Monica Gadpaille

Educational and Psychological Counselor Psychologist

Master of Education – Counseling Psychology and Rehabilitation , Columbia University Teachers College , New York , NY
Master of Arts
Psychology Degree – Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua , Panama ,

Monica Gadpaille McDonald has spent more than 30 years of her life  working with people of all ages in private practice , educational and psychiatric centers. As a team member of The Bridge Center she offers psychological counseling services to preschool and school-age students who are presenting emotional , behavioral , attention and / or learning difficulties . In therapy sessions,  games, stories, role plays, are used to stimulate the expression of feelings , thoughts and experiences  that strengthen the self and encourage a  healthier learning and socially acceptable management of frustrations and emotions. The goal is to help our children and young people to develop awareness and learn strategies to make a change . Simultaneous work with parents is a very important aspect during this process.

Monica spends most of her  time serving  students whose academic performance are not in line with expectations. This group includes those who are slow to learn , those who do not perform to the best of their potential and those with superior skills . By using psychoeducational assessments, that are conducted in a controlled environment in order to minimize a distracting environment, a battery of tests according to the purpose for which the person was referred to applies . This allows you to examine their skills, identify their strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations for appropriate interventions. Tests are selected to assess cognitive functioning , learning style , memory, visual-motor skills and achievement in reading , mathematics, and oral and written language. Assessments are also made to college students who require adaptations to standardized tests.

Monica was  a Psychologist for the Dependents Schools Department of Defense of the United States ( DoDDS ) . She had 12 schools under her charge, and serving students from preschool through high school. As a member of the Special Education Department she was part of the responsibility for assessing students with physical, intellectual, emotional , learning disabilities and developmental delays , to identify their needs and plan the individualized education program required services including interdisciplinary team facilitate their learning. She also served as Coordinator and DoDDS representative to the Committee on Family Support where domestic violence of the military and their dependents were treated .

For more than a decade Monica served as professor of the departments of educational psychology in the School of Psychology at the Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua. In recent years she worked as a counselor at the International School of Panama .

In the field of psychiatry , as part of a multidisciplinary team , Monica worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor Psychological and psychiatric patients hospitalized adolescents and adults in Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in New York.