assist Children, Adolescents, and Adults through their healing process.

 

Heather Koenigsfest

MA, LPC, ACS

Her goal is to provide a safe, non-judgmental
environment for the clients she serves.

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Heather earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Caldwell College and has provided effective and supportive counseling services in the community with several years of experience. Her previous professional experiences have shaped her work and made her extremely sensitive to the needs of individuals in crisis. Her goal is to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for the clients she serves. As a counselor, Heather has had experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings including outpatient and day program milieus. Her goal for her clients is to help them utilize their strengths to build resilience and achieve their personal goals. Through her hard work and dedication, she has empowered her clients to create positive change in their lives.

Heather was introduced to the Center during her pursuit of training in Sand Play Therapy. She believes in the approach of having the mind, body and spirit work through the trauma and heal the individual. In addition to Sand Play Therapy, Heather utilizes Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her treatment process.

When not working, Heather loves practicing yoga, reading, going to the beach and spending time with family, friends and her dogs.

Charlotte Morgan Stant

RYT

Charlotte wants to make Yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of auditory, visual, physical or financial differences.

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After spending the majority of her life at a ballet bar or on a stage, Charlotte was called to formal Yoga practice in 2016. In the ensuing months, Charlotte realized that she wanted to become a Yoga teacher in order to assist those typically marginalized from the practice. The Bodhi Academy Yoga Teacher Training philosophy includes principles of social justice, empowerment and trauma recovery, and was the perfect fit for Charlotte’s professional goals. She received her 200 RYT in August, 2018, and the voices of her mentors (Samantha Vetrano, Irene Pappas and Eleonora Zampatti) are with her every time she steps on the mat.

Charlotte is a gifted linguist and is fluent in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL), has two years of college level Arabic instruction as well as a conversational understanding of French.  She is a world traveler, and has a passion for understanding cultural differences as well as the threads that connect us all as human beings. Charlotte wants to make Yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of auditory, visual, physical or financial differences. To that end, she will be offering individual and group Yoga, Mindful Movement and Meditation classes at Lighthouse at affordable rates. Charlotte will also be consulting with Lighthouse therapists to bring safe and trauma informed Yoga methods into the therapeutic space.

When not working, Charlotte is preparing for her next travel adventure, playing with her two dogs or spending time with her family and friends.

Bill Heath

MSW, LCSW

His experience has taught him that meaningful connection, genuine engagement, and sensitivity to past and current trauma create opportunities for effective and successful therapeutic work.

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Bill earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2008 and has been actively working in the field since.  Bill has worked with youth, families and the systems that affect them in many roles including: outpatient therapy, in-home therapy, community-based support, foster care and as a clinical supervisor and consultant.  His experience has taught him that meaningful connection, genuine engagement, and sensitivity to past and current trauma create opportunities for effective and successful therapeutic work.

Formally trained in CBT, Sand Play, DBT, EMDR, and the Nurtured Heart Approach; he strives to be creative and adaptable as he walks alongside clients and colleagues in their journey to desired goals.  Bill also has an extensive knowledge of the NJ Children’s System of Care.

 Bill was introduced to Lighthouse through a Sand Play training in 2013.  After witnessing firsthand the power and possibilities of this practice, he completed his training with them and has not looked back.  His goal is to meet people where they are and help them find ways to get where they want to be.  Outside of the office Bill enjoys traveling, riding bikes, tinkering with and driving VW’s, playing music, and spending time with his family and dogs.

Yvonne Stern MA, LPC, NCC

Clinician/Therapist

Yvonne often refers to her theory of “LYF” – Love Yourself First
She believes in radical self-acceptance, self-care, and compassionate self-inquiry as a pathway to change.

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Yvonne is a strengths-based, and trauma-informed therapist who is passionate about helping clients go within to identify and access their strengths and solutions to challenges. She walks alongside those seeking to recognize, allow, investigate, and nurture emotional difficulties, to work through any barriers impacting mental health and wellbeing. Yvonne believes in bio-individuality and that everyone’s unique worldview and personal spirituality play a key role in overall well-being.

Yvonne earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kean University. Yvonne completed her Certificate in Sand Play Therapy at Lighthouse, particularly resonating with the Advanced Training in Male and Female Archetypes in 2019. Yvonne’s approach includes talk therapy, integrating DBT, Polyvagal Theory, Parts work, and expressive and mindfulness-based therapy interventions with trauma treatment.

