Meet Our Staff

Richard Fitzgibbons

Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons is the director of the Institute for Marital Healing outside Philadelphia and has worked with several thousand couples over the past 30 years. Trained in psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center, he participated in cognitive therapy research with Aaron T. Beck. In 1986 he wrote a seminal paper on the psychotherapeutic uses of forgiveness in the treatment of excessive anger and in 2000 coauthored Helping Clients Forgive: An Empirical Guide for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope with Dr. Robert D. Enright, University of Wisconsin, Madison, for American Psychological Association Books. APA Books also offers a DVD on forgiveness by him and Dr. Enright.

Dr. Fitzgibbons has given many annual conferences on growth in marital self-giving at Familyland, www.familyland.org, in Bloomingdale, Ohio, as well as other marital conferences in New York, Philadelphia and Washington. He has also given many conferences to priests in dioceses and religious communities and to spiritual formation teams of seminaries. At the International Institute for Culture, www.iiculture.org, in Philadelphia he has lectured on identifying and resolving emotional conflicts in children.

In 2004 he coauthored Learning to Forgive in the Classroom for the American School Board Journal.

Dr. Fitzgibbons is an adjunct professor at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at Catholic University where he teaches a seminar on marriage, family and gender. He is board member of the International Institute for Forgiveness, www.forgivenessinstitute.org and Courage International, www.couragerc.net.

Peter Kleponis

Peter C. Kleponis is a Licensed Clinical Therapist and is Nationally Certified Counselor. He holds an MA in Clinical-Counseling Psychology from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. He has extensive clinical experience in working with couples and with adults and adolescents with depression, anxiety disorders and excessive anger.

He has participated in the Giving and Fulfilling Marital conferences of the Institute of Marital Healing. Peter is a member of the Catholic Medical Association and is listed on CatholicTherapists.com. Peter also has evaluated candidates for the priesthood.

Neal Niznan

Neal is a master's level licensed social worker. He also holds a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. He received certificate training in family therapy from the Multicultural Family Institute of New Jersey.

Over the past fourteen years Neal has provided therapy for individuals, couples, and families throughout northern New Jersey and the Southeastern Pennsylvania. He recently expanded the scope of his clinical practice to individuals and families coping with life threatening illness and issues of bereavement through his affiliation with the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Neal incorporates the patient's faith in the therapy process when appropriate.

Thomas O'Brien

Dr. O'Brien received his graduate degrees from Villanova University, Immaculata University, Saint Joseph University, Southwest University and Holy Family University. His majors include: Counseling Psychology, Educational Administration and Leadership, Counseling, Guidance and Student Services, Elementary and Secondary Education and Pastoral Theology. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Dr. O’Brien holds several certifications in both states that include elementary, secondary, supervision, administration and superintendency. As a life-long educator and learner, he has taught at all levels of education including elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level courses. He has served on dissertation committees and as Chair. He has been recognized as a Nationally Certified Psychologist He is a member of many boards and commissions and has authored several articles in addition to giving numerous workshops and conferences. Dr. O'Brien was previouslythe Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is presently an associate Dean at Immacualta University.  He was ordained a deacon in 1988.

Karen Rumore

Karen has 12 years of clinical experience working with individuals and couples with anxiety, depression, anger, eating disorders and marital conflicts. She works with parents in helping them understand their parenting style and in encouraging them to avoid the prevalent permissive parenting style and to embrace responsible parenting. Her clinical practice is strongly influenced by the school of positive psychology with its focus upon growth in virtues in treatment of emotional and character conflicts. Karen has her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the International Positive Psychology Association and CatholicTherapists.com. She also has 5 years experience in youth apostolate helping teens to learn who they are in Christ and to live out the fullness of their destiny.

Carolyn DeFer

I have worked with Dr. Fitzgibbons for twenty years and, over the years, I have seen the wonderful results of people who have come to our office looking for help in improving their marital relationship. Couples who have made the commitment to improve the quality of their relationship have been able to do so with the grace of God and the help of our staff. Frequently people comment to me after their first session that no other therapist has touched on the issues that Dr. Fitzgibbons covered. They leave our office with a renewed hope for the future and looking forward to their next appointment. I truly believe that the Lord wants to heal marriages and families.