Grossman Family Counseling Center - Saint Benedict's Preparatory School

In case of mental health or medical emergency please dial 988.

Supporting Student Well-Being at St. Benedict’s Prep

At St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, we believe students can only reach their full potential when they are healthy in mind, body, and spirit. That’s why we treat mental health as seriously as academics.

Founded in 1997, the Grossman Family Counseling Center provides on-campus counseling services to help students overcome emotional challenges, process trauma, and build the skills they need to thrive.

Our licensed school psychologists and counselors—fluent in Spanish, Arabic, German, Hindi, and Gujarati—serve students in the Elementary, Middle, and Prep Divisions. Through individual counseling, family counseling, and group therapy, we support more than 40% of our student body every year.

Why Counseling?

Counseling Services

Counseling Resources

Meet the staff

Why Counseling is Important for Students

At St. Benedict’s Prep, we encourage every student to connect with a school counselor to strengthen self-awareness, gain deeper insight and develop a better understanding of themselves.

Counseling supports students in many ways, including:

Emotional regulation and management – Learning healthy coping strategies for stress, anxiety and overwhelming emotions.
Healing from trauma – Processing past experiences and addressing post-traumatic symptoms in a safe, supportive environment.
Behavior and mood changes – Identifying the root causes of behavioral challenges and working toward positive change.
Improved communication skills – Overcoming interpersonal difficulties and learning to express thoughts and feelings effectively.
Academic and organizational support – Building healthy habits, improving focus, and creating structured routines for success in school and life.

Whether a student is navigating personal challenges, adjusting to change, or striving for academic growth, counseling provides a safe space to talk, reflect, and grow.

Counseling Services

Individual Counseling

Family Counseling

Group Counseling

Peer-based support guided by a licensed counselor
Scheduled outside of class time
Students do not need parental consent

Girls Division Groups

Family Ties -A group for dealing with family (parental/guardian, sibling etc. relationships.)
Women of Wisdom- Support group for coming of age issues.
Alateen Group- The Alateen group is for students affected by someone abusing drugs and/or alcohol in their family.
Scarlett Queen Beez- Anger and Anxiety group (invite only, closed group.)

Boys Division Groups:

Alateen Group- Students affected by someone abusing drugs and/or alcohol in their family.
Blueman Group- Students suffering from grief, anxiety, and depression.
Conflict Resolution- Students who exhibit explosive or implosive behavior, and to help them manage their emotions.
Unknown Sons- Students with relationships with a parent that is broken or nonexistent.

Therapeutic Treatments

Our counselors provide a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support the emotional and mental well-being of students in the Elementary, Middle, and Prep Divisions. Each treatment is tailored to the student’s individual needs, fostering resilience, emotional regulation and healthy coping skills.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps students identify and understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Through guided sessions, students learn practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and make positive changes.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT builds on CBT techniques but places a greater emphasis on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and accepting difficult emotions. This approach helps students develop tools for managing stress, improving relationships and navigating challenges.

Exposure Therapy

For students facing anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), exposure therapy provides a gradual, supportive way to face fears and reduce avoidance behaviors, building confidence and resilience.

Play Therapy

Used primarily with our youngest students in the Elementary Division, play therapy allows children to express feelings, experiences and concerns through play. This safe and creative outlet helps them process emotions and develop problem-solving skills.

Sandtray Therapy

Sandtray therapy uses miniature objects and a tray of sand as a nonverbal way for students to express thoughts, feelings and experiences. Guided by a trained therapist, this process promotes a sense of safety and control, allowing emotionally charged issues to be explored in a supportive environment.

Assessments

The Grossman Family Counseling Center offers a range of professional student assessments to help identify learning needs, emotional challenges and behavioral concerns. All assessments are available in both English and Spanish and are administered by trained professionals.

Our assessment services include:

Psycho-Educational Examinations – Comprehensive evaluations to understand a student’s learning style, strengths and academic needs.
Cognitive Assessments – Measuring intellectual abilities, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
Social-Emotional Assessments – Identifying emotional well-being, self-regulation and social interaction skills.
Mental Status Exams – Evaluating current mental functioning, including mood, thought process and behavior.
Risk and Threat Assessments – Assessing safety concerns and potential risks to self or others.
ADHD Screenings – Detecting signs and symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder to guide support strategies.
Substance Use Screenings – Identifying and addressing potential substance use concerns in a confidential setting.

These evaluations help our counseling team create personalized support plans to ensure each student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

At St. Benedict’s in Newark, mental health is taken
as seriously as math, science and reading.”

— Jersey’s Best

Velvet Rope Program

The Velvet Rope (VR) is a behavior modification program, housed in the Leahy House, for students who exhibit academic, behavioral, and/or emotional problems which have affected their ability to function.

Learn More

Stage Rage

Stage Rage is a trauma-informed therapy led by Theater Director Patricia Flynn that combines theatrical training with guided reenactment to help students process challenging life experiences.

Learn More

Meet The Staff

Juan Campos

Counselor

Simena Carey

Counselor

Sinclair Davis

Dean of Counseling Services

Daniel DeLorenzi

Counselor

Judith Ferreira

Bianca Kazoun

Ph. D. Clinical Psychologist

Ivan Lamourt

Sr. Associate Headmaster

Malcolm Moreira

M.A. Social Work Counselor

Bhavika Patel

Counselor

Charlsey Sheib

Psychologist

Counseling Resources

Top 10 Ways to Improve Mental Health

Returning to School Anxiety

Growth Mindset Pamphlet

Addressing Grief

Mental Health Support Over the Holidays

Coronavirus Mental Health Concerns

Resources for the Community

Exceptions to Confidentiality

At St. Benedict’s Prep, student privacy is a priority in all counseling sessions. However, there are specific situations where confidentiality cannot be maintained and school clinicians are legally and ethically required to share information to ensure safety and well-being. In these cases, disclosure may be made to parents, guardians, school administration, or appropriate authorities without prior discussion.

Confidentiality must be broken when:

1. Threats of harm to self or others

If a student shares a plan or intent to cause serious harm or death to themselves or another person and is believed to have both the means and intent to act soon.

2. Self-harming behaviors

If a student reveals current or past self-harm (e.g., cutting, restricted eating), regardless of severity, a parent or guardian will be notified.

3. Neglect or abuse

If a student reports being physically, sexually, or emotionally abused or neglected, the clinician may be required to report to the appropriate state child protective agency.

4. Sexual assault or misconduct

If a student under 18 discloses being a victim of sexual assault or misconduct, the incident must be reported to a parent or guardian and the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P).
If the incident involves another member of the St. Benedict’s Prep community, school administration must also be informed.

5. Substance use concerns

If a student is assessed to have a significant concern regarding alcohol or drug use, or is suspected of being under the influence on school property, a parent or guardian will be notified.
If a student discloses distributing illegal substances (on or off campus), both parents/guardians and appropriate school staff will be informed to determine next steps.

6. Pregnancy disclosures

If a student shares a known pregnancy, the clinician will meet with the student and school nurse to discuss medical care, and a parent or guardian will be notified.