Our Team

Chief Executive Officer

Ross Ellenhorn, LICSW, Ph.D.

Dr. Ellenhorn is trained as a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker. He has spent the last two decades helping individuals suffering psychiatric symptoms find the psychological and social means for remaining outside institutional settings. He created the first fully-operating intensive hospital diversion and wrap-around program in Massachusetts, later creating and leading, one of the first Programs for Assertive Community Treatment teams in the Commonwealth. His book, which addresses psychiatric hospital recidivism and techniques for diverting hospital use, was published by Springer Publishing in 2007. Dr. Ellenhorn has given talks and seminars throughout the country, and has provided consultation to numerous mental health agencies and psychiatric hospitals on the subjects of hospital diversion, psychosocial rehabilitation, patient careerism and the PACT model. Dr. Ellenhorn is trained in Open Dialogue, a method for helping individuals experiencing extreme psychiatric states, and which has documented success in minimizing the need for psychotropic medications. A graduate of the UCLA School of Social Welfare, Dr. Ellenhorn is the first person to receive a joint Ph.D. from the prestigious Florence Heller School for Social Welfare Policy and Management and the Department of Sociology at Brandeis University.

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Chief Operating Officer

Laurie Damsky, PMHNP‑BC

Laurie received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Rochester with a minor in music. She then worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Laurie decided to pursue a career in nursing rather than remain in a lab, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Rochester School of Nursing. She began her career as a registered nurse at McLean Hospital, working on the bipolar/schizophrenia psychosis unit. Her work there was recognized with a Partners in Excellence award for nursing. Laurie has been with Ellenhorn since 2009 and during that time she received her MSN in psychiatric nursing from Boston College. Starting here as a program nurse, Laurie was promoted to Lead Nurse, then to Director of Admissions. Laurie is now a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She maintains a small private practice in Arlington.

Director of Operations

Dicla Circelli, M.S.

Dicla Circelli is a rehabilitation counselor with more than 25 years experience working with people who experience extreme states of mind. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a master’s degree from Boston University, she worked as a rehabilitation counselor in various community settings, including Massachusetts’ first bilingual and multicultural clubhouse program. In the 1990s, Dicla partnered with Dr. Ross Ellenhorn to develop and implement the first fully-operating evidence-based program in Massachusetts aimed at decreasing hospital use by mental health clients. In 2002, she implemented one of the first publicly-funded PACT Teams in the state, serving as program director for five years. Most recently, Dicla completed a two-year certification program in Open Dialogue at the Institute for Dialogic Practice, North Hampton, MA. Over the past decade, she has served in a variety of roles at Ellenhorn.

Chief Financial Officer

Tim Haley, CPA, CFP

Tim brings 25-plus years of financial and business management experience to his role at Ellenhorn. A licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Tim earned his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Miami and his graduate degree from Bentley University where he graduated first in his class and received the Professor E. Dandes Award for Graduate Academic Excellence.

Chief Medical Officer

Matt Bernstein, MD

Dr. Matt Bernstein is passionate about using psychiatric knowledge to help clients achieve their best functioning. After graduating from Columbia University summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, he received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Bernstein trained at the MGH-McLean Psychiatry residency-training program, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Bernstein remained at McLean after residency as a psychiatrist-in-charge, later serving as assistant medical director of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Inpatient Program. His other roles at McLean included medical director of the Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Program, and attending psychiatrist and substance abuse consultant at the Pavilion. In 2010, the McLean psychiatry residents honored Dr. Bernstein with the Psychopharmacology Supervisor Award. He continues to supervise psychiatry residents and faculty at McLean and is on the teaching faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Bernstein also has a private practice in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

Director of Family Services

Teri Bryant, M.Ed, LMFT

Teri Bryant holds her Master’s degree in education and has been a Massachusetts Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1995. She completed her Family Therapy training at The Family Center/Kantor Family Institute, Somerville, MA. Teri is certified in dialogic practice having completed the two-year training program  at The Institute for Dialogic Practice, North Hampton, MA. and went on to complete the one year train the trainer program in dialogic practice assisting in training Ellenhorn staff. Teri has a broad range of expertise and training in management and leadership, psychosocial injury, co-occurring disorders, adoption, working with GLBTQ population, Motivational Interviewing, Mentalization Based Therapy and AMBIT, Reiki, and family education and coaching.  Teri manages her own private family therapy practice and is a member of The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Lead Nurse, Team Alpha

David Geist, R.N.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut, David worked as a mental health counselor for seven years before obtaining his nursing degree from Regis College. David has worked for several hospitals in the Boston area, including Waltham, Cambridge, and McLean hospitals. During his time at McLean Hospital, David worked on a floor dedicated to persons diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic. With his extensive inpatient psychiatric experience, David has a unique perspective on the trials a person goes through when hospitalized. His experience has also led him to be very comfortable working in a multidisciplinary setting.

