Psychological Counseling Services Staff

• Dr. Larry Gage, Licensed Counseling Psychologist, Associate Director for Counseling
• Ms. Carol Evangelisto, Licensed Professional Counselor, Coordinator of Clinical Training
• Dr. Hue-Sun Ahn, Licensed Counseling Psychologist, Coordinator of Outreach
• Ms. Kathy Ertel, Counselor
• Ms. Ann Fallon, Clinician Educator, School of Nursing
• Dr. Sarala Mundassery, Consulting Psychiatrist

2007-2008 Training Class

• Rachel Brandenburg, Pre-doctoral NJ State Psychology Intern (Nova Southeastern University)
• Jill Biros, Pre-master's Counseling Intern (La Salle University)
• Fiyyaz Karim, Pre-master’s Counseling Intern (Walden University)
• Melissa Vidam, Pre-master’s Counseling Intern (Rider University)
• Sally Vona, Pre-master’s Counseling Intern (Monmouth University)

Office Support Staff for the offices of Health Services and Psychological Counseling Services

• Ms. Rita Ma, Secretary
• Ms. Pat Hamill, Secretary
• Ms. Sandra Whaley, Secretary

Meet Our Counseling Staff

Full-time

Hue-Sun Ahn is a counseling psychologist who joined the staff in August 2004. Before coming to The College of New Jersey, she was on staff at several university counseling centers in the region. Hue-Sun is a 1.5 generation Korean American who moved to the US at the age of 8, and is bilingual in Korean and English. She received her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and her masters and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania . She is licensed as a psychologist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

  

Her professional areas of interest include issues of body image and eating disorders, acculturation and racial/ethnic identity development, and outreach to the campus community regarding psychosocial and wellness issues.   As a part of the Psychological Counseling Services’ group counseling program, she facilitates the “Food, Mood and You” group for students dealing with eating concerns and body image issues.   She also facilitates the “Race, Culture and Identity” support group for students of color.  Hue-Sun approaches psychological issues from the perspective that one's psychological development is affected by one's personal history and by the current environment.   She enjoys helping individuals and communities identify strengths and resources that promote healthy development.

Kathleen Ertel joined the staff in June 2006.  Kathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education in1974 from Trenton State College, now known as The College of New Jersey.  Shortly thereafter, Kathy began her family with husband, Don.  In addition to raising their two sons, Kathy coached Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball at the Hun School of Princeton and Gymnastics at Hopewell Valley High School.  Kathy also worked in a variety of part time capacities including food service, tax preparation, substitute teaching and on the editorial staff for a major construction trade publication.  In 1989, Kathy returned to Trenton State College and earned her master’s degree in Counseling in 1992 with a concentration in alcohol and other addictions.  In 1996, Kathy was hired as a Program Specialist providing academic advising and emotional support to students within the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) at The College of New Jersey where she worked until transferring to Psychological Counseling Services.  EOF is one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful state-supported efforts to provide access to higher education for economically and educationally disadvantaged students.  The program assists low-income residents who are capable and motivated but lack adequate preparation for college study.  In 2005, Kathy was awarded the first Academic Advisor of the Year Award from the Center for Academic Support.  Since 1998, Kathy has co-facilitated a group called “For Students’ Who Have Experienced the Death of a Parent of Sibling” with PCS colleague, Carol Evangelisto. 

Kathy enjoys working with the college student as they transition into adulthood.  She feels it is a great privilege to form relationships with students as they embark on their journey of self discovery.  Kathy has been greatly influenced by many in the field but especially the work of Virginia Satir (in particular her work on “Peoplemaking” and “The New Peoplemaking”) and Skip Downing (in particular his work “On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life).  Kathy believes that people can realize their dreams and their full potential by increasing self awareness, developing a high sense of self esteem and making wise choices.

Carol Evangelisto began her involvement with Trenton State College (as it was known then) as a first year student in 1972. After graduation in 1976, and a few career changes, she returned in 1984 to pursue a Master’s degree in Counseling, graduating a second time in 1988. 

Carol has been part of the Psychological Counseling Services staff since 1990.  She is a NJ Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), as well as a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has a strong interest and background in cognitive therapy, group counseling, and grief and loss counseling. She also has completed training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a new approach to the treatment of trauma. 

An aficionado of international travel, Carol has had the privilege of visiting 48 countries on 5 continents.  She enjoys working with our international student population: Those on exchange, those who have recently immigrated to the US, bi-cultural students, and those who are returning from overseas experiences. Together with her PCS colleague, Kathy Ertel, she facilitates a group called “For Students’ Who Have Experienced the Death of a Parent or Sibling”.  This group will begin its tenth consecutive year in the spring of 2007.  Nearly 80 students have participated in it.          

Carol sees her life as a triumph over numerous personal tragedies.  She has learned that pain can be transformed and that life can continue to be a joy. It is for these reasons that Carol has chosen her life’s work of helping others to discover their inner strengths and to find their own peace and joy.

Larry Gage's first experience in counseling was as a telephone crisis counselor in 1974, as an undergraduate at Florida State University. Since that time, his development as a psychologist has had many twists and turns, with school and work experiences blending together. A core experience in Larry's development as a counselor and as a person was studying for his Master of Education degree at Ohio University, with areas of emphasis in student personnel and community counseling. Larry now has a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Florida, and is licensed as a psychologist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

     Along with expertise in the area of the addictions and addictions treatment, Larry has done research, presented, and practiced in the areas of habit change, wellness (the concept of striving for optimal functioning in different parts of our lives), positive psychology, evolutionary psychology, substance abuse treatment, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy (among others). He receives some of his greatest satisfaction when he is able to help someone identify and develop their assets and forge them into a positive lifestyle.

     Larry came to The College of New Jersey in 1988, when it was known as Trenton State College. Since becoming the head of the Psychological Counseling Services, an additional area of endeavor has been advocating for the roles a comprehensive counseling service can play in building and maintaining a well functioning college community. Larry views personal problems in a cultural, community, and societal context, applying his creative passion to the challenge of resolving personal and institutional problems. He expects he will always be a student, as there will always be something to learn.

Faculty Practice

Ann Fallon began her career in nursing in 1976 and went on to specialize in psychiatric mental health nursing in 1978.   She began a private practice in psychotherapy in New York City in 1980 as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric Nursing. She continues to practice in her home office in Verona , New Jersey (Essex County). Ann takes pride in how Psychiatric nurses have led the way for the rest of the nursing profession as independent practitioners, having won hard fought battles with insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid to obtain reimbursement through billing for their services.   Now other specialty areas in advance practice in nursing such as the family nurse practitioner, women's health and adult health practitioners share professional practice and fee for services with MD's, PA's , Psychologists, and Licensed Clinical Social Workers. Many nurses also now have the authority to prescribe medication while counseling and caring for patients' general health needs.

     Ann shifted to an educational role in the nursing profession in 1995.   She has worked as an adjunct professor in clinical areas of psychiatric- mental health nursing for several colleges and universities in New Jersey .   She joined TCNJ 2 years ago to teach psychiatric nursing in the school of nursing and to practice part-time at the counseling center. She really enjoys working with young people after many years of practice with adults, couples and families.   She is certified as a psychoanalyst and has particular interest in dreams and the unconscious, and in working through personal issues that arise from unresolved family dynamics. She believes that symptoms (i.e. anxiety depression, panic, and relationship conflicts) can be resolved through healing past hurts and trauma in supportive counseling and psychotherapy, so that relationships can thrive and personal growth flourish in the present and future.