Biography
Certifications and Professional Licenses
- Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Pennsylvania Certified Secondary School Guidance Counselor
- New Jersey Certified School Counselor
- National Certified Counselor (NCC)
- Previous licenses: New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); Delaware Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH)
Professional Memberships and Organizations
- Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (SOAB)
- Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
- Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (MARATSA)
Areas of Expertise
Treatment of children and adolescents; Forensic evaluations and treatment; Evaluation and treatment of juveniles and adults who have committed sexual offense; Risk assessment of sexual offenders and forensic population; Substance abuse evaluation and treatment; Treatment of co-occurring disorders; Trauma-focused treatment; REBT and cognitive-behavioral treatment; Motivational Interviewing; Clinical consultation and training; Secondary school guidance; Career and college planning; Working with English-Learner (EL) students
Research Interests
Research Interests
- Efficacy of Telehealth counseling;
- Co-occurring disorders and children and adolescents;
- Forensic mental health;
- Forensic risk assessment;
- Rehabilitation and management of individuals with sexual behavior problems;
- Public stigma, legislation, and youthful offenders;
- Efficacy and legality of civil commitment programs for offenders
Publications
Experiential Learning and Internship for Undergraduates
A Workbook for Undergraduate Interns in the Human Services Field
ISBN 9781032466576
Sterner, G., Lavetsky, M. B., Ercolani, M. J., & Lopez, K. (2025). Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Provider Assessment of Telehealth Effectiveness for Adult and Adolescent Service Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2025.2478893
Education
Education
B.S. Criminal Justice, West Chester University - West Chester, PA
M.A. Counselor Education, University of South Florida - Tampa, FL