SuperKids: About Us : SuperKids Staff

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Barbara Cooper, LMHC, MPS, ATR-BC, is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered, board-certified art therapist with 22 years of experience treating both children and adults in school, hospital and private practice settings. In addition to being a co-founder and co-director of SuperKids, Barbara teaches parenting skills at local schools and for SuperKids families. Barbara received her masters in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute, where she is now an Associate Professor in the Graduate Art Therapy program. Barbara also co-authored the books Knowing Yourself, Knowing Others: A Workbook for Children with Asperger’s Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disorder & Other Social-Skill Problems and The Social Success Workbook for Teens.

Nancy Widdows, MS, ATR-BC, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and registered, board-certified art therapist with 14 years experience treating children in school and hospital settings as well as in private practice. She is a co-founder and co-director of SuperKids. Nancy helps children with social skills challenges in both groups and in individual sessions using cognitive-behavioral strategies coupled with art therapy. She received h er masters in Art Therapy from the College of New Rochelle. Nancy also co-authored the books Knowing Yourself, Knowing Others: A Workbook for Children with Asperger’s Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disorder & Other Social-Skill Problems and The Social Success Workbook for Teens.

Kristen Backus, MSED is a Special Education teacher in the Darien Public Schools. Kristen has ten years experience teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a variety of settings. Kristen earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with dual certification in elementary and special education from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She has her Master's in Education from Western Connecticut State University.

Kate Dayton, LPC, MS, is a licensed professional counselor with over 20 years experience working with children and families, including 15 years in the early childhood education field. She has also received certified training in working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Kate received her Masters in Community Counseling from Western Connecticut State University. She is the director of the SuperLittleKids preschool program.

Dana Keeton, MS, received her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Dana earned her Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Photography from the University of Connecticut. Prior to obtaining her masters degree, Dana created and facilitated photography programs designed to foster self-expression and boost self-esteem for at-risk children and teens. Dana specializes in using PhotoTherapy techniques in the therapeutic process. In addition to interning at SuperKids, Dana also interned at a residential treatment center for traumatized adolescents. Dana joined the staff of SuperKids in the spring of 2009.

Alison McBride, MA, CAGS, is a School Psychologist. She received her Masters and CAGS from Tufts University. She has worked in the public school system since 2000 with both general education and special needs children. Alison has provided individual and group counseling, behavior management, consultation, crisis intervention, as well as psycho-educational evaluations in both the elementary and middle school levels.

Jennifer Milstein, MS, ATR, LCAT, is a New York State Licensed art therapist who has been working with children with disabilities for seven years. Having an undergraduate degree in psychology, she also received a master's degree in art therapy from the College of New Rochelle. Jennifer has been with Superkids since 2007 and also currently works for a music and art therapy program in Westchester, NY.

Mary Kate Olivieri, MSW, RYT, has a Master's Degree in Social Work with a specialization in children and families. She interned at Head Start in Stamford helping families to meet their goals of attaining concrete needs to help their children function more optimally in school. She has also interned at the Child Guidance in Stamford working with children to help decrease their depression and anxiety through the use of play therapy and cognitive therapy techniques. Prior to attaining her master degree she worked as a teacher in a Montessori classroom with three to six year old children teaching them life skills and strove to aid the child in healthy social/emotional development. Mary Kate is a yoga teacher and incorporates her knowledge of yoga and relaxation techniques into her practice with children.

Dana Roth, MSW, received her BA in Psychology and Photography from Cornell University in 1995, and her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University in 2000. Her previous experience includes facilitating training adn research for the Vocational Training Program at Mt Sinai Hospital. She has also conducted assessments and provided counseling for children and their parents at the New York Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and for the Employee Assistance Program at New York Hospital. Dana has been with SuperKids for one year.

Marisol Troche, MSED, is a licensed school counselor with 11 years experience working with students in school as well as counseling parents. She began her work with children as a bilingual teacher and received her Masters in Counseling from Long Island University. Marisol has provided group and individual counseling services in the elementary, middle and high school setting.

Pamela Walker, CADC, has been working with children and adolescents for the last 11 years in the school system as a Student Assistance Counselor. She has been facilitating groups at SuperKids for 3 years and loving it. Before working in the school system, Pam worked with children and adolescents at Four Winds Hospital for 12 years.

In addition to our professional staff, we offer internship experiences for local high school and college students.

SuperKids, with offices in Ridgefield, Norwalk and Orange CT, helps children and teens develop social skills through weekly groups, with special summer sessions. Therapists are trained to work with Asperger's disorder, autism, pervasive developmental delay, selective mutism, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and ADD. ©2010. All rights reserved.