Clinical Director

Christopher Mooney, LCSW

Christopher is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. For more than 14 years, he has specialized in the treatment of problematic substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring mental health and learning issues among adolescents, young adults, and their families. Based in New York City, Christopher has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings as well as in community-based support and treatment programs. He believes that a strengths-based perspective that emphasizes possibilities, rather than deficits or failures, is the most effective approach to treatment, largely because it creates a relationship built on trust, honesty, and collaborative goal-setting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Niagara University and a master’s degree from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services.

Director of IDDT

Zoi Andalcio, LMHC, CPT

Zoi is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Northeastern University, where he was a Graduate Research fellow. Zoi’s 13 years of public health service span participation in the first Boston Teen Health Report, graduate school public health research and working at a community-based substance abuse outpatient center in Boston. Zoi has been trained in and has facilitated many evidence-based approaches to group work, and was a member of the team that developed groups for dual-diagnosed men funded by federal grants given to the Bureau of Addictions Prevention/Treatment and Recovery Support Services, a bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission. He has worked with clients in diverse settings, from homeless shelters and correctional facilities to community clinics and hospitals, in both individual and group settings. Zoi is trained in psychological first aid and as a psychiatric crisis clinician. His recent clinical interest lies in mind-body connections and using physical exercise to combat impulse control issues.

Medical Director, NYC

Christina Brezing, MD

Dr. Christina Brezing works collaboratively with her clients to achieve their individual goals by developing personalized treatment strategies and integrating the latest evidence-based care. Dr. Brezing completed an adult psychiatry residency at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital training program, where she served as a chief resident. She also completed an addiction fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute. She graduated alpha omega alpha with honors in research from the University of Florida College of Medicine and received a BS in biology with a focus in biochemistry from Duke University.

During medical school, she completed the Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institutes of Health Research Scholars Program. At the NIH, she studied the neuroimaging of impulse control disorders, including pathological gambling, compulsive sexual behavior and excessive shopping. Dr. Brezing is double board certified in adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. She is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the Division on Substance Use Disorders at Columbia University, where her research focuses on the application of technology to the development of novel treatments for problematic substance use. Her work in problematic substance use and mental health has been funded by the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education, and by the Dartmouth Center for Technology and Behavioral Health. Dr. Brezing has published work in numerous academic journals and books, presented at national conferences, and received a number of awards for both her research and clinical care. She previously served on the board of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and currently serves on the board of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine.

In addition to her extensive medical training, Dr. Brezing has completed a one-year fellowship in psychodynamic therapy at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She also completed formal training in Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mentalization-Based Treatment. In conjunction with her work at Ellenhorn and Columbia, Dr. Brezing maintains a small private practice in Manhattan.

Clinical Admissions Manager, Family Coordinator

Hilary Bye, LCSW

Hilary Bye is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with extensive experience working with individuals and families. Hilary has worked in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and community based settings, working with caregivers and young adults newly diagnosed as experiencing psychosis, mood disorders and comorbid substance use challenges. Most recently, Hilary created a pilot day treatment program at Mclean Hospital for young adults after assessing an unmet system-wide need to increase functionality and socialization of individuals while simultaneously decreasing stigma. She also served as a primary clinician leading a patient’s multidisciplinary team in a first episode psychosis clinic. In this role, she developed and executed the hospital’s first community and home based services.

Prior to working at McLean Hospital, Hilary taught English and History in Shanghai to middle school and high school students. Hilary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Richmond and a Master of Social Work from Boston College, where she won the M. Rita Walsh award for excellence in mental health. Hilary believes in working collaboratively to empower clients to make choices to help them build happy and fulfilling lives.

Team Psychiatrist

Norana Caivano, MD

As a holistic psychiatrist, Dr. Norana Caivano integrates biological, psychological, and social aspects of wellness into her care. She believes that fostering mental health is not merely about creating the absence of illness but about creating an intrinsic health — a state of wellness — that is innate in each of us. Dr. Caivano completed medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and became interested in Integrative Psychiatry during her Residency at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. She has presented nationally at the American Psychiatric Association on topics such as Buddhism, yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. Dr. Caivano has extensively studied the science and clinical use in psychiatry of herbs, supplements, vitamins, pranayama, yoga, physical activity, and nutrition. She believes that by combining all available tools — allopathic medicine, alternative and complementary medicine and modalities, therapy, and psychosocial support — she can best help clients achieve true wellness.

