Our Founders

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Bernice Garfield-Szita and Bob Szita have been Co-Directors of Contemporary Counseling Center & ActionArtz Training Institute for over 40 years. They founded the non-profit GIERS to assist those without insurance or means to obtain quality professional grief counseling at no cost or for a subsidized fee. GIERS was also created to help train or educate professionals, community members or caregivers who want additional experience in grief counseling or insight in interfacing with others who are dealing with loss.

Bernice Garfield-Szita, MS, LPC, TEP

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• Licensed Professional Counselor New Jersey State Lic. # PC00936 (LPC)
• Trainer, Educator, Practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy (TEP)
• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
• Hospice/Oncology Counselor (1985 to present)
• Fellow of ASGPP (American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama)
• Past President of the New Jersey Chapter of ASGPP
• Past Executive Council Member of ASGPP
• Certified Recreation Administrator, N.J.
• Certified Teacher of Fine Arts, N.Y. & N.J
• Certified Student Personnel Services, N.J.
• 2004 “Circle of Excellence” Award – Greater Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce
• Past Chairperson, Women in Business Committee (15 years), Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce
• President of Center Players, Inc.
• Past Chairperson, Diversity Committee Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce  
• Artistic Director of Center Players, Inc.
• 2013 recipient Athena Award  
• 2014 recipient Collaborators Award
• 2018 NJACT Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2025 Humanitarian of the Year Award, Beacon of Light
• Approved provider of training credits for national psychodrama certification
• Approved CEU provider for the National Board of Certified Counselors and the National Registry of Group Psychotherapists
  
• Forty-five years clinical counseling and private practice experience

Bob Szita, MS, LPC, TEP

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• Master of Science in Marine Biology
• Former Director of Education, Staten Island Zoo
• Licensed Professional Counselor New Jersey State Lic. # PC00937 (LPC)
• Trainer, Educator, Practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy (TEP)
• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
• Fellow of ASGPP (American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama)
• Monmouth County SPCA Pet Loss Bereavement Consultant
• Past Membership Chairperson of the New Jersey Chapter of ASGPP
• Board Member of Center Players, Inc.  
• 2014 recipient Collaborators Award
• Approved provider of training credits for national psychodrama certification
• Forty years clinical counseling experience