LogoThe Emotional Wellness Support Team is a collective of mental health licensed and trained professionals at Byram Hills High School. We support our students, families and larger school community by consulting with administrators, teachers and parents to identify young people that are struggling and may need extra support and services. We also work proactively to get ahead of problems before they escalate by creating programs that support youth development. We serve as liaisons between school, home and the larger community. We provide individual and group counseling, assessment for special education referrals, and offer consults around 504 and IEP plans.

 

Colleen AriniColleen Arini, M.A., NCSP, is a building-level school psychologist who works with students in grades 9-12th. Colleen earned her Master’s degree in School Psychology from Iona University. Ms. Arini has an article published in the National Association of School Psychologists Communiqué, which focused on her research with children with incarcerated parents. Her role at the high school consists of providing social and emotional support to students through individual, group, and building-level counseling services. Ms. Arini is also a Chairperson for the 504 and the CSE committees for grades 9 and 11. In addition to her role as Chairperson, Ms. Arini conducts psychoeducational evaluations and assists with educational planning and programming. Ms. Arini can be reached at 914-273-9200 ext. 4955 or by emailing her here Colleen Arini.


Marisa CuomoMarisa Cuomo holds a doctorate of psychology (Psy. D) from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  For the last decade, Dr. Cuomo has worked in school districts with children and adolescents of all ages.  She specializes in providing treatment to young children and teens with a variety of difficulties such as depression, anxiety, school refusal, and executive function deficits.  Dr. Cuomo also specializes in psychoeducational testing and diagnosis of learning disabilities. She is proficient in navigating the policies and procedures of the special education process and special education law.  She has a special interest in positive psychology; focusing on human strengths and positive institutions instead of weaknesses and obstacles.  Her doctoral research focused on the character strengths of high school students and is entitled “The Effects of a Character Strength Intervention on Life Satisfaction and Self-esteem of High School Students”.  Dr. Cuomo is also a Chairperson for the 504 and the CSE committees for grades 10 and 12. She also provides interventions that derive from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model.  She can be reached at 914-273-9200 ext. 4956 or by emailing her here Marisa Cuomo.


Allison MuelleAllison Muelle, LMSW, is the School Social Worker at the high school. Allison earned her Master's in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Allison will provide social emotional wellness support to students in grades 9-12, as well as working with families to support overall student social emotional wellness. She works with students in a one on one setting as well as in a group setting. Ms. Muelle works with students on goal setting, managing anxiety, coping skills, emotional health, decision making, and many other aspects to support a student's mental health and overall success. Ms. Muelle can be reached at 914-273-9200 ext. 4953 or by emailing her here Allison Muelle.
 



Bernice PaganBernice Pagan, LMSW, is the Student Assistance Counselor at the high school.  She will provide alcohol, tobacco, vaping and other drug prevention activities.  She will also be available for short term individual and group counseling.  Ms. Pagan provides classroom presentations, parent presentations and faculty presentations on various topics.  Ms. Pagan is the advisor to the Youth 2 Youth (Y2Y) Club, a club whose members empower their peers to make healthy decisions.  She can be reached here Bernice Pagan or 273-9200 ext 1943.

 



Additional Resources
In the event of a psychiatric emergency, you can call:
- Call 911 in any emergency
- National Suicide Hotline (800) 273-Talk or (800) 273-8255
- Crisis Prevention and Response Team at (914) 925-5959

National alliance on Mental Health (NAMI): namiwestchester.org
Trained staff answer calls and provide information about mental health resources in Westchester.  Call (914) 592-5458 Help Line, 9am-2pm, Monday-Friday

New York State office of Addiction Services and supports (OASAS): oasas.ny.gov
Provides information and access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and other substance use disorders and problem gambling.

Call (877) 846-7369 or text HOPENY (467369) for help 24 hours a day.