Director of Wellness, PACT Clinician

Lisa Carabuena, MS, LMHC

Lisa practices a holistic approach to treatment by integrating mental health with nutrition, exercise, complementary therapies and medicine. Lisa graduated from Northeastern University with a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a concentration in culture, gender and political psychology. She is certified in cognitive behavioral interventions from the Boston University School of Social Work. Lisa also has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and nutritional science from the University of Vermont. During her graduate internship at Wentworth Institute of Technology as a mental health counselor to the student body, Lisa created and conducted stress management and reduction workshops for students and faculty. Recently, she completed a Mind Body Stress Reduction (MBSR) course created by Jon Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts. Lisa partners with her clients to pursue their own mind-body interests and goals. Personally, Lisa has practiced yoga for almost 20 years and relies on this practice as an integral part of her own self-care.

Director of Admissions

Meghan Chella, LICSW

Meghan earned her master’s degree from Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston, MA. Before joining the Ellenhorn team, she worked as the lead clinician for a Department of Mental Health-funded public PACT program in the Metro Boston area. In this position, Meghan empowered individuals whose lives were heavily impacted by chronic mental health issues to work towards psychosocial recovery. Her clinical experience also includes work with individuals and families at risk of homelessness. At Ellenhorn, Meghan worked as a PACT clinician from 2010 before transitioning to her role as Clinical Admissions Manager. Meghan divides her time between speaking to prospective clients and families regarding our program and ensuring smooth transitions, and overseeing the day-to-day schedule and ensuring top-quality client care. These dual roles allow her to remain connected to clients and families even after the admission process has ended. Meghan has earned a certificate in cognitive behavioral interventions from Boston University School of Social Work to assist her in this work.

Clinical Director

Ian G. Collins, LCSW

PACT Clinician, Wellness Coordinator

Diana Cosmas, LICSW

Diana received a bachelor’s of science degree in counseling/psychology from Lesley University, then earned an MSW from Boston University. She is a licensed social worker in Massachusetts. Diana’s clinical experience includes more than ten years in Department of Mental Health-funded community-based mental health programs. These included a community-based crisis stabilization unit, an intensive respite and hospital diversion program, as well as a PACT team at another program on which she served as lead clinician. Diana also worked for more than ten years with developmentally disabled adults in privately-run group homes.

Diana came to Ellenhorn in June 2016, bringing to the program great depth of experience working with clients in the community as well as supporting clients as they re-integrate into the community after spending long periods in multiple inpatient hospitalizations. She excels at helping clients find creative solutions in the community to meet their needs. Diana believes in educating and working with the families of clients, when possible, so family members develop positive and supportive relationships. She is impressed by how comprehensively the Ellenhorn team is able to work with people with persistent extreme states of mind, so that many clients experience recovery. She likes that clients have a voice in their treatment and that they are an integral part of the team.

Diana is a wellness coordinator for Team Alpha.  Here she works with clients to assess their needs around sleep, nutrition, symptom management and mindfulness.  Diana practices meditation and mindfulness with clients and creates personalized essential oil blends side by side with clients as she is a certified Aromatherapist. Diana currently runs the weekly Mindfulness Group at Ellenhorn and she co-leads the Wellness Group and Women’s Group.

Director of the Brackett House

Michelle Cresta, M.Ed., LMHC

Michelle received her bachelor of science degree at Salem State University, then earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and substance abuse counseling. Throughout her time in school, Michelle worked as a mental health specialist and counselor in Boston Human Services communities. She worked as a substance abuse counselor and case manager at a structured program, running group behavior sessions and helping residents maintain sobriety in a therapeutic and educationally-supportive environment. Michelle participated in testing a new level of care in the state of Massachusetts for patients who have been hospitalized for most of their lives. The program’s goal is helping patients suffering from persistent extreme states of mind transition into a residential setting and the community. These opportunities allowed Michelle to hone her case management skills and tap into her passion for psychiatric care and personal development. Michelle is a certified MBTI practitioner in personality assessment that measures psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions. She helps clients gain the confidence to achieve their greatest potential by supporting them in exploring possibilities for the future.

Team Nurse

Aisha Delfaus, BSN, RN

Aisha received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Christ College of Nursing in Cincinnati, OH. Nominated by the college nursing staff, Aisha received the Dr. C. Elton Richards Memorial Award for clinical excellence and academic performance. Before becoming a nurse, Aisha worked as a nurse aide and private caregiver for the elderly. Seeing the impact of a nurse as part of a multidisciplinary team led her to pursue a nursing degree. Aisha began her nursing career as a psychiatric staff nurse at Summit Behavioral Healthcare Hospital in Cincinnati, where she worked on forensic psychiatric units and helped care for individuals with extreme states of mind and problematic substance use. Concurrently, Aisha worked as a staff nurse on an inpatient acute adult psychiatric unit at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She has a passion for helping others and providing care to support people’s health and wellness. Aisha is excited to be part of the NY PACT team and to work in the community to help rebuild purposeful lives.

