Gae Savino, MPA, LCSW, CT

Inspired by a 911 Ground Zero volunteer experience, Gae transitioned from a 35+ year career as a professional fundraiser managing multi-million-dollar endowment campaigns & annual philanthropic programs to become a New York State licensed clinical social worker & certified death, dying & bereavement counselor in 2008.

A seasoned therapist, Gae provides mental health, end-of-life, bereavement support for suicide survivors & trauma-related grief counseling for individuals 18-years+, couples, family members, schools faculty/staff, & church parishioners.

Gae graduated from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. She trained at the College of New Rochelle’s Graduate Certificate Program in Thanatology & at Calvary Hospital, Bronx. At The Bereavement Center of Westchester’s Tree House, Gae volunteered with adolescents who lost a parent or sibling following 911. She trained at the Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia University. Her Certification in Thanatology (CT) is certified by the Association of Death. Education & Counseling (ADEC).

Gae facilitates a variety of bereavement support groups: Westchester Addiction Bereavement; Parent/Sibling Bereavement; Spousal/Partner Bereavement; & COVID Bereavement.

At Westchester Medical Center’s Level I Trauma Unit & Caregiver’s Center, Gae facilitated the Caregiver Center’s Bereavement Support Groups for patients, family members, nurses, doctors, staff & visitors. Additionally, she led the WMCHealth’s Post COVID-19 Recovery Program Support Group.
Gae is affiliated with Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster’s Parish Counseling Network & Employee Assistance Program offering mental health & grief counseling for parishioners throughout the Archdiocese of New York.

Prior to private practice, Gae worked at Four Winds Hospital – Katonah for 6-years as a social worker on the adult, adolescent & children’s inpatient units & partial hospital programs with a diverse population & variety of extensive mental health issues. Prior, Gae spent 35 years working in the nonprofit sector as a resource development officer for hospitals, universities, education institutions & a variety of non-profits in NJ & NY.

Gae also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Concentration in Nonprofit Management (MPA) at Seton Hall University. After college, Gae worked for Congressmen James J. Howard as a Legislative Aide on Capitol Hill.

For pleasure, Gae coordinates pilgrimages for the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Meriden, CT to Rome & Assisi, Italy & the Holy Land. In September, 2019, Gae walked 117 miles on the El Camino de Santiago through Spain.

She is a frequent speaker, trainer & lector on topics of death, dying & bereavement with a specialty in suicide & trauma-related grief issues & serves on the Rachel Vineyard Retreat team for the Archdiocese of Hartford.