Our Team
Lauren Casas, MA, MEd, LPC, ACS
Lauren Casas, MA, MEd, LPC, ACS, is the founder of Symbol of Hope Counseling, LLC and has spent more than two decades walking alongside children and families with steadiness, compassion, and deep clinical expertise. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles in New Jersey’s nonprofit community mental health sector, and was honored with the 2026 Diamond Courage and Compassion Award from the NJ Association of Mental Health and Addictions Agencies (NJAMHAA) for her outstanding leadership in children’s services.
As a licensed professional counselor and approved clinical supervisor, Lauren trains and supports new clinicians, helping them grow into confident, thoughtful providers. Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in counseling and a Master of Education in neuroscience and trauma, an intentional path she chose to better understand how difficult or frightening experiences shape a child’s developing brain.
Lauren is a long‑time volunteer with the Attachment and Trauma Network, Inc. and has spent her entire career studying the impact of trauma and adversity on children and families. This work has become her clinical niche and informs every aspect of her approach. She is also a presenter and trainer at both local and national conferences, sharing practical, heart‑centered strategies with professionals who support children.
Above all, Lauren approaches each child with curiosity, warmth, and a trauma‑informed lens, believing that healing begins in nurturing, child‑centered relationships where kids feel safe, understood, and genuinely seen.
Jessica Weingroff, MSW, MAT, LSW
Jessica Weingroff, MSW, MAT, LSW, is a licensed social worker and former elementary educator with more than a decade of experience supporting children with challenging behaviors in school settings. Her background in both education and clinical practice gives her a unique, whole‑child perspective, one that helps families understand how a child’s emotional world shapes their success at home, in the classroom, and in their relationships.
Jessica earned a BA in International Studies, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Master of Science in Social Work. She has clinical experience working with children ages 3 through the early teen years, offering developmentally attuned support during some of the most important stages of growth.
Using a child‑centered, trauma‑informed approach, Jessica helps children build confidence, strengthen emotional regulation, develop healthy coping skills, and navigate academic, behavioral, and social‑emotional challenges with greater ease.
In session, Jessica incorporates play therapy, sand therapy, and the creative outlet of art, allowing children to express themselves in ways that feel natural, safe, and engaging. Her warm, steady presence helps kids feel understood, while her educator’s insight helps parents feel supported and informed.
Jessica brings curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for each child’s story to every family she works with.
