Tim VanderGast

Professor • Special Education, Professional Counseling and Disability Studies

View CV

Dr. VanderGast earned his Ph.D in Counselor Education and Supervision (CACREP) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2008. He is a Professor in the Professional Counseling Program at WPUNJ, preparing Clinical Mental Health and Professional School Counselors. Dr. VanderGast is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified School Counselor in New Jersey. He has been an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) since 2008 and earned the Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor credential in 2020. He has completed extensive post doctoral training in Psychoanalysis. Dr. VanderGast has 15 years of experience teaching in counselor education, research, and professional/conference presentations. He has served as an education consultant for school districts in NJ, supporting health and wellness in school aged children. Dr. VanderGast is Owner/Director of Family Tree Counseling LLC in Wayne, NJ.

Professional Interests

Play Therapy
Clinical Mental Health
Counselor Education and Supervision Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic therapy

Degrees

PhD , University of North Carolina - Charlotte ,

MA , University of North Carolina - Charlotte ,

BS , Dominican College ,

Specialization

Child/Play Therapy, Clinical Supervision, Clinical Research, Group Process/Counseling

Licenses and Certifications

12/31/2009
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) NJ - 37PC00392300,

12/31/2008
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) - 780, CCE/NBCC National

12/31/2010
Certified School Counselor,

12/31/2020
Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor, International Association for Play Therapy International

Representative Publications

A window into South Korean culture: Stress and coping in female high school students.; , Journal of School Counseling; Volume 13, 2015
http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v13n13.pdf

So happy together? Predictors of satisfaction with supervision for play therapist supervisees; International Journal of Play Therapy; Volume 24, 2015
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84927611461

Representative Presentations

Introduction to Play and Creative Therapies
WOW Workshop Walden Univ.
, 2020

Beyond the Pyramid Model: The role of Play Therapy in Early Childhood Programs
THE THIRD ANNUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SUMMIT William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ 2019

Internship group supervision: Multiple methods and perspectives from faculty and students.
Tenth Annual International Interdisciplinary Clinical Supervision Conference. Adelphi University
Garden City, NY 2014

Group supervision in professional counseling: The impact of two methods on trainee self-efficacy.
12th Annual International Interdisciplinary Clinical Supervision Conference
, 2016

Internship group supervision: Multiple methods and perspectives from faculty and students.
10th Annual International Interdisciplinary Clinical Supervision Conference
, 2014

Notable Courses Taught

CSP 6010 Techniques and Foundations of Counseling

CSP 6030 Multicultural Counseling (co-developed course)

CSP 6040 Assessment and Appraisal in Counseling

CSP 6060 Individual Counseling: Theories and Practice

CSP 6090 Human Development (online/asynchronous; co-developed course)

CSP 6100 Group Counseling: Theory and Practice

CSP 6160 Research in Counseling (co-developed course)

CSP 6220 Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (co-developed course)

CSP 6320 Advanced Skills and Practicum for Clinical Mental Health Counseling (co-developed course)

CSP 6910 Counseling and Human Sexuality (created course)

CSP 6920 Introduction to Pharmacology

CSP 6280 Crisis Intervention and Management for Counselors

CSP 6420 Introduction to Play and Creative Therapies (created course)

CSP 6540 Clinical Supervision in Counseling (hybrid/online; co-developed course)

CSP 6140 Community Counseling: Resources and Social Policy

CSP 6860 Practicum in Counseling

CSP 6870 Internship in Counseling

CSP 7000 Independent Study: Advanced Case Studies in Family Counseling (created course)

CSP 7000 Independent Study: Advanced Groups: Substance Abuse Counseling (created course)

CSP 7000 Independent Study: Advanced Play Therapy: Selected Topics (created course)

Undergraduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

International Students

Administration

Faculty and Staff