Gabriela Montoya, LCSW

Eastside HS

School 16

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Gabriela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for supporting children and adolescents as they navigate life’s challenges. She earned her undergraduate degree in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University and her Master of Social Work from Rutgers University.

Gabriela has extensive experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, grief, and the effects of trauma. She has completed comprehensive training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and integrates this evidence-based trauma therapy to help clients process and heal from painful experiences. 

Along with EMDR, she draws on Trauma-Focused CBT, Play Therapy, Hypnotherapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to create individualized treatment approaches. Her professional background includes working in residential treatment facilities, school settings, and crisis response, as well as completing specialized training such as the 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training, the Nurtured Heart Approach, and the Violence Against Women and Children Certificate Program. In her work, Gabriela places a strong emphasis on building rapport and fostering a nurturing, collaborative therapeutic environment. She is dedicated to helping clients not only find relief from distress but also develop resilience, confidence, and lasting skills for growth.

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