And just like that, we’re back… there is a positive energy in our school right now and it is great to get back into the flow of a new school year. For those of you who haven’t met us, we are Dr. McKibbin and Mr.Leonette, the school counselors at Bridges.
And a little bit about us…
Dr. McKibbin received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University and completed her internship at Johns Hopkins/Kennedy Krieger Institute. She spent three years working at the Autism Clinic At OHSU before opening her own practice in Portland which specializes in treating teens and adults on the autism spectrum. She has also worked in Australia with Dr. Tony Attwood and published a book about girls on the autism spectrum in 2015.
A few more things about me…
- I’m originally from Northern Ireland.
- I have 2 boys, a dog called Dodo, and a hamster called Oliver.
- I love hiking, cooking, and reading. I also love working with our staff and students at Bridges!
Mr. Leonette began working in education in 2009 where he found himself in various teaching and caregiving roles. He graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with an education specialist degree in school psychology in 2015. Mr. Leonette is passionate about both the academic and social-emotional components of working in education. Through his schooling and experience, he understands how strongly these are correlated with supporting a child’s learning and development. Prior to working at Bridges, Mr. Leonette worked as a math teacher/mentor at Fusion Academy in Evanston, Illinois for 4 years where he worked with middle and high school, neurodivergent students in 1:1 and small group settings. He absolutely loved it, but decided it was time to move to Portland in 2021 to escape the Midwestwinters and enjoy the beautiful and diverse landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
A few more things about me…
- I love traveling, especially in Mexico. My favorite destinations thus far have been Mexico City, Tulum,Oaxaca, and Isla Holbox.
- Recently, I have been reading and learning about the origins and practices of ancient astrology, tarot, and human design.
- I am proudly neurodivergent! And one of the reasons why I love working with Bridges kids so much. Iempathize and relate to the challenges that come with it.
What do school counselors do?
We are here to support your kids and here’s how we do that…
- Help students learn academic achievement strategies
- Advocate for student needs
- Listen and provide support
- Help students apply coping skills and emotional regulation strategies
- Support students with social skills
- Provide academic planning and goal-setting
KAREN MCKIBBIN, PSY.D.
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, OR & WA
SHE/HER/HERS
KMCKIBBEN@BRIDGESMS.ORG
ANTHONY LEONETTE, ED.S.
HE/HIM/HIS
ALEONETTE@BRIDGESMS.ORG