Meet Our Team
Dedicated To Providing You The Highest Quality Therapeutic Experience
Dr. Carol Chu-Peralta, Ph.D. (aka Dr. Carol)
Founder, Clinical Director, & Psychologist
- Trauma
- DID
- Immigration Evaluations
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Supervision
Dr. Chu-Peralta is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in NJ and NY, and is a PsyPact provider. She specializes in the provision of trauma, depression, and anxiety therapy treatment, as well as trauma-based evaluations and supervision. Dr. Chu-Peralta also dedicates her career to helping the underserved by providing trauma and immigration evaluations to those in need.
Previously, Dr. Chu-Peralta served as a Consultant to the Westchester County Department of Social Services, wherein she provided clinical supervision to the Safe Harbor and Clinical and Behavioral Assessment Units, and performed psychological and psychodiagnostic evaluations on youth who experienced adverse life events. Dr. Chu-Peralta was also a Staff Psychologist at the Trager Lemp Center: Treating Trauma & Promoting Resilience at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), as well as the Coordinator of the Psychology Externship. At WJCS, Dr. Chu-Peralta conducted research, supervised mental health staff and graduate students, and provided therapy to WJCS patients.
Dr. Chu-Peralta is fluent in Spanish and English. She has extensive experience helping individuals, across the age spectrum, who have suffered adverse and stressful life experiences. She completed her breadth and depth of training through Bellevue Hospital Center (Program for Survivors of Torture), World Trade Center Health Program NYU School of Medicine Clinical Center of Excellence at NYU Langone Center, New York City Children’s Center – Bronx Campus (formerly known as Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center), Center for Psychological Services – Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Westchester Jewish Community Services. Although Dr. Chu-Peralta’s private practice specializes in dealing with the sequelae resulting from adverse life events, she also underwent generalist training. Dr. Chu-Peralta’s previous experience has included working with developmental disorders (including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, bereavement, psychological evaluation, and impulse control disorders. Therefore, she is exceptionally well-versed in helping patients with complex histories and symptoms.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Chu-Peralta is actively involved in the training and supervision of professionals and students. She has conducted, and continues to provide, numerous workshops and lectures at various regional and national conferences, primary/secondary schools, and colleges.
Dr. Chu-Peralta received her B.A. in Psychology from William Paterson University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is currently a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, International Society for Traumatic Stress, New York Psychological Association, and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Dr. Chu-Peralta is a resident of Bergen County, NJ. When she is not working, she enjoys an active lifestyle and spending quality time with her husband, children, other family members, and friends.
Rosa Mastrogiacomo, LMSW
Clinical Psychotherapist
- Trauma
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Caregiver Stress
- Parent Management training
- Intimate Partner Violence (Domestic Violence)
Rosa Mastrogiacomo is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed in NJ and NY. She provides therapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, bullying, caregiver stress, parent training, and intimate partner violence. Rosa is dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages and strengthening families. Rosa conceptualizes and practices from an integrative lens, inclusive of CBT, Somatic IFS, STAIR-NST, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Parent Management Training.
Rosa received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fordham University and her Masters in Social Work also from Fordham University. She also completed an Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Certificate in the Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment from Adelphi University.
Rosa is a resident of Westchester County, NY. When she is not working, she volunteers her time on the Board of Directors for the Harrison Youth Council, a local organization providing preventative mental health services. She also enjoys spending quality time with her son, family and friends.
Brisi Sono-Cochrane, LAMFT
Clinical Psychotherapist
- Trauma
- DID
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Eating Disorders
- Couples/Marriage
Brisi is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. Her educational background is in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development Psychology, Early Childhood Education and Creative Arts. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. Throughout her career, she has worked with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families with issues such as anger management, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, eating disorders, family and life transition issues, sexual assault/violence, trauma, and suicide. Brisi has specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally- Focused Therapy (EFT), Structural Family Therapy (FST), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Multisystem Therapy (MST), Psychodramatic/Psychodynamic Therapy, and The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy.
Personally, Brisi believes in teamwork to make any dream work. Drawing from her clinical experience with patients, she has first handedly seen that there is beauty and light in even the darkest of times. She helps her patients access that light and continue to choose it. In and out of the therapy room, Brisi believes it is important to have a framed mindset within which emotional, mental and relational growth is nurtured and supported. Brisi instills the belief in her patients that they all have the agency to empower themselves and one another in order to change and harness the relationships and quality of life they envision for themselves. Brisi’s essential therapeutic strategies include exploration, validation, and helping patients heal from the problems that prevent them from thriving in a safe space. Her goal is to offer an empathic, safe, and validating therapeutic space from which she and her patient can explore and collaboratively work to heal what ails them and/or their loved ones.
In and out of the therapy room, Brisi believes it is important to have a framed mindset within which emotional, mental and relational growth is nurtured and supported. As a systematically-trained couples & family therapist, Brisi instills the belief in her clients that they all have the agency to empower themselves and one another in order to change and harness the relationships and quality of life they envision for themselves. Brisi’s essential therapeutic strategies include exploration, validation, and helping clients heal from the problems that prevent them from thriving in a safe space. Her goal is to offer an empathic, safe and validating therapeutic space from which she and her client can explore and collaboratively work to heal what ails them and/or their loved ones.
A message from Brisi: “I hope to support you and help you hold your flashlight as you pave the way through your healing journey.”
Dr. Priscilla Villavicencio, Psy.D.
