Providing Individual and Group Counseling
Counseling is provided on-site at The Gateway School by an MSW, NJ Certified School Social Worker.
Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as low cognitive functioning and behavioral challenges, create a complicated student. Social and interpersonal skills, as well as behavioral plans, are incorporated in talk therapy, clinically designed board and card games, as well as iPad apps, developed for developmentally challenged students.
Both individual and group counseling is provided, taking into consideration both the IEP goals and the presenting issues for the student.
Individual counseling provides a safe, private and non-threatening place for students to express, reflect and learn different, more acceptable ways to function in school as well as other areas of their lives, while Group counseling allows the students ongoing hands-on social and peer interaction.
Programs dealing with Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) are presented to classes on a yearly basis as well as on an as-needed basis.
The School Social Worker also interacts with therapists, parents, and clinicians on our UBHC Rutgers staff to better ensure that goals are consistent.
Meet The Gateway School Counselor, Shanice Burgos, MSW
Hello, my name is Shanice Burgos, and I am the school social worker here at Gateway! I provide both individual and group counseling for our students. I utilize talk and play therapy during our sessions, as well as skill-building and grounding techniques. I also provide social skills activities as well as mindfulness and meditation in the classrooms outside of counseling.
While some of our students come in with IEP’s outlined with goals and objectives, what we truly value the most is getting to know them beyond what’s written on paper. That’s what makes Gateway so special – we meet our students where they are and focus on their unique needs. We really accomplish that by collaborating as a team with our other therapists and teachers to ensure their success.
We take pride in building strong relationships with our students and creating a space built on trust where they feel safe to grow and succeed. Gateway is extraordinary in the way that you get to witness our students really open up. They enjoy coming to school, they become confident in themselves, and the skills they build here.
Explore our range of support services below:
