The New Jersey
TCCFR Team
At TCCFR, our New Jersey team is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care for individuals, couples, and families. With two convenient locations in Toms River and Manahawkin, our experienced therapists bring a variety of specialties and clinical perspectives to help clients across New Jersey feel supported, understood, and confident in their journey toward healing and growth.
Cristina Defuria, LMFT she/her
TCCFR Founder
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Certified Family Mediator working with individuals, couples and families for over 15 years. Individual counseling includes self-esteem, relationships, life transitions, academic & career choices, depression and anxiety. Couple and Family counseling is dynamic, including pre-marital counseling, family planning, parental burn out, parenting issues, in-law matters, intimacy issues, low sexual desire, infidelity (emotional, physical and internet) recovery, divorce adjustment, and blended family issues, as well as individual issues. My practice focuses on couples, relationships and families who are going through difficult life transitions and/or experiencing difficult symptoms and stressors. I specialize in couples work. I value each partner’s story and uniqueness as we work towards healing and recovery. My focus is to help people develop insight into the stress they face and work collaboratively to overcome them. I am also trained in the Brainspotting, effective for a wide variety of emotional and somatic conditions often related trauma.
Nicole Garamella, LMFT, AAMFT approved Supervisor
she/her
Nicole is an LMFT that works predominantly with couples, families, and individuals through a lens that meets clients where they are in the moment. The focus of treatment is to create a safe space in which people can explore and understand their internal parts and systems, and disrupt old relational patterns that leave them feeling stuck and unsatisfied. Nicole’s primary focuses are in neurodiversity issues, difficult life transitions, infidelity recovery, and trauma. Nicole uses a trauma-informed, integrated approach rooted in emotionally focused therapy, structural family therapy, and internal family systems. Together with the client, she focuses on identifying parts and relationships that create conflict or discomfort, and works to create an empathetic space focused on healing, boundaries, and disruption of dysfunctional patterns. Healing can be a difficult journey, but rewarding when we give ourselves permission to be curious about the wounded parts of ourselves and our relationships. Nicole seeks to help increase personal insight and growth, while empowering clients to identify and express themselves collaboratively to reach their desired goals.
Dina, LPC she/her
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with six years of experience working with adolescents and adults. My expertise includes addiction treatment and anxiety-related disorders, such as phobias, panic disorder/agoraphobia, OCD, and bipolar disorder. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Kean University and a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health from the Kean/Nathan Weiss Graduate College. My goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood and empowered to grow. My approach to therapy is warm, humanistic, person-centered, and empathetic. I also find that humor plays a vital role in processing difficult emotions. As an eclectic therapist, I draw upon various therapeutic methods to achieve the best outcomes for each client. I aim to make the first session as comfortable and relaxed as possible, as I understand that starting therapy can sometimes feel overwhelming. During our first session, we will primarily focus on building rapport. I enjoy getting to know my clients because I believe that their mental health struggles do not define who they truly are.
Kimberly Brinker MA LAC
I am a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state of New Jersey who is passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and build resilience. I work with clients ages 15 and up, offering a warm and supportive space to explore emotions, develop coping strategies, and create meaningful change. In my session, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, while fostering acceptance and empowering them to live in alignment with their values. I specializes in supporting those struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma histories, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs. With extensive experience supporting families impacted by disability, I have a deep understanding of the stress, emotional strain, and challenges that can come with caregiving. I have immediate openings for in person and virtual therapy sessions. Please reach out to me directly with any questions you may have.
