Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Zander.
Kate, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The paths Ellyn and I chose weren’t exactly linear—neither of us started out thinking we’d become therapists. We each found our way to counseling as a second career by a growing curiosity about people, relationships, and the complicated ways we all try to make sense of our lives.
What began as an interest eventually turned into a calling. After returning to graduate school and entering clinical work, we quickly realized how powerful a thoughtful, supportive therapeutic relationship can be. Sitting with people in the middle of anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship struggles, or major life transitions is meaningful work—and it’s a privilege we take seriously.
Gannon Counseling Services grew out of a shared vision to build the kind of practice we’d want to refer our own friends and family to: warm, thoughtful, and deeply client-centered. We believe good therapy should be both high quality and accessible, which is why we work with most major commercial insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. As the practice continues to grow, our goal remains the same—to create a space where people feel comfortable showing up as they are and supported as they move toward meaningful change.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting and growing a practice has not been a smooth road. While our shared mission and commitment to our clients have always been steady, the realities of building a counseling practice come with plenty of challenges. Navigating insurance credentialing alone can feel like a full-time job, and balancing outreach, continuing education, and a full caseload requires constant juggling. Amid the political and economic challenges our clients navigate, we empathize with these struggles and meet people where they are, supporting them in practical, meaningful ways.
Despite those hurdles, we genuinely love the work we do and remain excited about the future of the practice. Recently, we expanded our services to include EMDR therapy, and we hope to continue growing by adding a welcoming in-person office space and opportunities for group counseling. Our goal is to keep building a practice that allows us to support even more people in accessible ways.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Gannon Counseling Services?
At Gannon Counseling Services, we help people untangle the messiness of life—because let’s face it, life isn’t neat, and therapy shouldn’t feel like a clinical assembly line. We’re a client-centered private practice supporting individuals, couples, and families through challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, life transitions, ADHD, and postpartum mental health. Recently, we added EMDR therapy to provide specialized trauma-focused care for clients seeking deeper healing.
What sets us apart is our commitment to accessibility, warmth, and real human connection. We meet clients where they are—emotionally and practically—through telehealth appointments, personalized treatment plans, and by accepting most major commercial insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Therapy with us is collaborative, approachable, and designed to empower clients to build resilience, gain clarity, and make meaningful change. Above all, we are real people, not clinical robots; we meet clients with empathy, humor, and genuine care, creating a safe, thoughtful space where people feel seen and heard.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to us is helping people feel truly seen, heard, and empowered to take control of their own healing. Life throws all kinds of challenges at us—anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship struggles—and we believe no one should have to navigate them alone. We’ve created a space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences, find clarity, and build resilience.
Beyond simply guiding people through tough moments, what drives us is seeing clients recognize their own strength, discover tools that actually work for them, and leave therapy with a renewed sense of confidence and hope. We care about real transformation, not just checking boxes, and we never lose sight of the fact that healing is messy, human, and sometimes even a little funny. At Gannon Counseling Services, it’s not about clinical perfection—it’s about connection, authenticity, and helping people live fully, unapologetically themselves.
Pricing:
- We accept most major insurance plans
- We accept Medicaid & Medicare plans
- Out of pocket appointments start at $175
- We’re accepting new clients
- New Jersey residents only
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gannoncounselingservices.com
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kate-zander-jersey-city-nj/1259752
