Rate Kimberly Puleo

I am a NJ licensed professional counselor (LPC) and NJ school counselor who has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a wide range of social and emotional difficulties. I completed my BA at William Paterson University in psychology with a minor in sociology. I went to graduate school at Montclair State University where I obtained her MA in school counseling. I graduated as a Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honor Society member.

Subsequently, I became a certified NJ school counselor, National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

I have worked in several school districts in NJ as a district wide school counselor, anti-bullying specialist, and social worker on a Child Study team creating Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s). I served on 504 committees, Intervention and Referral Services committee (I&RS), created behavior improvement plans, social evaluations, and is familiar with standardized testing. I have attended trainings on the NJ anti-bullying law, suicide prevention and risk assessment, cyber-bullying, crisis prevention and Division of Youth and Family Services (now DCP&P), relational aggression particularly among girls, mindfulness, among many other character building educational topics. I supervised a school psychologist and a school social work intern. I worked collaboratively as a team with Early Intervention, Perform Care-crisis assessment, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, food therapists, nutritionists, ABA trained behaviorists, among other related specialists and referring community resources. I can help with transition issues including college preparation and job coaching. In addition, I have multiple years of experience working for a psychiatrist specializing in addictions as well.

My specialties include social skills groups, children with developmental disabilities, changing families/divorce, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, anger management, ADHD, adjustment disorders, grief and loss, academic difficulties, adoption issues, relationship issues, sibling issues, parenting issues, low self esteem, improving your confidence and self worth, addictions, personality disorders, increasing coping skills, among many other life stressors and difficulties.

I am a married, mother of two young school aged children. I approach things as a solution focused therapist and use a variety of cognitive behavioral strategies, play therapy, and art therapy.

Why get therapy? Because your mental health is just as important as your physical health.