Psychologist
- Depression
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Substance Abuse
- LGBTQ+
- HIV+ Community
- Couples/Marriage
Dr. Priscilla Villavicencio is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate degree from Argosy University in Phoenix, AZ. Over the past 12 years, she has worked at Rockland Psychiatric Center providing treatment to adults, adolescents, families, and couples facing varying concerns. She specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and adjustment problems. In addition, she has extensive experience in treating the LGBT and HIV+ community. She has training and a special interest in the treatment of couples facing everyday stressors, as well as intimacy and sexual problems. Dr. Priscilla primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral, Person-Centered, DBT and Family Systems interventions to best assist patients in meeting their treatment goals. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Dr. Priscilla views therapy as a collaborative effort between the patient and therapist. The therapist acts as a guide, assisting the patient in unlocking barriers that prevent the individual in meeting his/her goals. Dr. Priscilla often asks patients to practice what is introduced in therapy between sessions to continue the therapeutic work outside the office. She also suggests workbooks and literature that add further self-discovery and depth to the work being done.
During her spare time, Dr. Priscilla spends time with her energetic adolescent boys and Labrador Retriever. She also trains for road races and her favorite distance is the half marathon.
Yaakov Richter, LMSW
Clinical Psychotherapist
- Depression
- Trauma
- DID
- Anxiety
- Grief/Loss
- Bullying
- Caregiver Stress
- Anger Management
- Boys & Men’s Issues
Yaakov is a licensed social worker in NY and NJ. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his Masters of Social Work from Hunter College, where he specialized in Child and Adolescent Trauma.
Prior to joining Center for Resiliency, Yaakov provided clinical services to children, adolescent, and adult survivors of violence at the Trauma Recovery Center in Bergen County. He has also been a member of the Trauma Response Team where he coordinated rapid-response to community Traumatic events. Yaakov brings additional experience treating depression, anxiety, grief, bullying, caregiver stress, parent management training, stress reduction, anger management, and dissociation. He also focuses on helping boys and men, work through any male-related life issues. He primarily utilizes Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Affective and Interpersonal Regulation, and brings a strengths-based approach to therapy.
Yaakov believes that adverse life events impact each person in an individualized way. He strives to create a welcoming and safe space where your unique experience is heard, understood, and supported. Yaakov strongly values the therapeutic relationship and its role in healing.
When he is not working, Yaakov volunteers on the Traumatic Loss Coalition of Bergen County, enjoys hiking, a game of tennis, and spending time with family members and friends.
Jessica Fenjves, MHC-LP
Clinical Psychotherapist
- Depression
- Trauma
- DID
- Anxiety
- Grief/Loss
- Bullying
- Caregiver Stress
- Life Transitions
Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the City University of New York and a Master’s degree in Art Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She works with children, adolescents and adults and offers a creative and integrative approach to therapy. Her background in teaching and education informs her clinical work as she always holds in mind the ways in which learning is different from person to person, even when the subject is the self. She is keen on helping people reflect upon how they relate to themselves and others, and aims to provide a space in which shifts in perspective are invited.
As a mental health counselor whose focus is on helping ease others’ painful patterns, Jessica values working collaboratively, compassionately and non-judgmentally. She takes a relational and practical approach to treatment, while drawing upon creativity, mindfulness and somatic practices to assist in mind-body awareness when appropriate. By encouraging honest self-reflection and looking towards underlying causes of distress, she strives to help others become unstuck and achieve greater freedom.
During her space time, Jessica enjoys the outdoors, yoga and spending time with her family.
Dr. Lauren Schutzman, PSY. D.
Testing Evaluator
- Psychological Evaluations
- Neuropsychological Evaluations
- Psychodiagnostic Evaluations
- Immigration Evaluations
Dr. Lauren Schutzman earned her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Dr. Schutzman began her training working with adults dealing with anxiety, depression, anger management, ADHD, substance abuse, trauma disorders, and bipolar disorder. Within this capacity, she assessed and treated patients seeking to recover from addiction.
Dr. Schutzman went on to gain further training and specialization in working with children within hospital and school settings. Within these roles, she assessed and treated children, teens, and provided parent training.
She excels in the provision of psychological testing to help individuals find answers about their cognitive, executive function, social emotional and overall psychological functioning. Dr. Schutzman firmly believes in taking a multicultural and therapeutic assessment approach with each patient, so their test results reflect who they are as a ‘whole’ person and help the patient achieve their goals.
Dr. Schutzman also speaks Spanish and completes bilingual psychological evaluations.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with Toy Poodle, and listening to music.
Brittany Atkins
Office Administrator
Brittany joined Center for Resiliency because helping others heal from traumatic and difficult circumstances is highly important to her. Brittany graduated from Wilmington University with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science. Her studies in Behavioral Science ignited a passion to help people walk into freedom after going through something traumatic. Brittany understands the importance of walking through healing by finding and utilizing effective tools and ultimately coming out on the other side; freedom. She believes that working at Center for Resiliency gives her the opportunity to put what she has learned into practice.
Danielle Blackmore
Administrative Assistant
Danielle joined Center for Resiliency team because she believes in their mission of supporting people to move forward through resiliency. Resilience means “to rebound” or “to bounce back” from difficulties and she believes this is an important skill that anyone who’s willing can develop no matter what they’ve been through in life. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s of Science in English and uses her passion for language to explore how listening can lead to healthier relationships and societies. She believes that people are more powerful than they realize and capable of finding freedom through the traumas and challenges they’ve experienced. She enjoys working at Center for Resiliency because it allows her to connect with people from various walks of life for who they are- not what they’re going through.