Gavrielle Canter builds a therapy practice focused on maternal mental health and trauma

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Gavrielle Canter, owner of Phoenix Rising Counseling in Wayne, New Jersey, is being highlighted by Influential Women for her work in maternal mental health, trauma, grief, couples counseling and LGBTQIA+ support. Canter says her approach centers on compassion, authenticity and helping clients build resilience through therapy.

Why it matters: - Gavrielle Canter’s practice addresses mental health needs that often go untreated, including pregnancy loss, postpartum concerns, trauma and grief. - Phoenix Rising Counseling also serves clients seeking couples counseling and LGBTQIA+ affirming support. - Canter’s work reflects a broader need for accessible therapy that treats the whole person, not just symptoms.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Gavrielle Canter, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and owner of Phoenix Rising Counseling. - Canter operates a private practice in Wayne, New Jersey, and opened it in 2025. - Her specialties include maternal mental health, pregnancy loss, postpartum concerns, depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, grief, couples counseling and LGBTQIA+ support. - She has received one award recognizing her work.

The details: - Canter has worked with youth, adults and families across clinical and community settings. - She served in a clinical supervisory role for the NYC Well Hotline. - Her background includes work in mental health, substance use treatment and community-based care. - Before private practice, she provided individual and group therapy, completed assessments, built treatment plans and supported clients with complex emotional and behavioral challenges. - Canter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies from Rutgers University. - She completed a Master of Social Work at Adelphi University. - She also earned a Certificate in Applied Expressive Arts in Counseling through Adelphi University’s post-graduate program. - Canter is licensed in both New Jersey and New York. - One milestone she highlights is her MSW graduation day and the chance to give back to her alma mater. - A profile on Influential Women is available through her public profile.

Between the lines: - Canter frames confidence as something built through repeated small decisions, not a fixed trait. - She credits her family and support system for helping her persist through adversity and launch her practice. - Her approach emphasizes authenticity, saying clients respond when she shows up as herself rather than as a version shaped to meet others’ expectations. - She sees barriers to healthcare access as a major challenge that can keep people from seeking therapy. - She also views the mental health field as wide open for professionals who want to specialize in research, policy or direct care. - Her core values are honesty and integrity, both in her clinical work and in her personal life.

What's next: - Canter says she plans to keep helping clients heal, grow and thrive through compassionate, client-centered therapy. - She also encourages young women entering mental health to stay persistent, trust themselves and pursue the change they want to make.

The bottom line: - Gavrielle Canter has built a growing private practice around accessible, affirming therapy for clients facing some of life’s most difficult transitions.