Rutgers School of Social Work Welcomes New DSW Program Cohort

Jessica Bishop-Smith is a Pennsylvania licensed social worker, educator, and clinical practitioner with over a decade of experience in child welfare, mental health, and trauma-informed care. She earned her MSW from Temple University in 2015 and has since built a distinguished career that bridges direct clinical practice, higher education, and program leadership. Jessica currently works as a Clinical Director at Broad Street Love where she oversees case management services for the unhoused community in Philadelphia. In addition to her work at Broad Street Love, Jessica is an Emergency Department Social Worker at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia providing emergent care and crisis intervention to children and families.

Toni-Marie Brickhouse, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP, serves as the clinical school social worker and middle school guidance counselor at The Village School, an independent Montessori school in New Jersey serving students from toddler through eighth grade. In her role, she provides individual and group counseling, social-emotional learning programming, crisis intervention, parent consultation, and collaboration with educators and outside providers to support students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. Since joining The Village School in 2015, Toni has served in multiple capacities, including Admissions Director and School Social Worker, providing her with a broad understanding of child development, family engagement, and the educational systems that contribute to student success. She is particularly passionate about helping children develop emotional awareness, resilience, executive functioning skills, and healthy peer relationships while fostering inclusive and connected school communities. Toni earned a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an MSW from Seton Hall University. She is an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), which enhances her ability to support students, parents, and educators in understanding and addressing the social, emotional, behavioral, and executive functioning challenges often associated with ADHD. Her professional interests include school-based mental health, ADHD, anxiety, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and supporting children and adolescents within educational settings. Through her clinical work, Toni strives to create environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to navigate challenges while building the skills necessary for lifelong success.

Katiria Cobian, LCSW, LCADC is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey with over a decade of experience providing behavioral health services across inpatient psychiatric hospitals, community-based programs, and private practice. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, trauma, and complex psychosocial challenges. Katiria has extensive experience serving diverse and often underserved populations, including justice-involved youth, adolescents in sexual offender treatment programs, adults with serious mental illness, and individuals navigating homelessness, substance use, and involvement with the legal system. Her clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based care, with an emphasis on creating an environment that is safe, inclusive, and free of judgment. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Psychology from Rutgers University and her Master of Social Work from New York University. In addition to her work in an inpatient psychiatric setting, Katiria maintains a private practice where she provides individual and family therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, and substance use disorders. As a bilingual clinician, she is particularly committed to increasing access to culturally responsive mental health services for Latino individuals and families while helping reduce barriers to care and mental health stigma. As a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) student at Rutgers University, Katiria is committed to advancing clinical leadership, promoting trauma-informed and culturally responsive models of care, and contributing to the development of equitable behavioral health systems. Her long-term goal is to influence policy, education, and clinical practice while mentoring the next generation of social workers dedicated to serving historically underserved communities.

Cristina Curto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and behavioral health administrator with nearly a decade of experience in clinical social work. She currently serves as a Program Coordinator at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, where she oversees multidisciplinary treatment programs and supports the implementation of evidence-based practices across diverse clinical settings. Her professional experience includes providing psychotherapy, crisis intervention, clinical supervision, and programmatic oversight for programs serving individuals with a wide range of mental health needs. Cristina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree and Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. She has an interest in treatment protocols for neurodivergent individuals and seeks to continue expanding her experience in behavioral health leadership, trauma-informed systems of care, program development and evaluation, and improving access to high-quality mental health services for underserved and marginalized populations. Through her doctoral studies, she seeks to advance innovative and sustainable approaches to behavioral health service delivery while contributing to the development of effective, equitable, and person-centered systems of care.

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Carly Deliman is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the state of New Jersey with a strong commitment to serving individuals experiencing mental illness and other vulnerable populations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Family Services, with minors in Social Work and Psychology, from Montclair State University, and later obtained her Master of Social Work from Montclair State University, further strengthening her clinical knowledge and skills. Throughout her education and professional career, Carly has gained diverse experience working with individuals across the lifespan. During her undergraduate studies, she completed an internship in a nursing home, providing support to the geriatric population. While pursuing her master’s degree, she interned in an after-school program serving youth in underserved urban communities, where she facilitated individual and group interventions focused on social-emotional development and mental health. Carly also completed a clinical internship at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she now works as a social worker in a residential rehabilitation program serving veterans with serious mental illness. In her current role, she provides individual and group therapy, comprehensive case management, and care coordination for veterans of all ages. She assists veterans in accessing financial resources, developing coping skills, securing permanent housing, and successfully reintegrating into their communities to promote long-term independence and recovery. As she pursues a Doctor of Social Work degree, Carly hopes to expand her expertise in clinical practice, leadership, and evidence-based interventions within the mental health field. Her long-term goal is to continue advocating for and improving the lives of all of those living with a mental illness, and reducing the stigma around serious mental health diagnoses.

