Erica Palumbo is an experienced school psychologist who served for nearly a decade in Fairfield County public schools.
Erica earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut, where she completed a double major in psychology and human development & family studies. She earned multiple honors as an undergraduate including being named a Babbidge Scholar as well as being inducted into Psi Chi and the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa. Erica attended Tufts University, where she earned a masters and educational specialist degree in school psychology. While in graduate school, Erica worked with the Director of Student Teaching & School Partnerships on projects aimed to impact education around the globe as well as increase ethnic diversity in teaching preparation programs. During her fieldwork, Erica worked with elementary aged students in public schools outside of Boston. She then completed a yearlong internship at Brookfield High School in Connecticut.
Erica is joining Sasco River after seven years working as a school psychologist in New Canaan Public Schools and Weston Public Schools. While in New Canaan, Erica worked two years at Saxe Middle School and two years at East Elementary School. In her role, Erica conducted comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations, chaired Planning and Placement Team meetings to determine student eligibility for services, provided counseling services, co-chaired the Student Support Team, performed risk assessments, and consulted with teachers, administration, and support staff on an ongoing basis. Erica fulfilled many of the same roles in Weston, in addition to chairing the 504 Accommodation Plan meetings, and providing social-emotional classroom lessons.
At the end of 2021, Erica decided it was time to pursue her longtime goal of working as a psychotherapist. Erica’s counseling approach draws from different theories and frameworks though is tailored depending on the individual needs of her clients. Erica has been trained in school-based Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy methods. In addition, she has training in Zone of Regulation, Social Thinking, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and the Yale Anchors of Emotional Intelligence Ruler Program. Erica approaches her counseling work with warmth and has been praised for her ability to build strong rapport with her clients. Erica has extensive experience with children and adolescents who are working through anxiety, depression, social skill deficits, school avoidance, ADHD, learning difficulties, low self-esteem, and problematic behaviors.