Dr. Cuseglio has been an instructor in higher education for over 15+ years.  He is clinically licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for 15 years, collaborating with adolescent and adult clients. Dr. Cuseglio uses a trauma-informed and attachment-based treatment approach that incorporates mindfulness-based interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.

Dr. Cuseglio previously served as a high school social worker for nine years in an urban school district, providing supportive and therapeutic counseling to over 500 Latinx adolescents and their families. He is a clinical social work supervisor to Licensed Social Workers (LSWs) pursuing clinical licensure. Dr. Cuseglio is also certified in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies & Research and MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy. Dr. Cuseglio finished his tenure as the Secretary of the Executive Board for the National Association of Social Workers, NJ Chapter (NASW-NJ) in 2022.

Education

DSW, Rutgers University

MSW, Rutgers University

B.A., Psychology, Oberlin College

Research Interests

Dr. Cuseglio’s research interests include mental health conditions and self-experienced trauma as career motivators for social work professionals, the integration of psychedelic medicines into clinical practice and its implications for the social work profession, and the impact of mindfulness on contemporary psychotherapeutic practice.

Books

Cuseglio, R. (2018). Mindfulness group work in the school setting.  In Miriam Jaffe, M. Floersch, J., Longhofer, J. Winograd,  W. (Eds.), The Social Work and K-12 Schools Casebook:Phenomenological Perspectives (Ch. 9).  NY: Routledge.  

Scholarly Articles

Cuseglio, R. (2025). MSW wounded healers: the perceived impact of student mental health issues on career motivation and future clinical practice. Social Work Education, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2025.2483350

Cuseglio, R. (2020). MSW interns in the public library: A case study in community partnership.  Social Work Education.   https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1791066

Cuseglio, R. (2019). After the flood: Reflections of a wounded healer’s countertransference in adolescent treatment.  Journal of Clinical Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-019-00716-0

Presentations/Invited Talks

Nappi, J., Cuseglio, R., Hogan, C., Zabotka, J. (2025, September 17). Helping the helper.  CAPA First World Congress of Clinical Social Work, Lima, Peru.

Cuseglio, R. (2024, April,18). Psychedelic-assisted therapy: What clinical social workers need to know [Partnership Presentation]. American Board of Clinical Social Workers Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Cuseglio, R., Barry, D., Menahem, S., Rios, J. (2024, April,15). A new dawn: Psychedelic approaches to healing trauma [Plenary Session]. NASW-NJ Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

Cuseglio, R. (2023, October 29). Equitable psychedelic-assisted therapy: What social workers need to know now [Conference Presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Deepak, A., Cuseglio, R., Asensio, R. Beach, C. Nappi, J., Koller, J. (2023, October 27-

29). Walking the walk: Advancing anti-racism in a predominantly white institution [Partnership Presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Cuseglio, R., Barry, D., Menahem, S., Rios, J. (2023, May 1). Psychedelic assisted therapies panel [Plenary Session]. NASW-NJ Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

Cuseglio, R. (2023, March 31). Equitable psychedelic assisted therapy: Collaboration at all levels of social work [Conference Presentation]. 40th   Annual Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors  Conference, Birmingham, AL.

Deepak, A., Cuseglio, R. (2021, November 21). Advancing anti-racism at the school of social work: The story of growing together as allies [Conference Session]. Monmouth University Interdisciplinary Conference on Race. West Long Branch, NJ.

Cuseglio, R. (2020, June 15). Here Not There: The benefits of mindfulness for the gen z adolescent [Workshop presentation]. NASW Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Cuseglio, R. (2019, October 27).  MSW student mental health: Influence on career choice and future clinical practice [Paper presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.

Cuseglio, R. (2019, July 24). “Wounded Healers” within MSW programs: Do mental health issues influence career choice among students? [Paper presentation]. 9^th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health,         York, UK.

Cuseglio, R. (2018, April 30). Mindfulness groups in high schools: The benefits and contribution to positive school climate [Workshop presentation]. NASW-NJ Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

Cuseglio R. (2018, March 17). A unique partnership: MSW field placement at the public library [Paper presentation]. 34th Annual Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Cuseglio, R . (2017, August 4). The beautiful and unusual life of Syd Barrett [Paper presentation]. Creativity & Madness Conference, Santa Fe, NM.

Cuseglio, R. (2017, May 2). Mindfulness groups in high schools: The benefits and contribution to positive school climate [Paper presentation]. NASW-NJ Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

Professional Associations

National Association of Social Work (NASW) 

Council of Social Work Education (CSWE)

American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

Additional Information

Dr. Cuseglio enjoys spending time in nature with his family, international travel, musical performance, cross training, and ice hockey.