GIA Institute of Psychotherapy

GIA Institute of Psychotherapy We are a psychotherapy practice dedicated to providing counseling and mental health services to children, teens, and adults.

The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be overwhelming. This time of year often brings up old memories, compli...
11/29/2025

The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be overwhelming. This time of year often brings up old memories, complicated family dynamics, and the pressure to make everything look, feel, and be perfect. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or not as joyful as you expected, you’re not alone.

At GIA Institute, we see this every season. When expectations rise, emotional bandwidth often shrinks, and that’s a very human response. It’s okay to choose rest over tradition, to honor your limits, and to let your holiday look different than someone else’s. Your feelings aren’t failures. They’re cues that deserve care.

If the pressure is weighing on you this season, here are a few ways to lighten the load:
❤️ Choose one thing to simplify — meals, gifts, or plans
❤️ Schedule short breaks to breathe or step outside
❤️ Say no when something drains more than it gives
❤️ Communicate your needs with someone you trust
❤️ Let go of “perfect” and focus on “good enough”

And if you need support navigating the emotions that show up this time of year, we’re here to walk with you. You deserve a holiday that feels gentler, calmer, and grounded in what you truly need.

Sometimes we watch a child melt down over what seems like nothing, like the wrong sheets, scratchy pants, or a toy taken...
11/23/2025

Sometimes we watch a child melt down over what seems like nothing, like the wrong sheets, scratchy pants, or a toy taken away for a call, and we know that for a deeply feeling kid, those moments are not small at all.

These children feel everything intensely, including their own emotions, the emotions in the room, and even the things left unsaid. Their sensitivity is a gift that makes them intuitive, creative, empathetic, and wise beyond their years, but it can also lead to overwhelm that others may not understand.

At the Gia Institute, we believe what these children need most is not to be talked out of their feelings but to be supported through them.

We focus on helping kids name what is happening inside, offering them structure and safety while honoring their emotional world. Our role is to hold boundaries with compassion, to co-regulate when they struggle, and to remind caregivers that perfection is not the goal. Presence is what matters most. Through understanding and connection, we help deeply feeling kids know that who they are is not “too much” but beautifully enough.

Want to know more about how to care for your deeply feeling kid? Head to our blog here https://www.ginnocente.com/between-us/when-your-kid-feels-everything-a-love-letter-to-the-deeply-feeling-child

It was a typical weekday in our house. We were already running late for school (again) - my daughter was still half-dres...
11/19/2025

It was a typical weekday in our house. We were already running late for school (again) - my daughter was still half-dressed, her breakfast was somewhere between her mouth and the dogs, and I was chasing her, holding a hairbrush like it represented the last shred of hope we had of passing as a functioning family.

As we rounded the kitchen island for the third time, she suddenly stopped. And just as I was about to declare victory, she raised her hand to my face, fingers stretched, and shouted:

“Mommy, stop it! You can’t touch my body without my permission!”

You know what, Katie Girl?

You’re damn right.

Learn more about the lesson my daughter taught me on our blog! https://www.ginnocente.com/between-us/the-day-my-daughter-taught-me-consent
💗

11/15/2025

We are relational therapists. This means we believe that you need to click with your therapist in order for the work to be successful.

Studies show 85% of therapy success is based on the quality of relationship you have with your therapist, which is why we spend a lot of time matching you up with the right therapist in our practice.

We care at GIA Institute. It all starts with a phone call.
📞 609-788-0771
📍 Somers Point, NJ

IT’S OFFICIAL! We are your 2025 Best of the Press #1 choice for Best Mental Health Services!Connection is everything…we...
11/09/2025

IT’S OFFICIAL! We are your 2025 Best of the Press #1 choice for Best Mental Health Services!

Connection is everything…we’re so grateful you chose  GIA Institute as your #1 Mental Health Services provider. Thank you for trusting us with your stories. 💙

Medical trauma is real, and so is the anxiety that can come long after the last appointment.EMDR (Eye Movement Desensiti...
11/02/2025

Medical trauma is real, and so is the anxiety that can come long after the last appointment.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can help you process the intense memories and emotions linked to your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. It helps your brain reframe those experiences, so they no longer feel like they’re happening right now.