PACT Clinician, IDDT Coordinator

David Dionisio, LMHC

Dave studied film, history and journalism at the University of Massachusetts before changing careers and earning a master’s degree from Lesley University in counseling. The use of mind-body practices to manage mental health symptoms in his own life inspired him to pursue this as a course of study and he integrates yoga, meditation and spirituality into his work with clients. Before coming to Ellenhorn, Dave worked at many dual diagnosis outpatient programs, as well as hospitals and medication-assisted treatment facilities. He places a high value on understanding where clients find meaning and purpose in the world, where they find comfort and joy, where they feel stuck and where they want to grow. Dave’s style is highly relational and he combines authentic presence and empathic listening with existential and spiritual concepts. He ultimately sees his role as a helper for those seeking psychosocial stability, meaning and connection and encourages clients to take advantage of their clinical team, as well as the various therapy groups and social activities offered by Ellenhorn to meet those needs in an individualized way. While at Lesley, Dave was the first president of the Student Association of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences and continues to pursue activities in social justice.

Nurse, AMBIT Coordinator

Erin Kane, R.N.

Erin received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. While pursuing her degree, she worked as a mental health counselor at McLean Hospital on a unit specifically geared towards persons diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. During this time, Erin was involved in developing Nursing Students Without Borders at UMass Lowell. In January 2009, she traveled with a group of nursing students to Ghana, Africa, to deliver medical supplies and work in hospitals, clinics and orphanages. Following graduation, Erin continued to work as a registered nurse at McLean Hospital on the same unit, as a member of multidisciplinary teams in an inpatient setting. For this work, Erin was awarded the Partners in Excellence award, “Entry into Nursing Psychiatric Practice” in 2010.

Special Projects

Edwin I. Levin, LICSW

Ed’s expertise and experience gained from many years in top leadership roles with the American Residential Treatment Association (ARTA) and clinical and marketing roles at the Spruce Mountain Inn program give him a background in adult mental health treatment that few can match. Ed’s unparalleled network of professional contacts across the country helps us locate aftercare resources for Ellenhorn clients. You may see him at conferences or knocking at your door to educate you about our unique program.

Ed is also CEO of the nonprofit Association for Community Integration Programs.

Lead Nurse, Team One

Carolyn Miller, R.N.

Carolyn received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. While pursuing her degree, Carolyn was employed as a mental health counselor at McLean Hospital on a unit specializing in persons diagnosed as having bipolar and schizophrenia. During this time, Carolyn was involved in Habitat for Humanity and traveled to Chile to help rebuild a community youth center. Once graduated, Carolyn continued to work as a registered nurse at McLean Hospital on the same unit, as a member of multidisciplinary teams in an inpatient setting. While working at McLean, Carolyn gained a deep understanding and respect for the vast array of challenges and perspectives surrounding the mental health community.

PACT Clinician

Kerry Moe, LICSW

Kerry Moe is a dynamic clinician with a strong commitment to providing a non-judgmental and compassionate approach in which clients can safely explore and work through their thoughts and feelings. After a decade-long career in early childhood education Kerry pursued her dreams of becoming a therapist and earned her MSW from Salem State University. Infusing her approach with creativity and humor, along with practical solutions and concrete goals, Kerry is passionate about helping others. Kerry especially enjoys working collaboratively with families to support their efforts in managing difficult situations and reconnecting to their strengths. Currently, Kerry volunteers as a community resource for a local residential program serving LGBTQ youth.

PACT Clinician

Sarah Peace, LICSW

Sarah Peace is a compassionate, client-dedicated psychotherapist who earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a master’s degree from Smith College School of Social Work. Sarah has extensive experience in psychosocial rehabilitation, Narrative Therapy and Open Dialogue. She places a high value on working with families, recognizing that the family has a role in the healing journey. Before coming to Ellenhorn, Sarah worked in a private Program for Assertive Community Treatment team, serving adults experiencing extreme states of mind and dual disorders. She believes in the model of community integration and as a result, has spent the past 15 years dedicated to the PACT model, in which a client’s engagement with a mobile team helps them regain a sense of self. Sarah has volunteered for NAMI for several years, organizing NAMI Walks for previous agencies and exhibiting at the National Convention.