Brandy, LMFT, AAMFT approved Supervisor
Brandy (she/her), LMFT earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Mass Communication from the University of Delaware, and her Master of Family Therapy from Drexel University. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy) Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow. Brandy has devoted her career to advocating that relationships are the critical environment for growth, change and healing. She spent over a decade working with families with profound intergenerational complex trauma and significant attachment challenges. From that experience, her clinical specialties have grown to include the influence of early life experiences, quality of relationships and intergenerational transmission of trauma on current functioning. Through research, training and clinical practice, she has seen how unresolved trauma and poor attachment relationships leave people to use unhealthy mechanisms to survive their environments. These patterns of behavior and relating in time no longer serve healthy development and necessitate innovative trauma treatment and supportive and consistent relational support. She is a staunch believer that healing is done in safe relationships with exploration and treatment of and within the multitude of systems each individual and family belong. She holds advanced certifications in The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (Level One: Individual and Level Two: Train-the-Trainer), Trauma Art Narrative Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy in addition to multiple modalities of systemic family therapy. Professionally she has presented on such topics as: complex trauma, attachment challenges, innovative practices in residential care, and families formed by adoption at the Building Bridges Initiative Summer Training Event, the Inaugural Greater Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference, the Northeastern Adoption and Child Welfare Summit, and the International Sanctuary Network Conference. Brandy teaches Addictions and the Family and Contextual Family Therapy in La Salle’s Counseling and Family Therapy Master’s Program.
Kaitlyn Tassillo, LPC she/her
TCCFR Clinical Partner
I am a Licensed Practicing Counselor (LPC) and certified in Gottman Therapy. I have been in the behavioral health field for 10 years working with adults, couples and families. I have worked in various treatment settings such as inpatient drug and alcohol rehab, outpatient addiction programs and outpatient mental health programs. I have extensive experience in working with individuals who struggle with addiction, depression and anxiety. During sessions I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. In working with couples I utilize the Gottman approach. We will work together as a team to achieve the changes you want to see in yourself to create a better life. I know looking for help can be scary and intimidating, but I promise I will make the process as easy as possible. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.
Juliana Evangelista, LAMFT she/her
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kean University. I have diverse experience providing trauma-informed care for children, individuals and families within different systems such as the Department of Children Protection and Permanency (DCPP), the adoption system and in mental health settings such as a private psychiatric office and a non profit organization. I strive to provide a safe environment where clients are free to express themselves and work on their growth potential. My foundation is in evidence-based approaches to treatment, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), as well as Structural Family Therapy. I am a trilingual therapist, treating in English, Portuguese and Spanish languages.
OLIVIA L FULTON, LSW
Olivia Fulton is a Licensed Social Worker who provides compassionate, client-centered support to individuals, families, and groups navigating social, emotional, and environmental challenges. With a strong foundation in social work, Olivia is dedicated to helping clients feel heard, supported, and empowered as they work through life’s difficulties. Olivia offers counseling and guidance to clients and their families, helping them build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and better understand the factors impacting their emotional well-being. Her approach is warm, supportive, and collaborative, creating a safe space where clients can explore their experiences and work toward meaningful growth. As a social worker, Olivia is committed to meeting clients where they are and supporting them with care, understanding, and respect.
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Stephanie Carrubba, MA LAMFT
Stephanie Lucille Carrubba is a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate at The Counseling Center for Relationships, where she supports individuals, couples, and families through life’s emotional and relational challenges. She brings a warm, compassionate, and collaborative approach to therapy, helping clients feel understood as they work toward healing, growth, and deeper connection. Stephanie has experience supporting clients navigating anxiety, depression, grief, family conflict, infidelity, LGBTQ+ related concerns, and relationship issues. Her work is grounded in creating a safe and affirming space where clients can explore patterns, strengthen communication, and build healthier relationships with themselves and others. Stephanie incorporates approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Experiential Therapy, and Play Therapy, tailoring each session to the unique needs of the client. She earned her Master’s degree from Kean University and is licensed in the state of New Jersey as a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. At TCCFR, Stephanie is passionate about helping clients feel supported, empowered, and more connected in their relationships and daily lives.
Joanne Kwaitkowski MA LAMFT
LEA LAC
Lea, LAC, is a trauma-informed therapist who integrates her training in EMDR and an Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed approach to help clients process trauma and build greater emotional balance. She works with individuals navigating personality-related challenges, including Borderline Personality Disorder, using a compassionate, non-pathologizing lens. She also has experience supporting individuals struggling with substance use, helping clients understand underlying patterns and develop healthier coping strategies. As a Jewish therapist, Lea is attuned to the impact of culture, identity, and intergenerational experiences, and offers an inclusive, respectful space for clients of all backgrounds.
