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WHO WE ARE
LEAF by Dr. Dana Spada Psychotherapy is a private therapy practice offering psychotherapy services to adults, teens and children.
We practice individual, couples, marriage and family therapy.
We provide a highly privatized methodology of care.
We offer in-person and virtual therapy sessions.
Our practices are located in
Colts Neck, Little Silver , Hazlet & Sea Girt New Jersey.
our approach
LEAF uses individually tailored, creative psychotherapeutic techniques that propel individuals to live their best lives. We provide holistic therapy and counseling that is respectful of the concerns, values, and aspirations of our clients. We believe in empowering our clients by creating a safe space to explore and connect with their deeper selves. Psychological frameworks we use include cognitive and dialectical behavioral, gestalt, inner child, Gottman method couples, humanistic, strengths based, motivational, person-centered, EMDR, experiential, narrative, constructionist, psychodynamic, psychodrama, trauma informed, play and art therapies.
we provide psychotherapy services for
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Depression
- Intrusive Thoughts
- ADHD
- Relationship Issues
- Couples Therapy
- Marriage Therapy
- Family Counseling
- Children, Adolescents and Teens
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality
- Divorce
- Pediatric
- Domestic Abuse
- Anorexia, Bulimia, Body Dysmorphia
- Grief
- Parenting
- Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
- Self-Harm
- Suicide Idealtion
- Mania
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Phobias
- Sleep or Insomnia
- Suicidal Ideation
- LGBT, Transgender
- Trauma, PTSD
- Weight, Food Addictions
- Sex, Pornography, Fetish Addictions
- Drug Addiction
- Gambling Addiction
- Alchohol Addiction
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Vaginismus
- Career Counseling
- Executive Coaching
- Anger Management
- Autism
- Developmental Issues
- Narcissism
- Erectile Dysfunction
experience a sense of calm and clarity AT LEAF
our therapists
NOEL RAPP, MSW, LSW
Psychotherapist | Little Silver
Noel is an open, honest, highly supportive and understanding psychotherapist. She creates a warm and safe environment where her clients feel comfortable being their full selves.
Using a psychodynamic approach, Noel leads her clients to spark connections between their past and present so that they can actualize their sense of control over their lives through increased awareness. She fosters a process that helps her clients restructure conscious and unconscious patterns of thinking and behavior. Noel works with children, adults and teens. She practices individual, couples and family counseling.
Noel utilizes a highly individualized and tailored approach with each of her clients. Through evidenced based treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, meditation and mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and strengths perspective, Noel propels her clients progress toward goals they set for themselves. Noel keeps her client’s goals, wants and needs at the forefront of the work.
Graduating from Coastal Carolina University with an undergraduate degree in Sociology, track in Criminology and Master of Social Work degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey, Noel is a highly educated individual and esteemed clinician.
Reach out to Noel directly via phone or text at 732-947-4447
Email nrapp@leapsych.com
Samantha Ciparis, MSW, LMSW
Psychotherapist | Hazlet
Samantha is a warm, compassionate and understanding psychotherapist. She creates a safe and comfortable space for her clients to experience the magic of therapy.
Samantha is dedicated to cultivating a deep connection with her clients that nurtures self-exploration and growth. She provides a positive, strengths-based approach, incorporating mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies. Her goal is to support her clients to live their best lives and be their favorite version of themselves.
Working with children, teens and adults, and practicing individual, family and couples’ counseling. Samantha works closely with her clients toward achieving the goals they set for themselves. Samantha is passionate about the work she does, as this is her life-calling. She stays with her clients every step of the way in their therapeutic journey to self-actualization. Her hope is always to elevate her clients’ experience of themselves and the world.
Graduating from Monmouth University with a bachelor's degree in social work and attaining a master's degree from Monmouth University in Social Work, Samantha is a well trained professional and valued asset to LEAF by Dr. Dana Spada Psychotherapy.
Reach out to Samantha directly via phone or text at 732-947-4767
Email SCiparis@leafpsych.com
Brianna Freno, MSW, LSW
Psychotherapist | Sea Girt
Brianna is a patient, knowledgeable, and dedicated psychotherapist. Her mission is to
foster a respectful, non-judgmental, collaborative space to address and overcome
whatever challenges her clients may be facing. No one should have to struggle alone and using a holistic and trauma informed approach, Brianna takes pride in being a support in her clients’ healing journey.
Brianna works with clients of all ages and uses a variety of modalities in her work, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, CBT (Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and mindfulness. She understands that therapy is not a “one size fits all” process, and takes the time to carefully tailor her approach to what will best set the client up for success in their therapeutic goals.
Brianna is a graduate of Monmouth University with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in social work. Brianna is passionate about what she does and it is reflected in her work as a highly skilled professional.
Reach out to Brianna directly via phone or text at 732-947-4117
Email BFreno@leafpsych.com
katarina grimaldi, MSW, LSW
Psychotherapist | Little Silver
Katarina is a sincere, compassionate, and kindhearted psychotherapist. She creates a soothing and secure space, where her clients can feel comfortable to be their authentic selves. Throughout the therapeutic journey, Katarina considers it to be a privilege and an honor to accompany clients on one, while she believes in always offering them a positive regard and guidance alongside of them through collaboration, in order for her clients to grow and to fulfill their own potential as individuals, as well as valuing themselves and their lives.
