Faculty Type: Faculty

Professional Experience

Current Position

Additional Information

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Area of Expertise in Systemic Family Therapy: High conflict couples/families, Working with grief/death and dying, Joining with individuals who have not felt accepted by other professionals.

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Zack launched his career working with children diagnosed with ASD by applying concepts of ABA within the home, school and office setting. This led to him working as a Therapeutic Staff Support within the school system and eventually to becoming a Family Based Therapist. Zack spent many years working in community mental health which eventually evolved to becoming a clinical supervisor. During this period, Zack became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition, he became certified in Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy. Later, Zack served as a program supervisor, managing clinical and administrative demands. He currently works at an outpatient group practice working with individuals, couples and families.



Zack received his Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology at La Salle University. Presently, Zack is pursuing his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Capella University. He serves as a mentor for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Capella, as well as a TA and supervisor for Master level students. Zack research interests are focused on death and dying, pediatric oncology, relationship distress and marital quality when faced with a terminal illness in the family. Zack has enjoyed presenting at multiple state conferences such as the ECEC (Early Childhood Education Summit) and the Pennsylvania Early Head Start Association.



Outside of work, Zack enjoys reading, sports, fitness, cooking and spending time with family. Zack is happiest when whipping up an Italian dinner followed by watching football with friends and family.

Professional Experience

Current Position

Faculty

Additional Information

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Area of Expertise in Systemic Family Therapy: Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD), and LGTBQ+ families, Polyamorous families, Gender diverse families, and other gender/sexuality/and relationship minority clients and families.

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Sabrina Valente, MA, is a therapist and program director who has worked in the mental health system for over 14 yrs. She has spent the last 5 of those years working in Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) in Pennsylvania as a Program Director. Sabrina completed her training as a Family-Based Mental Health Professional through the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center and is certified through the Pennsylvania Certification Board. She also earned her certification as a Family-Based Mental Health Supervisor through the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center. Sabrina began working with the Training Center in June 2019 when she was asked to provide training on ESFT and LGBTQ+ Youth at the annual Program Directors meeting. She is now working with the Center as an ESFT Clinical Trainer.

Sabrina is currently the FBMHS Program Director at Laurel Life. In this role, she provides clinical supervision to all the FBMHS therapists, manages and oversees all referrals, and provides training. She is particularly passionate about orienting new therapists and clinicians to ESFT and helping them grow and develop their skills.

Sabrina earned a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. She has considerable training in trauma and is a Certified Family Trauma Professional through the International Association of Trauma Professionals. Additionally, she is extremely skilled at providing trainings and is a certified ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) Trainer through Living Works, as well as a SCM (Safe Crisis Managment) Trainer through JKM Traininng. She has also been trained as a Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) trainer through the GEMS program. Sabrina has extensive clinical knowledge in working with the LGBTQ+ community. She has actively developed safe space programs in her community for LGBTQ+ youth and has presented on working with LGBTQ+ youth, as well as a variety of other topics, at various conferences.

Before joining and finding a home in Family-Based Mental Health, Sabrina worked in crisis intervention for 6 years, providing in-person and phone community and hospital-based, mobile crisis intervention and suicide intervention services. It was here that she rose through the ranks, moving from Crisis Worker, to Shift Supervisor, to Clinical Supervisor before transitioning to FBMHS. Additionally, she has worked in a community jail teaching stress and anger management skills and started her career in mental health as a TSS. Outside of work, she enjoys snuggling with her cat Mouse, being Aunt Mimi to her best friend’s children, hanging out with family and friends, listening to true-crime podcasts, watching The West Wing for the 5th time, and eating good sushi.

Professional Experience

Current Position

Faculty, PCFTTC

Additional Information

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Area of Expertise in Systemic Family Therapy: blended family dynamics, conflictual couples’ work, anxiety and depression in women, as well as trauma.

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Dr. Amber Berkoski holds a Master’s degree in Couples and Marriage and Family Therapy she earned in 2014. She served as a graduate teaching assistant from 2015-2018 while earning her Doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a practicing licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and an Approved AAMFT Supervisor. Dr. Berkoski has worked in Family Based Services since 2013 and grown her experience as a clinical supervisor since 2016. She currently serves as an Assistant Program Director since 2019. She owns and operates a private practice where she specializes in blended family dynamics, conflictual couples’ work, anxiety and depression in women, as well as trauma.

Professional Experience

Current Position

Faculty, PCFTTC

Additional Information

Ellyn Hill is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. As a Family Therapist, and then as an Outpatient Director/Supervisor, Ellyn has practiced Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy since 2009. Currently, as a trainer with the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center, Ellyn trains and consults with in home Family Based Teams as they support family recovery from tragedy, trauma and hardship. As an Independent Practitioner, she provides strength based, trauma informed support to children and families. As a systems therapist with a firm belief in our impact on one another, Ellyn is committed to weaving advocacy for social justice and encouraging cultural exchange in all aspects of her work.

Professional Experience

MFT for 16 years, extensive experience working with homeless.

Current Position

Director of Community Services, a Victim Services Agency; Faculty, PCFTTC

Additional Information

Professional Experience

25 years of professional experience in MFT clinical practice and ESFT supervision (Media, PA)

Current Position

Director, Family Based Mental Health Services (Delaware County, PA); Faculty, PCFTTC

Additional Information