Team

Leonard Pikaard, CEO - LSW, LCADC

Leonard Pikaard is a Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor with years of experience helping clients blaze their own path through recovery. Whether it’s recovery from substance abuse or mental health distress, Leonard takes a new-age approach to therapy and often incorporates holistic treatments into his sessions such as breathing techniques, relaxing meditations, yoga, aromatherapy, exercise, sports, and music therapy. Having trudged his own path to success, Leonard understands the importance of developing a tough mindset that will give patients the strength they need to persevere through uncomfortable feelings associated with change.

Allison Cardullo, COO - CLC, CC

Allison Hannah is a Certified Life Coach, Crisis Counselor, and operations professional with a passion for guiding others to develop emotional intelligence, overcome obstacles, tackle tough challenges, and fulfill their leadership potential. Specializing in individual executive coaching, team consulting, group workshops, and speaking with audiences at events & online, Allison helps leadership teams, community heads, families, and friends develop compassionate strategies to provide support resources to those who need it and to communicate with emotional fluency.

Joseph Chlebowski - LSW

Joe Chlebowski has a clinical background in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and is trained in various forms of social work and treatment modalities. Specializing in DBT, personality disorders, and performing interventions, Joe works with individuals, couples, and families to help them overcome struggles, achieve goals, and establish better communication. A fitness enthusiast who loves to encourage his clients to lead healthy lives in all aspects, Joe also worked in law enforcement prior to becoming a therapist and has a special interest in working with veterans.

Karen Wright - LN, CDN

Karen Wright is a licensed Nutritionist and certified Master in the Transformational Coaching Method with additional training as a functional nutritionist, detoxification specialist, and Ulan Nutritional Systems Nutrition Response TestingSM practitioner. Karen’s passion is helping people transform their health through delicious foods, movement, and the detoxification of their living environment. Karen is also a HealthRHYTHMS facilitator, which is an evidenced-based protocol using drums to create a community and enhance immune function while finding a personal inner rhythm.

Dr. Ashley Anderson - DNP, APRN

Ashley Anderson is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. With multiple years of experience in the field, Dr. Anderson specializes in anxiety and mood disorders, exploring the variety of ways that disruptions in the mind can affect our body’s stress response, emotional state, mood & motivational levels, and even our decision making.

Amy Banko - LAC

Amy Banko obtained her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Rutgers University and utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to help her clients explore their wellness goals. With a focus on building solid relationships with her clients to identify their resilience, foster empowerment, de-pathologize adaptive behaviors, and develop authentic connections with others, Amy takes an eclectic approach to counseling and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision at Kean University with a focus on the treatment of trauma.

Victoria Burkert - LSW

Victoria Burkert is a Licensed Social Worker committed to helping individuals achieve their highest potential and lead fulfilling lives. With a master's degree from Rutgers University School of Social Work, her professional journey includes a diverse range of experiences encompassing community outreach, advocacy, individual therapy, and group therapy. Victoria's approach to therapy is grounded in evidence-based practices such as psycho-education, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, strengths-based therapy, motivational interviewing, and crisis intervention.

Alicia Morris - MSN, APN

Alicia Morris is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the life span) with a desire to help others that are faced with mental health concerns. With her background working with various conditions including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders. Alicia's experience includes inpatient stabilization and outpatient continued care.

Julia Nuzzo, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RYT 200

Julia Nuzzo is a Master’s educated, board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Nurse with a holistic approach to all aspects of patient care. She has an extensive background in the critical care setting, helping to stabilize acutely ill patients with psychiatric and medical conditions. With respect to the outpatient setting, Julia wishes to help those obtain and maintain good mental health by treating and teaching individuals to not separate the mind from the body. She is also a registered yoga instructor and fitness enthusiast who loves to educate her patients on the benefits of such to enable the powerful mind-body connection.

Tara Ariola

Tara Ariola received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She worked in the education field for over 15 years before going on to pursue training in medical billing. Tara is now utilizing her skills as our office assistant and medical biller.

Garrett Hemmerich

Garrett Hemmerich has worked as a writer, marketer, and media artist for over ten years. Serving as the office administrator and marketing director, Garrett applies his background in marketing and storytelling to help tell the story of Alpha Counseling and to engage with our community.