Our Story

Kristen Niemczyk-Kistner has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and both a master’s and a Ph.D. in social work. Kristen is also a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, certified school social worker, and a licensed social worker. Kristen has acquired twenty years of professional experience providing mental health counseling, coaching and consulting services. 

As a certified school social worker, Kristen has developed Individual Education Plans (IEP); facilitated peer support, social skills, behavior management, and anger management groups; developed behavior intervention plans; and conducted psychosocial assessments. As a licensed social worker, Kristen has provided individual, group, and family counseling in a private practice setting and through intensive in-home counseling. As an intensive in-home counselor, Kristen provided services and support to individuals with emotional and behavioral disord​ers. These clinical experiences enabled Kristen to apply social work theory and methods to the treatment and prevention of emotional and mental disorders. Kristen also has over six years of teaching experience working as an adjunct professor at a local university. 

In addition to Kristen’s academic and professional success, she is happily married to an extremely loving and supportive husband. Kristen and her husband reside in a beautiful home in New Jersey with their three children. After all the formal training and experience, Kristen now works as a coach and consultant.

For the past fifteen years Melissa Dupree has worked as a school psychologist in both New York and New Jersey.  As a school psychologist Melissa has a strong understanding of the importance a child’s emotional and behavioral well-being has on their ability to achieve success and flourish socially and academically.

Following training as a school psychologist, Melissa went on to pursue a Post-Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  This experience has supplied Melissa with great insight into the field of behavior as a science as well as empirically based behavior management and intervention strategies that have proven to be effective across both home and school settings. As someone who is committed to helping children move toward independence and life-long learning, Melissa believes it is important to maintain a positive environment where children and families can reach their maximum potential and achieve their ultimate success. Melissa has a strong background in providing coaching and consulting services.

On a more personal note, Melissa is a happily married wife and also a proud mother to a vibrant little girl.  Melissa and her husband are both in the field of education so they are aware of the importance of a child’s self-confidence and the role it plays in their success.  As a parent Melissa can relate to the struggles that many families face within their home on a daily basis and as a behaviorist Melissa can help to provide them with some much warranted relief to their struggles.

Jenesse Ramos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently working as a Bilingual Elementary School Social Worker. Throughout her experience in the field of Social Work, Mrs. Ramos has provided individual and/or group counseling for children, adults, families and couples for over a decade. 

Mrs. Ramos was born in NYC to her Dominican mother and Cuban father. She is a proud graduate of SUNY New Paltz and the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College where she obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work. This is where she discovered her true purpose. Mrs. Ramos has always embodied a deep love for helping others, even at a very young age despite many unexpected curveballs life threw her way. As a Dominican-Cuban child growing up in a single family home she often acted as a translator for her mother in order to help her navigate the system that she now helps the families she works with to navigate today. It has been extremely rewarding for her to watch it all come full circle. 

Another important role Mrs. Ramos has is that of a mother to her three beautiful children (aged 6, 8, and 11). 

Motherhood has helped her grow both personally and professionally. She truly understands the challenges that parents face on a daily basis and loves nothing more than helping families navigate the path to success together. 

In the clinical field, Mrs. Ramos has extensive experience working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, sexual abuse, relationship difficulties and grief through utilizing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychotherapy. Mrs. Ramos provides coaching services for parents, teens and young adults.

Cara Marucci is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been working as a School Counselor for over ten years with teens and adolescents. Her wealth of experience ranges from crisis management, college/career counseling, behavior management, cognitive behavior therapy as well as providing behavior therapy to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

Cara has an undergraduate degree in the area of psychology, as well as, a master’s degree in counseling services and a post master’s in applied behavior analysis. 

As a counselor, Cara utilizes a combination of family systems, CBT and solution focused therapy. She has a personal connection to mother’s struggling with postpartum and understands how difficult this experience can be to overcome. Unfortunately postpartum struggles tend to be overlooked in our society, as a result Cara has always wanted to find a way to connect her counseling services to this area in an effort to help fellow mothers overcome such a challenging time in their lives. 

One of Cara’s most significant roles in life is that of a mother and wife. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two beautiful children, aged 9 and 5. Cara loves watching them play sports and will always be there cheering them on from the sidelines. As a working parent who understands how important mental health is for a family dynamic to thrive, Cara has been a wonderful addition to our Success Street family.

Julie Badras is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has 10+ years of experience in the education and counseling fields, as both a school counselor and teacher. Her journey began as a 5th and 6th grade math teacher in Baltimore, MD, through Teach For America. Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from the University of Delaware, a Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. In May of 2025, she will also complete her Director of Guidance Certification through Montclair State. Julie has helped numerous students achieve their academic and social-emotional goals as a school counselor.

Julie also has experience offering therapeutic mental health services to youth and families in need. Julie specializes in helping children and teens who struggle with anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, family conflict, grief, relationship/peer issues, self-esteem, academic stress, and college/career planning. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solutions-focused counseling techniques, psychoeducation, and mindfulness to help clients overcome challenges. As a mother to her spontaneous and loving 3-year-old daughter, she understands the challenges that come with parenting and providing parenting and family support is one of her passions as well.