On April 7, therapist LJ Castellano '17 visited two sections of Rick Cimino's AP Psychology classes to speak about his field of psychotherapy. We dropped into his second presentation. 

After a steller wrestling career at Delbarton as a two-time NJ state placewinner for the Green Wave, Castellano was recruited by Duke University where he wrestled for the Blue Devils while majoring in sociology and minoring in business. Perhaps inspired by his mother Cherie, herself a therapist, he completed a three year masters program in two years at Montclair State University.

In 2017, his mother also spoke to Delbarton students about her field during her son's senior year, so today was a full circle moment for the Castellano family.

At Delbarton, AP Psychology is a full-credit offered to seniors that teaches them the scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and other animals through six units: Methods of Psychological Research, Biological Bases of Behavior, Cognition, Development and Learning, Social Psychology and Personality, and Mental and Physical Health. 

Students study the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of these subfields, and about the ethics and methods that psychologists like LJ Castellano and his mother use in their practices. 

Castellano began today's sessions with a myth-busting Q&A exercise that quickly involved each student and sparked interesting insights and conversations.

Observing that the majority of his graduate classmates were women, he told his younger Delbarton brothers that the field of psychotherapy appealed to him "because I found it fulfilling to help people enhance the quality of their lives."  

In a professional profile Castellano writes, "I aim to help individuals build confidence, develop coping skills, and improve their quality of life. I draw from multiple evidence-based approaches, with a focus on anxiety, trauma, and multicultural issues. I also work with athletes...to help with performance anxiety and the impact of injuries."  Using a goal-oriented treatment approach, Castellano strives to leverage a patient's strengths, prioritizes a strong therapeutic connection and fosters a welcoming atmosphere, one that he ably demonstrated in today's presentation. 

Delbarton AP Psych students were receptive to Castellano's personal story, and left today's class with a more informed perspective on the purpose, role and impact of an effective therapist. We thank LJ Castellano '17 for generously sharing his time and knowledge with us today.