Practicing individual, couples, and family therapy with adolescents and adults, Katarina utilizes integrative approaches through aspects of evidence-based treatment, such as dialectical behavior therapy, trauma-focused care, mindfulness-based therapy, humanistic therapy, energy psychology, and strength-based therapy, all of which allows her clients to be the primary focus of the helping process.
Graduating from Monmouth University with an undergraduate and graduate degree in Social Work, Katarina has gained substantial clinical and advocacy experience that has further shaped her into a driven, insightful, and empathetic clinician.
Reach out to Katarina directly via phone or text at 732-947-4076.
Email kgrimaldi@leafpsych.com
Gina Pepi, MSW, LSW
Psychotherapist | Sea Girt
Gina is an empathetic, insightful, and person-centered psychotherapist. She is passionate about developing genuine connections with her clients in an environment where they feel safe, heard, and supported.
Gina creatively individualizes all client relationships with a constant focus on understanding each person’s unique self-discovery journey. Through trusting and dependable collaboration, Gina views the therapeutic relationship as an instrumental tool for people to overcome personal challenges and to achieve confidence, peace, and authenticity in the lives they wish to lead. Gina believes that her clients are inherently resilient and values the strong, positive influence psychotherapy has on their pursuit to reconnect with their own strengths and abilities.
With a decade of experience working with diverse populations, Gina is welcoming and open-minded while guiding individuals, couples, and families. Gina is highly skilled in a variety of evidence-based strategies which allows her to tailor services to best meet each client’s needs, using modalities such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed practices.
Gina graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice, followed by excelling in her Master of Social Work program at Capella University. Providing effective and meaningful services, Gina uses her professional expertise, integrity, and honest partnership with clients to propel them forward.
Reach out to Gina directly via phone or text at 732-947-4174.
Email GPepi@LeafPsych.com
Julia Sgro, MSW, LSW
Psychotherapist | Little Silver
Julia is an insightful, non-judgmental, and reflective psychotherapist. Julia creates an environment that is the most conducive for her clients. By building trusting relationships and using evidence-based practices, each session feels comfortable, safe and supportive.
Julia believes self-awareness is the first step towards an expanded level of consciousness, establishing a deeper understanding and compassion for self. She ensures treatment is collaborative between the client and herself to help individuals live happier and healthier by overcoming struggles life may bring. This line of work comes naturally to Julia; thus, she dedicates her career to improving the lives of others by thinking outside the box.
Julia utilizes eclectic therapy, an approach that adapts to each client's unique needs, which can involve various treatment methods and a combination of therapeutic tools to be most effective for the individual. Julia is familiar with working with all ages while practicing individual, family, and couples counseling.
After graduating from Marist College with a bachelor’s in Social Work and earning a Master’s in Social Work from Seton Hall University, Julia’s care is creative and impressionable.
Reach out to Julia Sgro directly via phone or text at 732-947-4858
Email JSgro@LeafPsych.com
Dr. Dana Spada, PHD, lcsw
Psychotherapist & Founder | Colts Neck
Dr. Spada is an established and highly sought-out psychotherapist. She runs her practice in a private and discrete location in Colts Neck, New Jersey www.DanaSpada.com She is the founder of LEAF by Dr. Dana Spada Psychotherapy located in Colts Neck, Little Silver, Sea Girt, and Hazlet New Jersey.
Dr. Spada has been practicing psychotherapy for 22 years. Her sound clinical knowledge and passion towards her work are commendable and make her a valued asset in her practice. She has an individualized approach to client care and carefully considers all aspects of her clients physical and mental health in the interest of properly treating them.
Dr. Spada has a passion for creative and deep-reaching individual, family, and couples’ therapy and does her best to support her clients to live their best lives. A well-trained professional, Dr. Spada earned her master's degree in social work from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. She also holds a Ph.D. in social work from Adelphi University.
Dr. Spada is uncompromising in her dedication to the well-being of her clients. Her practice philosophy is to provide holistic care that is respectful of the concerns, values, and aspirations of her clients. She believes in empowering her clients by creating a safe space to explore and connect with their deeper selves.
Working with children, teens and adults providing individual, family, couples and marriage therapy, Dr. Spada brings a gravitational energy to her practice that is compassionate, warm and authentic. She fosters an environment where her clients feel free to be their unfiltered selves, creating an opportunity for them to be fully seen, heard and understood. This leads to a special process that allows her clients to access their unconscious world. Learning about this unconscious world sparks deeper connections and awareness that leads to greater control and mobility in one’s life.
Through understanding oneself, clients can connect with patterned states of mind and ways of being as habitual. Henceforth, reconstruct their emotional homeostasis in alignment with their goals. Through self-love, compassion and healing, a freer more fulfilling existence emerges. Dr. Spada focuses’ on the relationship with oneself, as it is the most critical relationship in one’s lifetime. It is ultimately the projection of how one sees and experiences the world around them.
Dr. Spada brings high presence, focus, intentionality and deep healing energy to her practice. She is appreciates being with her clients on their journey to self-discovery and loves to be a part of the beautiful growth that inevitably ensues.
Reach out to Dr. Spada directly via phone or text at 516.236.9401
Email drdanaspada@gmail.com