Gabrielle DiBenedetto, LCSW

Gabrielle DiBenedetto, LCSW, is a licensed master social worker and psychotherapist on the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) team at Brooklyn Heights Behavioral Associates, specializing in the treatment of OCD and anxiety. Gabrielle received training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ExRP) for OCD and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD from the researchers and developers at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania. Gabrielle also received training and supervision in DBT from her colleagues and implements DBT skills into her work with CBT clients.

Gabrielle is a graduate of the NYU Silver School of Social Work where she focused on trauma-informed interventions for children and families. Gabrielle has worked with individuals of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, in a variety of settings, including schools, clinics, and family shelters. During her time at NYU, Gabrielle was trained in Group Attachment-Based Intervention (GABI) by Dr. Anne Murphy at the Center for Babies, Toddlers, and Families (CBTF) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. It was with GABI that Gabrielle developed a love for play therapy, and she frequently uses toys, games, and art in her work with youth to build therapeutic bonds and facilitate healthy emotional expression. Gabrielle utilizes a strengths-based approach to working with all clients, helping them to identify goals and strategies that best align with their needs, values, abilities, and desires.

Gabrielle comes to social work from a background in special education and has particular experience providing academic and psychosocial support to students with language-based learning disabilities and children on the autism spectrum. She has also worked with young adults diagnosed with severe mental illness at the Fountain House College Re-Entry Program, supporting them in managing their wellness while navigating their return to higher education.

Along with her clinical training, Gabrielle also brings a passion for advocacy to her work at BHBA. She has experience working in the NYC shelter system as a Youth Care Coordinator at Women in Need (WIN). In this role, she supported families experiencing homelessness in accessing services to address developmental, educational, and mental health needs.

Gabrielle completed her BA in psychology and theater at Williams College. Her passion for social work is rooted in her love of storytelling. As her undergraduate thesis, Gabrielle conducted interviews with young adults who have experienced depression and used their words to create a theatrical experience that shared their stories and opened up a dialogue around mental illness on college campuses.

When not working, Gabrielle can usually be found engaging in any sort of artistic endeavor. She loves acting, singing, dancing, writing poetry, and attempting to play the piano. She also greatly values spending time with loved ones, especially her sweet cat, Milo.