Staff
Rose Celia Rosato, MA, LPC
OWNER/PSYCHOTHERAPIST
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2011-2012 The National Association of Professional Women - Woman of the year
Mental Health Counselor Best of 2021 - Midland Park
Women of Distinction - Honors Edition - 2022
2023 Board Member Helen Rehr Center for Social Work Practice
Honored Member of Nationwide Registries
2023 Best of Midland Park Awards - Mental Health Counselor
Welcome to Balance and Thrive.I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. With 35 years of experience in the mental health field as a counselor and psychotherapist, I have maintained a well-established practice in Bergen County for 30 years. I am highly experienced in individual, group and family counseling and psychotherapy in addition to workshops, lectures, program development and administration.
I have worked in a variety of community and private agencies with diverse populations and services. I have written a template for psychotherapy titled the Thriving Model Workshop ™©.
My areas of experience include depression, anxiety, women’s issues, trauma, life transition, adolescent issues, family issues, addiction, gifted population, eating disorders and more. My approach is empathetic, evidence based, and client centered. Based on my client’s needs, I integrate one or more of the many modalities I am trained in to provide focused and highly effective treatment. I continuously train and learn. While I am well trained to work with many disorders, I specialize in trauma, gifted populations, anxiety, and depression. I weave psychoeducation, which includes the latest social science and neurobiology advances, into my treatment to help clients have a firm understanding of their treatment.
In 2011 I expanded my practice and created Balance and Thrive, a center established to provide premier mental health services. I have carefully chosen qualified, experienced, and compassionate professionals who understand the importance of mental health providers prioritizing their own emotional and physical health and are dedicated to continual professional development. The therapists each have their own area of expertise which increases the Center’s knowledge base. This enhances the quality of clinical treatment and allows us to provide a team approach to treatment when needed. I am passionate about equality, self-compassion, empowerment, and genuine connectedness to the world.
Providers
Kelsey Bisson
LCSW
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of NJ with 10 years of experience working closely with individuals, groups, and families. I specialize with adults across the lifespan with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and the effects of aging and illness on individuals and families. I have specialized training in treating our older adult population and their caregivers.
I use a combination of CBT, DBT, insight oriented and solution focused therapy to help individuals improve their lives. I have a strong belief in an individual’s right to self-determination and will help guide my clients to discover and achieve their own personal goals. With a strong commitment to assisting my clients overcome adversity and feel positive about themselves I guide them to create a healthy and satisfying life they will feel proud of.
Amanda Malanga, MS, LPC, NCC, ACS
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have practiced in a variety of clinical settings including community mental health centers, residential placements, and family homes.
I hold Approved Clinical Supervisor Certification and have experience working in schools. I treat children and adolescents, collaborate with parents, and offer strategies to improve parent-child and sibling relationships.
My areas of experience include treating depression, anxiety and trauma, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, attachment issues and social skills difficulties. I use an integrative approach to treatment, tailoring therapeutic services to the specific developmental and interpersonal needs. Specialized treatment techniques include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT. I am also an advanced trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach.
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Luis Martinez LPC
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
I am a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), experienced in working with children, adolescents, and families in clinical, family home, and school settings. I have a passion and dedication for helping children, adolescents, and families to address complex difficulties, problems, or conflicts to improve their quality of life.
Having worked with culturally diverse individuals coping with a variety of clinical and interpersonal needs, my experience, in both clinical and school settings, has helped me to become skilled in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, bullying, school-related/academic concerns, behavioral difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, low self-esteem, ADHD, and other clinical concerns.
Fluent in English and Spanish, I enjoy working with clients of various age groups and cultural backgrounds. I make it a priority to support clients in identifying, developing, and utilizing resources to address difficulties in their lives. I believe in creating a nurturing and safe environment to help develop and maintain a healthy client/therapist relationship. I have an integrative approach attuned to the needs of the client. Specialized treatment techniques include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Trauma Informed Practices.
Administrative Staff
Victoria L.
Motkowski
I come to Balance and Thrive with a BA in Education, 30 years’ experience in sales, account management, and marketing, where I engaged warmly with clients, anticipated their needs, and delivered positive results. During the pandemic my interest in wellness and mental health grew as I was able to help others in meaningful ways and self-reflect on what is important in life.
I am most passionate about wellness, physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. I look forward to collaborating with referral sources and educating them about our unique services at Balance and Thrive.
When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, friends, and puppies, take barre and spin classes, cook healthy meals, and foster rescue dogs. I am always looking for ways to create balance and thrive in my life, and it is my goal to help others do the same.