She has had the good fortune to work alongside and learn from wonderful mentors in the field. And as much as these therapeutic rock stars have taught her, sometimes the most powerful and gifted teachers are her clients. These survivors and thrivers, through their vulnerability and courage, discover their inherent gifts, resources and worthiness. The key to healing is not necessarily in knowing what happened, but transforming how the mind, body, and spirit remember, protect and carry it.

Yvonne has experience presenting guided imagery, holistic health & wellness education workshops, and cooking classes to communities, corporations, groups, and individuals of all ages.

Get to Know Yvonne

Yvonne loves spending time in nature, hiking, biking, kayaking, and balances her free time with her family, her friends, and her cats, Brody and Foxtrot (Foxy), and her Siberian husky, Teeko. She enjoys carving out time for solitude, reading, practicing meditation, self-hypnosis, and other Mind/Body practices.

Especially when working in the sand with clients that may not initially want to work in the sand, the following quote resonates… “When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of Creation is completed inside us, the doors of our souls fly open and love steps forth to heal everything in sight.” Michael Bridge

Joana Couto, LPC, NCC

Joana’s interest in people’s capacity for joy, connection, and learning, in the face of challenge is what brought her to this work. She engaged in this interest by learning the factors that contributed to health and resilience during her academic studies and research experience.

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Joana specalizes in expressive art techniques, sand play, couples counseling. She has an interest in cultural humility/ multicultural competency, trauma informed, community and group modalities. She also has level 1 EMDR training and 200hr yoga teacher training specializing in restorative yoga.

She current teaches at The College of New Jersey as an Adjuct and is past president of the New Jersey Association for Multicultural Counseling.

She works with a diverse range of populations including children, teens, adults, and couples. She also works with children of immigrants and first generation adults. Joana is fluent in Portuguese and English.

When not working Joana loves to collage, travel, read poetry, hike and go to the beach, and spend time with family and friends.

Kathleen Paone MSW, LCSW

Kat has been practicing Social Work in various settings including domestic violence, outpatient, and partial care programs. She has a Masters of Social Work from Seton Hall University. She has experience working with all ages and populations but particularly enjoys working with children and teens. 

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She began training at Lighthouse in 2017 and has experienced its effectiveness in all kinds of client goals. She approaches therapy as a team effort between the client and the therapist. Kat embraces laughter for healing and wants to help her clients become the best version of themselves. In her free time Kat loves spending time with friends, listening to comedy podcasts, and being a cat mom.

 

Lillian H. Ribeiro, MA, RDT

Lillian H. Ribeiro, MA, RDT (she/ela) is a tri-lingual Applied Theatre Practitioner and Registered Drama Therapist based in New Jersey who speaks English, Portuguese and basic Spanish. Drama therapy is a therapeutic framework that uses metaphor to improve emotional well-being and healing, promote self awareness, rehearse and practice behaviors, resolve conflicts and achieve personal goals.

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As a drama therapist, Lillian specializes in working with youth ages 3+, survivors of domestic violence, and elders who have Alzhiemer’s and Dementia. Lillian works with individuals, families and groups in reaching their therapeutic goals by utilizing a range of theatrical distancing techniques and embodied approaches that encourages emotional expression and integration of the physical body. Lillian supports clients in safely expressing their feelings by using psychoeducational materials, writing, storytelling, performance, theatre games, projective / imaginative play using roles, puppetry, costumes, toy miniatures and sand play to process emotions and improve social-emotional learning.

Currently, Lillian practices drama therapy with youth at Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center and at 180 Turning Lives Around, the lead domestic violence agency of Monmouth County. In addition to her drama therapy work, Lillian serves on the Board of the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) as Eastern Region Representative. Lillian is a graduate of Rutgers University’s Theatre Arts and Speech Program, CUNY’s School of Professional Studies – Applied Theatre Studies Program, and Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) through North American Drama Therapy Association. Lillian holds several certifications through Rutgers University School of Social Work, is a Domestic Violence Specialist (DVS) candidate under the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, certified in yoga, trained in Sand Play, and facilitator of TimeSlips, a participant-centered storytelling method that creatively engages aging adults’ with Alzheimer’s and dementia. During Lillian’s time off, she enjoys globetrotting, practicing yoga and meditating, reading on the beach, being in nature forest bathing, hiking, cycling and rollerskating at a local rink.

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