Academy At Sisters Welcomes Biancucci As New Therapist

Gemma Biancucci joined Academy at Sisters in September and has been a wonderful addition to our therapeutic team. Gemma was born and raised in Southern California, and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology at Western State College in Colorado. In 1998, she moved to Bend, Oregon whre she worked with the Parks and Recreation District. There, Gemma gained experience guiding and facilitating trips and adventures for individuals with disabilities. Later, Gemma became an Educational Assistant for the Bend-La Pine School District and worked for five years with the Special Programs Department at a K-8 Magnet School. While working in education and having opportunities to mentor students, lead groups, and teach problem solving and conflict mediation, Gemma realized that she wanted to further her education. She then earned her Master's Degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling from Bastyr University/Leadership Institute of Seattle in 2004.

Shortly after obtaining her degree Gemma started her private practice and soon began work as a therapist with a Bend program for young adults with co-occurring disorders. She worked at the residential program for almost five years. During this time Gemma was not only developing and maturing in her professional life, she was also building a family. She is now a mother to two young boys who are turning four and two this fall.

Her roles as a mother and a therapist have greatly influenced one another. In regards to therapy, Gemma values first and foremost, the therapeutic relationship. She believes this to be of utmost importance when working with individuals, couples and families. She highly values bringing forth her authentic self and creating an environment in which her clients may feel safe, respected and that their stories are held in confidence. Gemma believes in a holistic approach and advocates for collaboration between herself and other professionals who work with health, wellness, education and so forth (i.e.: doctors, acupuncturist, teachers, family advocate programs,) in her client's life in an effort to help provide a sense of well-being, balance and whole body health.

At Academy at Sisters, Gemma brings this wonderful approach in to the individual and group therapy sessions. Gemma currently runs a SMART Recovery Group, provides individual therapy and participates in weekly Treatment Team Meetings. She collaborates with Dr. Julie Schneider, our on-staff Licensed Psychologist who runs a DBT Group, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Family Therapy at the Academy.

In Gemma's personal life, she aims to achieve health, wellness and balance by nurturing the relationships in her life and spending ample time with her children, husband, family and friends. She enjoys yoga, reading, movement of any kind, playing by the river, lakes and ocean, hiking and taking her kids on new adventures.

Academy at Sisters is a therapeutic boarding school for troubled adolescent girls ages 13 -18.