Teresa Delmonico, MA, CCC-SLP - Speech/Language Pathologist
Owner Abilities Therapy Network
Terri received her BA and MA at Montclair State University in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed her Clinical Practicum and Clinical Fellowship Year at Hackensack Medical Center, and several long term care facilities and rehabilitation hospitals in NJ to receive her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). She has been working in several public schools in Bergen County, NJ for the past 25 years as a speech/language therapist treating students in preschool handicapped classes, middle school, and high school with articulation and auditory processing difficulties, receptive/expressive language delays, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, dyslexia, and stuttering. She was employed for the last 7 years at Bergen County Special Services School District Autistic Continuum working with students 3-21 years of age with Autism Spectrum Disorders and a number of other disabilities including, Cerebral Palsy, Blindness, Deafness, Apraxia, Dysarthria, Developmental Delay and Neurological Impairment. She received special training in Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), Oral/Motor Disorders, Feeding/Swallowing Disorders, PROMPT Therapy, and Floortime, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She is also certified as a Teacher of the Handicapped, Teacher of Total Communication of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, and Reading Instructor. Terri believes in staying current with new research and therapy techniques and best practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and has received several ACE Awards for Continuing Education by maintaining her NJ license and membership in professional organizations. She attends seminars and workshops offered by ASHA, NJSHA, and BCSLHA (American, NJ, and Bergen County Speech/Language and Hearing Associations).
Andrea Delmonico, MS, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Owner Abilities Therapy Network
Andrea received her Master's degree in occupational therapy from Columbia University. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Andrea is licensed and registered to practice in both New Jersey and New York. From a young age, she has volunteered and worked with individuals of all ages with varying levels of ability. She gained her knowledge in adult neurological and orthopedic rehab through her work at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, NJ. Andrea's pediatric skills were strengthened through her work at Happy Hour 4 Kids & Manhattan OT, Inc. in New York City. Andrea has received specialized training and certification in "Ayres' Sensory Integration (SI)," Neuro-Devlopmental Treatment (NDT)", "Therapeutic Listening," "Handwriting without Tears," "Floortime," and "Astronaut Training." She is certified in administering the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). She is certiified in SOS Feeding (Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding) therapy technique. With her BFA in dance from Arizona State University, Andrea is also a dance instructor and adapted dance specialist. She has developed programs for adapted dance and creative movement groups for children and adults with disabilities and conducted and presented academic research on the use of dance/movement in occupational therapy groups to promote socialization. She is also working in adult, home-based rehabilitation in Northern NJ in addition to her pediatric private practice with the Abilities Therapy Network.
Nicole Psomas, MS, PT – Physical Therapist
Nicole Psomas is a Physical Therapist who graduated with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy and Health & Science from Thomas Jefferson University in 2003. She grew up in Wyckoff, NJ where she attended Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, NJ. After graduating from Jefferson she moved to New York City and was hired by the world famous New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she works to date. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Norton School and is a member of the National Lymphedema Network (NLN). Some other professional memberships include the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Hellenic Medical Society of New York, and the Daughters of Penelope. Since 2004 she has accumulated an extensive resume working with patients of varied populations including: post-surgical, reconstructive plastic surgery, bariatric surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cardiopulmonary, general medicine, hemophilia, oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry, pediatrics, transplant surgery, urology , vascular, women’s health, inpatient rehab unit and intensive care units. She held the position of Clinical Specialist for the Trauma, Surgical and Medicine Service. In the past 10 years she has treated many patients recovering from reconstructive plastic surgery, working hand-in-hand with famed New York City surgeons. Taking her practice outside the hospital, she began working part-time on an outpatient basis, with plastic surgeons that focus on aesthetic plastic surgery. Within that time she took continuing education courses to advance her skills and developed a protocol specific to the elective plastic surgery population. During her time at New York Presbyterian Hospital, she has won several awards and taken part in producing two educational books. The first published in 2005 is entitled, “Home Exercise Program For Your Child After Heart Surgery” and the second, “Welcome To The Burn Center.” She has been the recipient of two Patient Centered Care Grants. The grant awarded in 2012 is an education kit to guide patients on recovery after bariatric surgery. As a clinician who has treated countless people recovering after plastic surgery, she also shares the unique experience of being a patient as well. In the year 2010, she made the decision to undergo an elective plastic surgery procedure. With minimal information on post-operative rehabilitation, it was her instinct to use the skills she practiced on a daily basis in order to facilitate healing and improve her appearance. Astounded by the results, famed New York City plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer, asked her to share the secrets for a fabulous recovery. This sparked a referral service where, to date, she’s been sharing these techniques and educating individuals on how to take recovery into their own hands. She is now a featured practitioner with Dr. David Shafer and has contributed articles which will be featured on his website. She then branched out and began collaborating with other prominent New York City surgeons. The unique perspective of being a clinician and patient has allowed her to offer the skills and support the patient has needed to achieve the best results for their recovery.
Dr. Jessica Haftek, PsyD. - Psychologist
Dr. Jessica Haftek is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a certification in School Psychology. Dr. Haftek holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Psychology and a Masters Degree in Psychology in Education from The Teachers College at Columbia University. She has worked in a range of clinical settings, including schools, hospitals, and private practice, specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents. Dr. Haftek has experience helping children and families coping with a wide range of issues including developmental challenges, behavior or learning problems, medical conditions, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and depression. Dr. Haftek also has an interest and specialty training in assessing young children. These psychological evaluations may be used for diagnostic purposes, to determine the strengths and weaknesses of children who are having difficulty in the school systems, to assess behavioral difficulties, or to help create an educational plan for a child. Dr. Haftek is trained in a number of evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Therapy, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). Her typical approach to therapy incorporates developmental, relationship-based, and CBT theories.