BERGEN COUNTY THERAPY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Registered Dietitian

Elyssa Toomey, Registered Dietitian and Yoga Teacher, has spent her career creating positive, healthy change for individuals, families and communities. She revived her BA in Sociology and Biology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, a degree in nutrition from Montclair State University, and completed her dietetic internship with the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Job Titles:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Professor

Jill A. Pantaleo, LCSW And Associates / BERGEN COUNTY THERAPY Jill A. Pantaleo, LCSW And Associates / BERGEN COUNTY THERAPY Jill A. Pantaleo, LCSW And Associates / BERGEN COUNTY THERAPY Jill Pantaleo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder and owner of Bergen County Therapy (formerly known as Jill A. Pantaleo, LCSW And Associates, LLC) and Bergen Peak Performance, LLC.. Jill hold's a Master's Degree in Social Work from New York University's prestigious Silver School of Social Work (1991) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a New Jersey Teacher of Art Certification. She is trained as a Level II EMDR practitioner from the EMDR Institute of Palo Alto California, and has additional specialized training in clinical hypnotherapy, CBT, DBT, Neurofeedback, mindfulness and meditation, reiki and couple's therapy. Jill has dedicated the past 27 years as a clinical social worker to the mental health and well being of children, teens and families. Her past social work employment includes both The Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, NJ) and Beth Israel Medical Center (NYC) where she worked as a social worker in a pediatric HIV/AIDS program. She is a successful public speaker who has presented numerous times at the annual conferences for The National Association of Social Workers, The Association for Student Assistance Professionals and many other highly regarded professional organizations, local communities, businesses and school districts. Jill is also a professor in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at The Ramapo College of New Jersey. Jill is the single mother of a teenage son, and loves music, photography, yoga, hiking, theater, cooking and travel.

Job Titles:

• Behavioral Consultant and Parent Support

Lauren Lavalle is an experienced educator and behavioral consultant who holds an undergraduate degree in Human Ecology and Family and Child Studies and a Master's Degree in Special Education from Montclair State University. She is a versatile behavioral trainer who contributes essential services at Bergen County Therapy including behavior modification, parent coaching, and family support service. Lauren works from a strengths based perspective, focusing on the individual needs of each client while establishing a professional partnership to bring about positive chance. From children with attentional or learning issues to the plethora of behavioral challenges facing children and families today, Lauren identifies, teaches, and helps implement effective behavioral interventions that empower individuals and families to define and reach goals. Adults or children with phobias, anxiety (including school refusal and separation anxiety) or compulsive behaviors may benefit from behavioral consulting by learning effective ways to overcome these often disabling conditions. Parents who are struggling with children or teens with negative or oppositional behaviors (such as refusing to do homework or honor household rules) can find support and guidance in learning behavior modification and positive discipline. Lauren is available to do home or school visits and frequently works collaboratively with Guidance Counselors and Child Study Teams regarding IEPs and Section 504 plans. Lauren is the proud mother of two active and athletic young children, a boy and a girl, who always keep her busy!

Job Titles:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Suzanne Orlando is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified School Social Worker. She earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from New York University in 2004 and her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from The Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2000. Suzanne has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and is highly experienced in working with children and teens with school and social challenges such as school refusal, out of district placements, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, and I&RS/ 504/ IEP related issues. She has worked extensively with LGBTQI youth and families, as well as high risk adolescents with histories of depression, self-injury and suicidality.

Victoria Coppolecchia received her Master's Degree is Social Work from New York University in 2008. She has received extensive training in specialized approaches to play and expressive therapies for children, including a unique and powerful creative therapy called "sand tray therapy" which Victoria commonly uses to assist children to project and express their feelings, fears, and traumas. Victoria is also extensively trained in mindfulness skills and practices, having received a certificate from the Krame Institute at The Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Victoria's prior social work experience includes having been a senior clinician at The Zone in Englewood, NJ, where she worked with high-risk adolescents, as well as positions at Bergen's Promise and Care Plus. While Victoria works with adults as well, she is particularly experienced and gifted in her work with young children and teens. She works with many young clients with a variety of anxiety and mood disorders, including school and separation anxiety, loss, phobias, OCD, sleep problems, and learning issues. She is highly experienced in working particularly with children, teens and families experiencing divorce, loss or illness. Victoria embodies the "practice what you preach" perspective- she is an enthusiastic runner, meditator and mindfulness practitioner! She is the proud mother of two young children- a boy and girl!