Dana Simonelli M.A, LAC
Empathetic, compassionate, solution focused and strength based counselor with a commitment to guiding individuals toward becoming the best version of themselves. My role is to assist clients in dealing with challenging life issues such as career/life transition, processing traumatic experiences, and improving performance in competitive sports. My clients range from adolescents to mid 50's. I welcome working with you if you are looking to find your strengths, and feel more confident. Additionally, my sports coaching experience working with adolescents and young adults makes me particularly effective in dealing with performance anxiety as it relates to sports, but also academics, extracurricular activities, and career planning. This speciality is called mental fitness, which is rooted in the Mindfulness Acceptance Commitment Approach (MAC). I take pride in providing a safe, non-judgmental environment of unconditional positive regard for clients as they process their vulnerabilities. I look forward to working with you.
Laura Jones MA, LPC she/her
Laura Jones is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) working with adults in individual and group settings for the past 4 years. Laura earned her B.A. in Psychology from Le Moyne College, and her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marywood University. Laura has worked with people who experience anxiety, depression, substance abuse, life stressors, trauma, ADHD, and Autism. She utilizes a client-centered approach which focuses on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as her foundation, and incorporates elements from Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness activities. Additionally, she has been trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. She is being supervised by Cristina DeFuria, LMFT, to enhance her couples and family therapy skills.
Ana, MA, LAMFT she/her
Asking for help can be difficult and discussing personal information can be intimidating. Maintaining healthy relationships and boundaries can often be complicated. While we can't change difficult situations my goal as a therapist is to help you navigate life's challenges in order to achieve and maintain healthy and balanced outcomes. My predominant focus is with couples, families and individuals. My approach combines structural family therapy, solution-focused and Bowenian family therapy, with humor and honesty. My approach begins with getting to know you, and making you feel safe and comfortable. I empower my clients to make positive changes within their lives leading to healthier habits, better relationships, and improved mental health. I am a bilingual therapist .
Diane, MA, LAMFT
I believe people heal best when they feel safe, understood, and genuinely supported. I help individuals and couples explore and heal emotional wounds, relationship patterns, life transitions, and the experiences that may still be shaping their lives. Together, we can strengthen communication, repair trust, navigate conflict, and create relationships that feel more secure, honest, and fulfilling.
Kasey Ramouth LPC she/her
I have over 6 years experience in individual and group counseling, with a focus on depression, anxiety, substance abuse, navigating big life changes, and improving communication. In a digital and virtual world, I’m passionate about helping people re-connect with real people in real life to have more meaningful relationships. Facing big life changes (a move, a career switch, marriage, parenthood)? I’d be honored to help you navigate that change and feel a little more clarity and confidence. I use a multi-faceted approach, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused treatment, and person-centered therapy. Together, we can see if there are some patterns in your thinking that are keeping you “stuck” and see if we can challenge some of those patterns. We can find ways to address problems in your life by making small changes in a way that feels manageable to you. A little about me: I work virtually, and my dog may join in sometimes from the couch. I’m a New Jersey native who enjoys hiking, biking, climbing, and traveling. I graduated from Monmouth University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2018 and have been working in the field since then.
Jessica Frandsen MA, LCSW she/her
As an LCSW, I’ve built a practice that honors the full spectrum of who you are, honoring the mind, body, spirit, and everything in between. I blend evidence-based modalities like ACT and REBT with the wisdom of somatic healing, astrology, energy work, inner-child work, oracle cards, and sound bowls, recognizing the space where science and soul sit comfortably side by side. Real healing lives in the body as much as the mind. Through somatic work and energy healing we slow down and access the layers of your story that don’t always show up in words. I understand that breath and movement invite us to trust our bodies before the mind's healing catches up. At the heart of all of it, I help you find your way back to who you are. I assist you in paying attention to where trauma and pain sit in your body and how it connects with your thoughts, feelings, and your body’s wisdom. When I am not in session, you will find me connecting to the universe and my own body by breathing it all in through reading, music, yoga, snowboarding, and hiking.
