Meet the team

We have assembled a team of the most-qualified specialists to deliver the care you and your family need.

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Cheryl Kasper, MSW, LCSW

Cheryl Kasper, LCSW received her Master of Social Work Degree from Rutgers University in 1996. Cheryl is the owner and operator of Cheryl Kasper, LCSW and Associates and Ocean County Social Skills.

Cheryl has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults for over 20 years and specializes working with clients with Anxiety, Trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Grief, and an array of other mental health issues. She is trained in Sand Play Therapy, Neurofeedback, EMDR, Hypnotherapy, and Rapid Transformational Therapy.

Cheryl is also trained in Energy Psychology, she is a Mindset Expert and is also a Reiki Master.

Cheryl believes that in order to to have Emotional Freedom, you must address the mind and body to clear out any blocks and negative beliefs that create limitations and self sabotage.

Cheryl had worked for many years at Kimball Medical Center- Psychiatric Emergency Screening Service (PESS), for the Jackson Township School District Crisis Team, and the Jackson Township School District Child Study Team, as a School Social Worker.

Cheryl is a New Jersey Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Brittany Kieslor, MSW, LCSW

Brittany received her B.A. from University of Tampa and her Masters of Social Work Degree from Monmouth University with a specialization in Clinical Practice with Children and Families. She is currently Licensed in both New Jersey and Florida as a Clinical Social Worker and is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers and the Association for Play Therapy.

Brittany uses a strengths-based, client-centered, and solution focused method. Her experiences include social skills training, parent training for children with challenging behaviors, and family therapies to help rebuild toxic relationships. Brittany is trained in Play Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy, EMDR, CBT, and Sand Play Therapy. She works with children, adolescents, teenagers, and adults diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Attachment Problems, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar, Eating Disorders, Mood Disorders, Depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and diverse forms of trauma.

Brittany previously worked in the Brick Township Public School District as a Social Worker for the Brick Memorial High School Child Study Team. She worked with students with special needs, social skills, mental health issues and crisis management. She also previously worked in the RISE Academy for at-risk teens in the Brick Township Public School District and as an ABA Instructor for Xanadu Behavior Therapy .

Kristen Cladek, MSW, LCSW

Kristen graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Georgian Court University in May 2014. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2015 Fordham University. Kristen has worked with children and teens in a variety of capacities for nearly half of her life, including having interned as a counselor at a school for children and adults ages five to twenty-one with behavioral and developmental disabilities. She has worked with the State of New Jersey in the Division of Disability Services in their Personal Preference Program.

Since 2015, Kristen acts as the Director of Social Skills at Ocean County Social Skills and facilitates the high school, middle, and elementary school groups. In addition to her work with Ocean County Social Skills, Kristen works as a social worker at the LADACIN Network’s Lehmann Adult Day Program in Lakewood, where she manages the cases of adults with variety of developmental disabilities. Kristen is passionate about advocating for individuals with disabilities and serves as as a member of Jackson Township’s Committee for the Disabled and coaches Challenger League Softball each spring.

Kristen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New Jersey and is trained in Sand Play therapy.

Michael Caponetto, MA, LAC, NCC

Michael received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Kean University of New Jersey. He then went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in School Counseling, also from Kean University, in 2015. From 2017-2019 he finished coursework in a post-masters program at Kean for licensed professional counseling. Michael is a Certified School Counselor for grades K-12 and recognized as a National Certified Counselor since January 2019. Additionally, in the Fall of 2019 Michael became a Licensed Associate Counselor.

Michael has been working for more than a decade with children and adolescents in various capacities. His experience includes working extensively with children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has also served as an interim guidance counselor at several of the Toms River elementary school’s guidance departments over the course of the last several years. In a separate setting in the summer of 2019 he began working for St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Toms River as a counselor in there Summer Religious Education Academy. Since 2011 he has worked for ESS through Toms River Regional Schools as a Substitute teacher and paraprofessional for the elementary and intermediate schools.

Michael also dedicates his time to co-facilitating elementary, middle, and high school social skills groups as well as providing individual therapy services to adolescents and children at Ocean County Social Skills.

Christine Malinowski MSW, LCSW

Christine received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Elementary Education from Kean University of New Jersey and went on to receive her Masters of Social Work Degree from Monmouth University in 2001. She is a Certified as a New Jersey Teacher of Elementary Education, a Certified School Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Christine began her career over 22 years ago and has worked extensively with Families and Children throughout Ocean County. As a Residential Group Home and Case Manager with the Division of Developmental Disabilities State of New jersey, she was a Certified Prevention Intervention Specialist for adults with disabilities. She interned with the Ocean County Family Crisis Intervention Unit where she provided support to teens transitioning back into their homes and community from Residential Treatment Facilities. As a Family Social Worker and Site Supervisor for Head Start Preschool in Toms River, Christine provided In Home Needs Assessments for low income, at risk families with vulnerable young children.

Christine is a Certified Systematic Training for Effective Parenting Group Leader for the Toms River based Positive Parents Program. Christine is a Parent Educator and provides a Therapeutic Parents Group for Families raising children ages Preschool through Teen. She also coordinates an after school Social Skills Elementary School Aged Group at the Toms River Youth Services. Christine has also been volunteering as a Mental Health Social Worker with Camp Noah, a Disaster Relief Summer Program for children and families affected by Hurricane Sandy, since 2012.

Christine currently works for Toms River Regional Schools. Initially she was the District’s Elementary Substance Abuse Coordinator, and then went on to become a School Social Worker for Special Services where she has worked in the Preschool, Elementary and Intermediate Schools. Christine provides assessments to determine the bio- psychosocial needs of students with cognitive, emotional, behavioral, developmental and educational disabilities.

Michelle Stacey, MSW, LSW

Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Elementary Education from William Paterson University of New Jersey and went on to receive her Masters of Social Work Degree from Kean University in 2013.

She is a Certified New Jersey Regular and Special Education K-8 Teacher and a Licensed Social Worker.

Michelle has been working for more than a decade with children, adolescents, and families in various capacities. Her experience includes working as a substitute teacher and long term teaching positions in various Ocean County Schools and as an CMO worker in Monmouth County for over 6 years. Michelle moved to Texas for a few years where she worked with adults at the State Psychiatric Hospital.

Upon moving back to New Jersey, she has been facilitating elementary and middle social skills groups as well as providing individual therapy services to adolescents and children.

Office manager

MEREDITH COOK

Meredith received her Bachelors of Arts in English LIterature from Stockton University and began working in the health insurance industry in 1988 as an employee of Prudential Insurance as well as US Life Insurance (now AIG.)

Meredith has been working for Cheryl for the past four years serving primarily as her financial and billing administrator. She currently resides in Toms River where she continues to raise her family. She is an active volunteer and team leader in a local pet rescue and enjoys spending her time outdoors and with animals.