Counseling
Our certified school social worker, provides counseling services for those students who are deemed appropriate. It is important that our students are given the opportunity to express themselves in a comfortable environment with someone they trust. Students are provided not only individual opportunities to speak with a counselor, but also have the chance to talk with their peers on relatable topics that may be impacting their lives.
Students at Alpha School may receive:
- Individual Counseling. Talk therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy are used to help each student reflect on the connection between their feelings and behavior
- Group Counseling. Group counseling provides students with social skills training with the use of reality talk and board games, which promote the use positive social skills in a peer environment.
- Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Services. Our school social worker is a specialist in investigating, reporting and resolving any incidents of maltreatment
Meet Kevin Nussbaum – Alpha School's School Social Worker
My name is Kevin Nussbaum and I am the School Social Worker here at Alpha School. I work with our students in both individual and group settings and work on things like coping skills and enhancing the student's self-esteem. I also work the Social Skills after school program where I and staff help facilitate appropriate play and conversation with our students.
Be sure to download the New Jersey Resource Directory. This guide is a comprehensive resource that identifies various programs and services the Department of Human Services offers to New Jersey residents.
Crisis Intervention
The Crisis Intervention Team at Alpha School utilizes CPI—Crisis Prevention and Intervention—a safe, non-harmful behavior management system designed to help staff provide the best possible care, welfare, safety, and security for individuals, even during their most disruptive or violent moments.
Our BCBA is Whitney Lott, and our CPI-certified trainers are Jennifer Trause and Mari Paulino. These trainers provide staff with the skills and strategies necessary to safely manage and de-escalate challenging behaviors while maintaining dignity and respect for the individual.
Crisis intervention involves brief, critical moments when staff must respond to behavior that could escalate into disruptive or potentially violent incidents. The goal of our team is to intervene in a way that ensures the care, welfare, safety, and security of everyone involved in a crisis situation.
The goal of the staff here at Alpha School is to intervene in a way that provides for the care, welfare, safety and security of all who are involved in a crisis situation.
Meet Jennifer Trause, CPI Trainer
Hi, I’m Jennifer Trause, and I am on the Behavior Team as well as the certified CPI (Crisis Prevention and Intervention) trainer at Alpha School in Jackson, NJ, where I work with students with a wide range of disabilities. I train the staff in verbal intervention, nonviolent crisis intervention, advanced physical skills, and advanced disengagement techniques. This includes problem-solving and decision-making skills to recognize the level of risk and apply the most appropriate verbal and/or physical techniques. I bring over seven years of experience in special education, along with 10 years of working in daycare settings, which have both helped shape my skills and approach to individualized support. For me, empathy and patience are essential, and I’m committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment where every student feels valued.
