Amanda Perez, LCSW
& Associates LLC
Amanda Perez, LCSW
Founder & Director
Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over15 years of experience providing evidence based therapy. She was intensively trained in DBT at Colombia and obtained her MS in Social Work from New York University. Her experience includes mental health treatment, school based services, program development, training, consultation, and clinical and LCSW supervision. She works with a wide range of ages including adults, young adults, adolescents and their families, with a variety of diagnoses including personality disorders, mood disorders, depression and anxiety. She has a passion for DBT and prides herself on creating a space that is warm, safe, and light hearted, while also holding clients accountable to the work they need to do in order to achieve their goals and build a life worth living.
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Outside of work, Amanda has dreams of incorporating therapy dogs into her practice, but has rescued a pup that struggles with his own social anxiety and mood regulation. Knuckles will make his presence known during sessions, but rarely is invited in because he is still working on regulating his emotion more effectively and tolerating his distress. Amanda places value on spending time with her family and friends, reading/listening to books, seeing broadway shows, traveling, re-watching Gilmore Girls, working out, and getting sucked into any and all documentaries on TV.
Katherine Sommero, LCSW
Katie is a licensed clinical social worker, earning her Master’s of Social Work degree from Arizona State University. Katie has experience working with children, adults, and families in various capacities. She has spent the last several years working with pregnant and postpartum women and their children facing challenges with addiction. Katie has experience working with people struggling with anxiety, depression, relationships, and trauma. She leads with compassion and empathy, striving to create a warm and therapeutic space.
Outside of work, Katie is a certified yoga instructor and loves to both teach and practice. She also enjoys watching reality tv shows as well as frequently rewatching Gilmore Girls. Katie values spending time with her family, friends, and fiancé.
Carla Ann Perez, M.A. Ed
Educational Consultant
Carla has been devoted to the field of education for more than 20 years with her education focusing on Special Education and School-based Counseling, graduating from New York University with both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. She began her career in a PreK-8 school where she worked as a middle school special education teacher and then transitioned to a school counselor. During this time, she also had the privilege of working with the Special Olympics program, assisting athletes to grow socially and behaviorally through competitive sports. She also worked with Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, a summer residential program, where she had the honor of working as a Senior Administrator and Academic Counselor with staff and students from all around the world.
Carla transitioned to educational leadership in 2016, first serving as a Vice Principal of a Kindergarten through 8th grade school, as well as District ESL Supervisor. She then took on the challenge of leading a middle school serving students in grades 5-8 and housed the district’s self-contained population as well as a state approved private school for students with disabilities. During this time, her school placed among the top 30% in the state of NJ, making it a U.S. News Best Middle School for 2022, based primarily on the student’s performance on mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments.
Carla has worked with her fellow administrators and staff to explore and implement initiatives with regard to differentiation, mindfulness, social emotional learning, and technology; seeking to achieve student growth and success - academically, socially, and emotionally. She recognizes the importance of a strong home-school connection, thus seeks to provide students with a setting that is not only rigorous and engaging in terms of academics, but also meets students’ social and emotional needs.
Carla’s work now focuses on advocating for at-risk students receiving pre-referral intervention services, as well as students with 504s and IEPs. Her goal is to ensure that student’s individual needs are being met by educating families on their rights and helping them navigate the process.
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Outside of work, Carla enjoys snuggling with her pup Bella. Bella enjoys taking Carla and her boyfriend on long walks to explore. To decompress, Carla will listen to audiobooks or watch cooking shows for mindless entertainment. Spending time with her family, boyfriend, and friends is what what recharges and centers her.
Christina Robinson, M.Ed., LAC
Christina is a graduate from Rutgers University, Douglass College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & Sport Studies while minoring in Psychology. Later on, she went back to school to receive her Master of Education degree in School Counseling from Liberty University. Christina has worked in public/alternative schools in urban and suburban school districts for over 13 years. She has also worked (and is currently working) as an Intensive In Community therapist for 3+ years where she uses multiple counseling techniques/styles - DBT, CBT, play therapy, solution-focused therapy, psychoeducation, etc. During this time she has gained a multitude of experience working with youth between the ages of 8-21, as well as their support systems (parents/guardians), in emotional self-regulation, conflict resolution, restorative practices, post-secondary goal setting, school culture and climate programming, etc. Currently, Christina is also the President of the Essex School Counselor Association where she works with a strong team in providing training/professional development, student scholarships, and legal updates as it pertains to the school counseling profession for counselors and social workers in Essex County, New Jersey. Christina is a mindfulness leader, trained by Zensational Kids in leading guided meditations, breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and other practices that “develop compassion, calm, focus, and resilience” in students and staff.
In Christina’s free time, she enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures especially the different foods. She also loves to read mystery and crime novels as well as watching movies/TV shows of the same genre. The beach is Christina’s safe place and although she isn't a huge fan of the sun - she loves being there late in the afternoon where the sun to dark ratio is perfect.
Ariel Cadet, LSW
Ariel is a licensed social worker (LSW) and certified school social worker in the state of New Jersey, earning his social work degree from Kean University. Ariel has more than 16 years of experience working with adolescents, and families from different backgrounds. His experience includes intensive in community therapist, school based services, child protection & permanency and workshops. Ariel received training in Mindfulness Techniques for Teens through Zensational Kids Program. Ariel specialize in utilizing the Strength Perspective and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating depression, anxiety, and trauma. Currently, Ariel is teaching graduate level social work courses at Kean University. Ariel is committed to providing evidence-based treatment to individuals and their families.
Outside of work, Ariel enjoys listening to music and exercising. He also enjoys working outdoors and coaching his children’s basketball team. Ariel values his relationship with God and spending time with his family and friends.