Jessica, MA she/her
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Armand Asencio, LAMFT
With a background in engineering, I am trained to conceptualize what makes things run smoothly and efficiently, and how to identify what ‘parts’ are not working. As a therapist, I use an empathetic, client-centered, systemic lens to guide couples, families, and individuals to identify what is not serving them and change their patterns to promote long-term sustainability and contentment. My work centers around neurodiversity struggles, parenting issues, conflict resolution, infidelity recovery, life transition stress, pre-marital counseling, developmental stages transitions, and anxiety issues. With an integrated experiential, attachment-based approach, I work with all aspects of a couple or family, not just the individual perspectives. This is done through an emotionally attuned lens where clients can approach repair and resolution without further hurting each other, and individuals can deeper examine stuck narratives and transcend beyond them. Growth and healing can be challenging and by no means easy, but my goal is to empower clients through the hard moments by holding on to hope and lighting the path. I believe that those that can find the courage to take the first step are often already on their way to a rewarding future in which they feel heard, understood, and stronger than before.
Heidi M. Hartmann, MSW, LSW & CY (Therapy Dog)
Heidi Hartmann is a Licensed Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in social services across educational and nonprofit settings. She currently serves as a Mental Health Interventionist at Southern Regional School District, where she supports students and families through counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and community resource coordination. Her career spans leadership roles in youth shelters, crisis intervention units, and nonprofit administration, including Director of Operations and Interim Co-Executive Director at Ocean’s Harbor House. Heidi brings extensive expertise in trauma response, adolescent mental health, program development, and staff training. She is a certified Therapy Dog Handler, award-winning school professional, and dedicated community leader, serving as President of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Ocean County and previously representing Region II on the Runaway & Homeless Youth Advisory Board. Heidi holds a Master of Social Work from Stockton University, a School Social Worker Certificate, and is licensed in the state of New Jersey.
THERAPY DOG:
Norman
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
Skye Watt
Keri, LAC
Keri is a Licensed Associate Counselor with over 10 years of experience working with both adults and children. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop healthier coping skills. Keri approaches counseling with compassion and understanding, creating a supportive environment where clients feel heard and empowered to make meaningful changes.
Jessica
I believe healing begins in a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. While I continue to grow as a clinician under the supervision of Kaitlyn Tassillo, MA, LPC, I bring genuine compassion, life experience, and dedication to every counseling relationship. I work collaboratively with clients to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress, relationship challenges, grief, and personal growth. Together, we will identify practical coping strategies, build resilience, and foster meaningful, lasting change. Seeking counseling is a courageous first step, and I am honored to be part of that journey. My goal is to provide a welcoming space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions, gain new insights, and work toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. I look forward to partnering with you as you move toward healing and personal growth.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
Aryanna Arce
I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Georgian Court University. Upon graduating in 2027, I plan to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and build a career in private practice. I have a deep passion for helping individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD find comfort and rediscover their path toward healing and growth. My goal is to create a warm, supportive space where clients feel safe to explore their emotions and experiences without judgment.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
Natalie Lopez, MFT
Natalie offers support for children, teens, adults, couples, and families, with a focus on building emotional wellness, strengthening relationships, and navigating life’s challenges. Her areas of focus include self-esteem, emotional regulation, mindfulness, stress management, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship conflict. She also works with couples experiencing marital conflict, communication challenges, infidelity, trust concerns, premarital concerns, and separation or divorce, using approaches such as Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy. In family therapy, she supports families through conflict, communication issues, and collaborative divorce support.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
Jessica
As a counseling intern, I am passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate life's challenges and discover their strengths. I believe healing begins in a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. While I am continuing to grow as a clinician under the supervision of experienced professionals, I bring genuine compassion, life experience, and dedication to every counseling relationship. I work collaboratively with clients to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress, relationship challenges, grief, and personal growth. My approach is tailored to each individual's unique experiences, values, and goals. Together, we will identify practical coping strategies, build resilience, and foster meaningful, lasting change. Seeking counseling is a courageous first step, and I am honored to be part of that journey. My goal is to provide a welcoming space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions, gain new insights, and work toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. I look forward to partnering with you as you move toward healing and personal growth.