Meet the Team
Laura Feiss, LCSW
Laura Feiss received her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work and has 25 years of experience working with children and families. Laura brings a calm, creative approach and strong clinical lens to Kids Together. Laura’s integrative practice draws on mindfulness, art and movement, social learning, play, and cognitive behavioral strategies within the framework of appreciating the needs of the whole child. Her ranging modalities are incorporated into her groups, individual therapy, parent consultation, and collaboration with outside professionals upon request.
Early in her career, Laura worked with bereaving families and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges where group work was a large focus in supporting this population.
Dia DeAngelis, LCSW
Dia received her MSW from New York University Silver School of Social Work. During graduate level training she provided crisis intervention services, family and individual counseling, and group work for children and adolescents. For the past 6 years, Dia has worked as a school social worker which has provided her with a unique insight into navigating the public school system. She provides individual and group counseling to children and adolescents eligible for Special Education and Related Services. Dia also provides support and assistance to parents, teachers and administrators to ensure that the academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs of the students are being met.
In private practice, Dia facilitates social skills groups for children and adolescents with behavioral and school challenges, family conflict, depression, anxiety, and socialization and peer relationship issues. She also provides individual counseling to children, adolescents and families.
Eva Buggy, LCSW
Eva Buggy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master's in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2019. She worked for a year providing crisis intervention services for children ages 3-21, before working full time as an elementary School Social Worker. In the school setting, Eva works with children with a variety of different diagnoses, including anxiety, ADHD, and ASD, who qualify for school-based counseling as part of their IEP.
At Kids Together, Eva works with youth individually and in groups to address social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. She utilizes a range of modalities blending Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques with mindfulness, play, art, and a strengths-based perspective to build self-esteem and motivation for children with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Eva's strong focus on the development of a trusting relationship with children works to create a normalized therapeutic environment where children can feel confident building coping strategies and working towards their goals.
Lorena Donovan, LCSW
Working in social services since 2009, Lorena brings a diverse background of experiences to her clients. Lorena graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago after completing a three year full-time fellowship program with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Since 2016, Lorena has worked as a social worker at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, working specifically with the pediatric renal population assisting patients and families navigate chronic illness at every stage.
Lorena supports a collaborative therapy relationship where the client is actively involved in goal setting and skill building through the therapeutic alliance. Lorena can help children work alongside their parents to focus on improving self-regulation, coping skills and social skills building.
Bela Barbosa
Bela Barbosa has been an early childhood educator for 9 years. She has taught mindfulness in her classroom and has worked with local social workers in social skills groups. Bela recently earned both her yoga teacher and wellness champion certifications. She is currently the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) consultant at a 12-classroom preschool for ages 2-5, bringing her expertise to all children and staff. Her first book ((I Am! Affirmation for
Resilience)
is an illustrated guide to simple affirmations for young children, building self-esteem and confidence.
For more information on her book, click on the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Am-Affirmations-Resilience-Bela-Barbosa/dp/0593222792
Debbie Otner
Debbie Otner is a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist and received her Masters in Communication Disorders from Montclair State University in 2013. She has 9 years of experience working with children and families, primarily in Early Intervention. She has also treated school aged children and adults individually and in group settings, with a variety of communication disorders. Debbie views social skills through a speech and language lens and is able to provide guidance on ways to work on pragmatic language skills which can greatly improve a child's ability to connect with their peers. the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.