Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:45am-6pm
About The Center
A Center For Human Development has served the Dover, Delaware area for years. Throughout our history, our main goal has remained the same: to deliver quality, value and, most of all, service.
This commitment means we work harder and smarter than our competition. We are at the forefront of marriage counseling and offer our customers the latest services, technology and information available. Give us a call today and let us show you the A Center For Human Development difference.
Dr. Patricia A. Guarriello joined our staff in February of 2000 and has an extensive background in the helping fields. After completing her studies at Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Wisconsin, she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse. While working with the elderly and less fortunate she went on to complete her degree as a Registered Nurse graduating with honors. Dr. Guarriello proceeded to work in trauma medicine and hospice care for some twenty-two years. Eventually she moved away from trauma nursing to work with and assist in the development of the first hospice program in South Florida. Dr. Guarriello co-directed the first Palliative Care Program at Holy Cross Hospital in South Florida and traveled throughout the United States conducting workshops and advising other medical personnel. She earned her Bachelor's and Masters Degrees in Psychology and Developmental Counseling at St. Thomas of Villanova University and earned recognition for her outstanding academic achievements. Her achievements are recognized and listed in Who's Who, 1985 in recognition of her academic performance. Dr. Guarriello decided to expand her horizons and went on to pursue her Doctoral studies at Monsignor Barry University. She has also worked in the forensic field and treated inmates; both males and females at the West Palm Beach jail in Florida. She is also a Certified Registered Hypnotherapist and successfully treats many anxiety-based disorders using hypnosis. Dr. Guarriello has also worked at many levels with children. She taught at the grade school and middle school levels, devised and ran groups for sexually and physically abused children and conducted youth music ensembles.
Dr. Guarriello serves a large population of patients at a Center for Human Development. Her areas of expertise include but are not isolated to victims of posttraumatic stress, sexual abuse, mood disorders and loss. She also does Christian Counseling for those requesting this type of intervention. Dr. Guarriello sees individuals, couples, children and families. She treats patients Monday through Thursdays and is currently accepting new clients.
Bethany Hawkins-Parry joined our agency in January of 2006. She has lived in Sussex County most of her life graduating from Milford High School in 1974. Her interest in “the helping profession” oriented with her family who often had foster children living in their home. In fact, Beth has a younger half sister who lives in New Jersey who is also a Social Worker. Beth did not pursue her dream to become a therapist until her late 30s when she began attending Delaware Tech on a part-time basis while working full-time. She graduated with her Associates Degree in Human Services in 1998 followed by graduating with her BSW from Delaware State University in 2000, and then completing the Advanced Standing Masters Program at DSU in 2001.
Beth’s background in the mental health field includes a broad understanding of issues related to domestic violence. She started her career working at Families in Transition Domestic Violence Shelter which serves victims and then moved on to working with perpetrators of domestic violence as a group facilitator for Turning Point at People’s Place. She surprised her family and friends by accepting a position at Sussex Correctional Institute in Georgetown. While employed in the mental health department at SCI, Beth gained valuable clinical experience working with the full range of mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Severe Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Addictions, and Personality Disorders. She also gained an appreciation of impact that physical and emotional aggression has on family life.
Beth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is also a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist. She is available to see clients on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday and is currently accepting new clients. Many insurance plans accepted.
Katherine Spencer joined A Center for Human Development in March 2008. She has many years of experience working with adolescents and families. Nineteen of those years have been devoted to being a Clinical Counselor in the high school Wellness Center, employed by Christiana Care. This experience has given her an expertise with adolescents and enabled her to establish strong collateral relationships with agencies such as Public Health, schools, and the court system as well as community psychiatrists and therapists. Prior to employment with Christiana Care she worked at Catholic Charities, Tressler Center, and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Katherine received her Bachelor of Science from American University in Washington, D.C. and her Masters in Social Work from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. her experience has been in individual, family and marriage counseling with a specialty in family systems. Katherine has a special interest in working with individuals and families struggling with an eating disorder.
She also has special expertise in the areas of:
- elder care givers
- depression
- anxiety
- crisis intervention
Katherine has been a presenter for the National School Based Wellness Center and is currently working on a book with her daughter Sara, on Anorexia. She has been a licensed counselor since 1988. She can see clients Monday through Thursday for afternoon appointments and anytime on Wednesday. New clients and referrals are welcome.
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