Felicia Fdyfil-Horne, LCSW, is the Founder and Executive Director of Hope Therapeutic Services, a trauma-informed behavioral health organization serving individuals, families, schools, and communities throughout New Jersey. She is also the Founder of Soulful Living, an integrative wellness center dedicated to fostering connection, restoration, and holistic wellbeing. Felicia is licensed in NJ, NY, CA, Florida and Connecticut. For more than a decade, Felicia has worked at the intersection of mental health, community engagement, leadership development, and systems-level change. Her clinical background includes extensive training in trauma-informed care, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-based interventions, and somatic approaches to healing. Through her leadership, Hope Therapeutic Services has expanded access to culturally responsive mental health services while building partnerships across healthcare, education, nonprofit, and community sectors. Felicia's professional interests center on the relationship between nervous system health, resilience, leadership effectiveness, and community wellbeing. As a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) student at Rutgers University School of Social Work, she is interested in advancing research and practice that explores how nervous system regulation can serve as a foundation for workforce resilience, mental health, and human flourishing. Her work seeks to bridge neuroscience, behavioral health, spirituality, and social work practice to develop innovative approaches that strengthen individual and collective capacity for healing and growth. Through her clinical, community, and academic work, Felicia is committed to advancing accessible, evidence-informed, and person-centered approaches that promote resilience, connection, and sustainable wellbeing across diverse communities.

Anthony Lee (he/him) is a first-generation Hmong American queer scholar, social justice advocate, and mental health professional. He is currently a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) in California and is on track to earn licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2026. Anthony's educational journey reflects a longstanding commitment to equity and public service. He earned multiple associate degrees in Communication and Interdisciplinary Social and Behavioral Sciences from Sacramento City College before completing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Gender Studies at San Francisco State University in 2021. Through his service with AmeriCorps, he was awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and the California Education for All Scholarship, which supported his graduate education. He earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University in 2023 and received specialized training in Queer-Informed Narrative Therapy and Liberation Psychology through the Gender Health Center in connection with the Dulwich Centre. Throughout his education and clinical career, Anthony has advanced initiatives focused on parenting education, early developmental disability screening, LGBTQ+ advocacy, gender-based violence prevention, gender-affirming care, and community mental health. As a doctoral student, Anthony's scholarship centers on intervention science and the cultural adaptation of evidence-based mental health interventions for LGBTQ+ and AAPI communities. His research seeks to improve mental health outcomes, expand culturally responsive clinical training, and address disparities affecting historically marginalized populations. His work is informed by his lived experiences as a queer Hmong American clinician, as well as the scholarship of trail blazers such as Frantz Fanon, Gloria Anzaldúa, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Frederick T. L. Leong, Hyeouk "Chris" Hahm, and other scholars whose work centers global communities.

Alexandra is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in New Jersey and the founder of HoneyGlow Therapy, a private practice dedicated to supporting adults navigating attachment-related concerns, anxiety, trauma, and relationship challenges. Her clinical journey began in trauma-focused care within a Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center, where she worked with children and families impacted by abuse and neglect and developed a strong foundation in evidence-based practice. Over time, her work has been guided by a simple belief: meaningful change happens when people feel safe enough to understand themselves with compassion rather than judgment. She remains passionate about helping individuals cultivate self-trust, emotional resilience, and lasting change. Alexandra's professional interests have been shaped by a career that has spanned child advocacy, forensic psychology, trauma treatment, and private practice. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University, followed by a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families and a post-graduate certification in Forensic Psychology. During graduate school, she participated in research examining child sexual abuse and gained extensive experience working with children and families impacted by maltreatment. Her commitment to lifelong learning and curiosity about the complexities of human relationships ultimately led her to pursue a Doctorate in Social Work. Alexandra's scholarly interests center on adult attachment and bridging the gap between theory and what actually happens in the therapy room. She is particularly interested in exploring how attachment-informed approaches can be integrated with mindfulness and body-based practices in ways that are practical, accessible, and clinically useful. Through her doctoral studies, she hopes to contribute to the development of structured frameworks that support therapy, supervision, consultation, and training. Above all, Alexandra is passionate about making complex ideas more understandable and helping clinicians translate theory into meaningful change for the individuals and communities they serve.

Christina Santaspirt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey with over 20 years of experience providing clinical services to children, families, older adults, and individuals across diverse practice settings. She currently serves as a Clinical Social Worker specializing in geriatrics, where she provides comprehensive assessments, individual therapy, and family therapy. In her clinical practice, Christina integrates evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to support clients in navigating life transitions, mental health challenges, and complex family dynamics. Throughout her career, Christina has worked with children and families in residential and in-home settings throughout New Jersey, providing assessment, individual, and group therapy services to at-risk youth and their families. Her clinical experiences have shaped her commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based, and person-centered approaches that promote resilience and meaningful change across the lifespan. Christina earned her Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University through the five-year accelerated program. In addition to her clinical practice, she contributes to social work education at Rutgers University, where she serves as a Field Liaison, Adjunct Professor, and Field Supervisor. Through her academic and supervisory roles, Christina supports the development of emerging social work professionals and promotes the integration of evidence-informed practice, ethical decision-making, and clinical skill development. As a Doctor of Social Work student, Christina is interested in advancing clinical social work practice through the continued exploration of effective interventions, practice-based evidence, and the connection between social work education and applied clinical practice. She is committed to strengthening the profession by supporting innovative approaches to care and preparing future social workers to meet the evolving needs of individuals, families, and communities. Outside of her professional roles, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, attending concerts, and traveling.

Katarzyna “Kasia” Toczylowska is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) in New Jersey. She is a graduate from Rutgers University with a Master of Arts degree in Social Work, Bachelor of Arts degrees in Visual Arts (Painting and Photography) and Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health. Kasia is deeply committed to expanding access to the EAGALA model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) for treatment of mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Horses are highly sensitive and attuned to human emotions, making them excellent therapeutic partners, as a result spending time with horses can reduce stress levels and promote emotional regulation.

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