Healing from cancer isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, too.

No one really talks about the grief that comes with breast cancer, not just for the life you had before, but for the bod...
10/28/2025

No one really talks about the grief that comes with breast cancer, not just for the life you had before, but for the body that’s changed along the way.

Scars, hair loss, reconstruction, fatigue… it’s a lot to process. And it’s okay to mourn what’s been lost, even while feeling grateful to still be here.

Healing doesn’t mean pretending it’s all okay. It means honoring the sadness, the strength, and the story your body carries now. 💗

When someone shares their cancer diagnosis, it can feel impossible to know what to say. You don’t have to say much, you ...
10/25/2025

When someone shares their cancer diagnosis, it can feel impossible to know what to say. You don’t have to say much, you just have to show up with compassion.

Helpful things to say:
- “I’m here for you.”
- “That sounds really hard — how are you feeling today?”
- “Can I drop off dinner or run an errand for you?”
- “I don’t know what to say, but I care about you.”

Try to avoid saying:
- “At least it’s not worse.”
- “Everything happens for a reason.”
- “You’ll be fine — you’re strong.”
- “Let me know if you need anything.”

It’s not about finding the right words. It’s about being there through the silence. 💗

Radical Acceptance is the practice of acknowledging life exactly as it is, not how we wish it were.For those living with...
10/20/2025

Radical Acceptance is the practice of acknowledging life exactly as it is, not how we wish it were.

For those living with or supporting someone through breast cancer, this mindset can be grounding. It’s not about giving up. It’s about saying:
💗 “This is happening, and I can still choose how to meet it.”
💗 “I don’t have to like this, but I can face it.”
💗 “I can’t control this, but I can control how I care for myself.”

Radical Acceptance doesn’t erase pain, it helps you stop fighting reality so you can use that energy to heal, rest, and live fully in the present moment. It’s not weakness. It’s strength without resistance. 🌿

When someone you love is facing cancer, it’s easy to feel helpless. Like nothing you say or do could possibly be enough....
10/13/2025

When someone you love is facing cancer, it’s easy to feel helpless. Like nothing you say or do could possibly be enough. But here’s the truth: they don’t need you to fix it. They just need you to show up.

Here’s how to truly be there:
- Listen more than you speak. Let them share how they’re feeling without trying to make it better.
- Offer specific help. Instead of “Let me know if you need anything,” try “Can I bring you dinner Tuesday?”
- Keep checking in. Especially months later.
- Respect their space. Some days they’ll want to talk. Some days they won’t. Both are okay.
- Show up in small ways. A text, a card, a quiet visit — small gestures mean the most.

The goal isn’t to make them feel better. It’s to make sure they never feel alone.

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer touches nearly every one of us. Whether you’ve faced it yourself, walk...
10/06/2025

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer touches nearly every one of us. Whether you’ve faced it yourself, walked alongside a loved one, or supported someone from afar, its impact runs deep, emotionally and mentally.

This October, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re offering free 45-minute emotional screenings for anyone affected. Survivors, caregivers, and loved ones.

No pressure. No judgment. Just a space to check in with yourself, speak freely, and feel supported.

Send us a DM or give us a call at 609-788-0771

In group therapy, you don’t just share your own story, you also learn from others. Everyone in the room brings different...
09/30/2025

In group therapy, you don’t just share your own story, you also learn from others. Everyone in the room brings different experiences, perspectives, and coping strategies. What works for one person might just become the tool that helps you, too.

This exchange of ideas helps you grow in ways you might never discover on your own. Sometimes the best breakthroughs come from listening, and realizing there are more ways forward than you thought. 🌱

Address

Somers Point, NJ
08244

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 7am - 3pm
Sunday 7am - 12pm

Telephone

(609) 788-0771

Website

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