Meet the Team
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Susan Tellone, MSN, CSN, BSN, RN
Executive Director
Susan Tellone is a highly accomplished Certified School Nurse and health educator with over four decades dedicated to psychiatric nursing, particularly in suicide prevention. She began her career as one of the first Psychiatric Emergency Suicide Screeners (PESS) at Monmouth Medical and taught for years at the University of Medicine and Dentistry on New Jersey’s psychiatric screening law.
Jennifer Fria, MA, MS, LPC, PMH-C, ACS
Clinical Director
Licensed Professional Counselor
Jennifer Fria is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Director at the Samaritan Center. Jennifer holds an MA degree from New York University in applied psychology and a MS degree in mental health counseling from Monmouth University. Jennifer is a certified clinical supervisor and has a certification in perinatal mental health. Jennifer is also trained in EMDR.
Jennifer maintains a holistic approach to therapy. With a focus on the integration of effective therapeutic modalities to develop an individualized treatment. Jennifer creates a welcoming and warm environment so you can feel comfortable to address and process tough issues and experiences. Jennifer works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples.
Judy McCormick, MA
School Counselor and Educator
Judy is the Community Outreach Coordinator at The Samaritan Center at The Jersey Shore. Judy was a graduate of Newark State (Kean University) where she received a B.A. in elementary education. She also has a master’s degree from Kean University in School Counseling. She is a licensed School Counselor with 40 years in education. She has worked on the State committees for Awareness of Sexual Abuse, Early Intervention Preschool Education, Career Education, and the Anti-Bullying law which is called the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Directive in New Jersey.
Her experiences include working as a counselor for PreK-12, organizing and creating the Parent Academy in South Brunswick supervising and developing the H.I.B. programs in South Brunswick and the State of New Jersey, and developing and organizing the curriculum created for the school counselors in her district.
Judy has been a part of The Samaritan Center at The Jersey Shore reaching out and supporting the community in a variety of ways. She interacts and presents at many schools in Monmouth County supporting their needs. Judy also presents at many community wellness fairs. She is a member of the Traumatic Loss Coalition of Monmouth County. Judy has been trained in the Mental Health First Aid for adults and youth that has been presented at The Samaritan Center. Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, line dancing and Irish dancing. She is an avid reader and belongs to a book club in her community. Judy love spending time with her children and five grandchildren hiking, exploring, and having fun.
Seton E. Cuccio LCSW, LCADC, PHM-C
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Seton enjoys helping people learn to express their feelings, process their feelings without judgement, and look for solutions to move forward toward their goals, both in therapy and beyond. Seton works with adult men and women looking to empower themselves and created positive changes in their lives.
Seton has substantial experience working with people with anxiety, depressive, bipolar, psychotic, substance use, co-occurring, and personality disorders. Seton has specialized experience working with people diagnosed with eating disorders and women who are struggling with perinatal mental health issues. Seton has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Contact Seton if you or someone you know is interested in a solution-focused, humanistic approach to therapy. Nothing is more important to her than helping people discover their strengths and capitalize them to reach their goals and become the versions of themselves they want to be. Seton believes in working together as a team to create real change in a person’s life.
Margaret Moran LCSW, MSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Maggie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience treating all ages and mental illnesses, with a specialty in eating disorders. Maggie’s work with patients struggling with eating disorders on the In-patient unit at Penn Medicine, Princeton Medical Center for over 12 years gives her a strong foundation in diagnosing and treating eating disorders. Maggie utilizes many modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Maggie strives for a strengths-based approach and believes in developing the therapeutic relationship.
Caroline Chitty MS, LAC
Licensed Associate Counselor
Caroline Chitty is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of New Jersey. Caroline received her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Monmouth University and has completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Counseling. Caroline works with clients spanning various ages to help meet their goals with a holistic approach that is tailored to the clients’ specific needs. She looks to help clients improve their relationship with self as well as others. Caroline is passionate about helping clients live a more meaningful life with enriched relationships.
Laurie Chiafullo MS, LAC
Licensed Associate Counselor
Meghan Keates, MS, LAC
Licensed Associate Counselor
Meghan is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a specialization in compassion based and trauma-informed care as well as a MS in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University. Stepping into a session with Meghan would look like harnessing your authentic self, and having her meet you there as a clinician. Meghan utilizes a strength-based approach in her therapeutic practice. Empathy, honesty, open-mindedness, challenge and kindness are used throughout the process.
All are welcome: Whether it’s LGBTQIA+ community, children and adolescents, adults or palliative care. Meghan truly loves what she does, and appreciates you considering her as your therapist.
Emily R T Miller, MSW, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
As a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Emily is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective virtual therapy services to individuals navigating a range of challenges. Emily’s areas of focus include ADHD, PTSD and trauma, maternal and parental mental health, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. In her practice, Emily integrates various therapeutic modalities, including mindfulness-based techniques, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), active listening, cognitive reframing, Jungian principles, and trauma-informed care. Emily strives to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel understood and empowered to work towards their goals. Through a collaborative and empathetic approach, she aims to help you build resilience, develop coping strategies, and foster positive change in your life.
Ruth Jacobs, MSW, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
Ruth is a Licensed Social Worker and believes that the therapeutic process is one of partnership. While starting therapy can feel daunting, you don’t have to do it alone. Many of us experience situations that cause us to feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s a tough life transition, stress from work or home, and feeling hopeless because nothing has worked to improve how we feel. Ruth’s approach focuses on how to empower you to create the change you would like to see in your life. Ruth draws from evidence-based approaches to support the specific needs of her clients; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, strengths-based practices, attachment / acceptance and commitment theories, turning off that “negative” self-talk, regulation of emotions, anxiety, depression, elder care issues and trauma-informed care. Taking the first step can feel awkward or difficult—if you’re ready, Ruth invites you to reach out!
Samantha Myers
Mental Health Graduate Intern
Samantha is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Monmouth University. Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rowan University and has a background in Human Resources and Mental Health Administration. Samantha’s approach is rooted in psychodynamic theory, emphasizing the impact of past experiences, unconscious processes, and relational patterns on present challenges. This approach is particularly effective for individuals struggling with anxiety and depression, relationship issues, self-esteem and identity concerns, trauma and childhood experiences, and emotional regulation and stress management. Samantha strives to create a reflective and supportive space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships to gain deeper insight and lasting change. Samantha’s goal is to help individuals develop a greater understanding of themselves and their experiences to foster personal growth and emotional well-being. Samantha is available to work with children, adolescents, adults, and couples.