Clinical Director, Team Alpha

Jessica Rafferty, MA, LMHC

Jessica Rafferty is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who joined the Ellenhorn team in 2011. After receiving received her bachelor’s degree from Scripps College in Claremont, CA, she earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Boston College. Jess has also received an advanced certificate in trauma studies from Lesley University and a certificate in cognitive behavioral therapy from Boston University. She has experience working with individuals with severe and persistent extreme states of mind in individual as well as group therapy. Her experience in psychiatric emergency services gives her an understanding of “the system” from multiple angles. Jess is committed to building and maintaining relationships with clients and their support systems to foster health, well-being, and independence in her clients’ lives. At Ellenhorn, in addition to working with clients individually, Jess runs a weekend program for families whose loved ones are experiencing psychosis, that offers education, support and messages of hope.

Clinical Director, Team One

Erica Amidio, LICSW

Erica is a licensed independent clinical social worker in Massachusetts who received a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in psychology and rehabilitation studies. She earned her MSW at Salem State University, completing field placements at a dual diagnosis group home and Tewksbury State Hospital. Erica joined Ellenhorn in August 2016, following six years of experience working in a PACT program operated by Eliot Community Human Services, a local non-profit organization contracted by the Department of Mental Health to provide intensive outpatient supports to individuals with severe and persistent extreme states of mind. She held various positions, including vocational specialist and lead clinician, then directed the program for almost two years. While with this PACT program, Erica made meaningful connections with individuals and families in treatment, as well as with state agencies and other community-based programs. For most of her career, Erica has helped individuals who experienced the trauma of multiple hospitalizations re-engage with their community and rebuild purposeful lives. Her focus on individualized, person-centered treatment and her belief in the value of enriching life with fun, social, and meaningful activities can be seen in her daily work with clients.

Medical Director

Pamela Wine, MD

Dr. Pamela Wine is committed to excellence and innovation in the practice of psychiatry. She graduated from Harvard University cum laude, then attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where she was awarded the Appel Award in Psychiatry. Dr. Wine completed a residency at the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Program, and while there, discovered her passion for helping people with severe and persistent extreme states of mind. Dr. Wine also pursued an interest in student mental health as a Fellow at MIT Medical Center, and trained at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She weaves together these multiple perspectives in her creative patient-centered approach to treatment and recovery. In addition to her work with the PACT team, Dr. Wine has a private practice in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and psychoanalysis.

New York Administrator

Adam Ortiz

Adam is an artist and seasoned administrator, with over twelve years of experience working with out-patient mental health services, and marginalized communities. He is also a public speaker (TedXtalks) on the subjects of successful co-parenting and the fundamentals of empathy. Adam facilitates workshops and private lessons in Eastern healing arts, and has trained in qigong (mindful movement, breathing and meditation) for over twenty years. He is currently en route to an MSW at the University at Buffalo, and supplements the clinical staff at Ellenhorn NYC as PACT support.

Expressive Arts Therapist and Vocational Specialist

Maya Rose Kruger, M.A., RDT, LCAT‑P

Maya Rose Kruger, MA, is licensed creative arts therapist and a graduate of New York University’s Drama Therapy program where her thesis research focused on exploring the use of therapeutic performance to process intergenerational loss and grief. Her clinical experience has focused on working with adults in acute inpatient and forensic psychiatry, as well as veterans in an outpatient program. Maya has practiced clinically at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy where she combined music and drama therapy techniques to assist individuals living with severe and persistent extreme states of mind.

Through her work experience, Maya has found that career coaching has become vital in informing the treatment of individuals looking to reintegrate into society. Her interdisciplinary background leads her to implement techniques from creative art therapies such as role training and role play, psychodramatic future-projective tools, as well as reflective techniques that derive from therapeutic interventions, such as the Finnish approach Open Dialogue, to provide clients with an experience of profound insight into their process of job seeking, and most of all, meaning making.

In addition to her clinical work, Maya has been involved in an arts based research project utilizing therapeutic theater to explore the relationship between people living with disabilities and their able-bodied caregivers. Additionally, Maya is an accomplished playwright and artist-researcher, whose play Concerta for Eight, about the lived experience of learning disabilities, played for 5 years at Israel’s national theater, Habima, and was chosen by the Ministry of Education of Israeli Government as a mandatory training tool for students and educators. She is a contributing author to Complicated Grief: Attachment, and Art Therapy: Theory, Treatment, and 14 Ready-to-Use Protocols (publication date Apr 21, 2016 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers). Maya’s research has been presented and performed in local, national, and global arenas.

PACT Clinician

Francesca Nunziata, LICSW

Francesca joined our team in 2018 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her background includes providing support and counseling services to a variety of clients comprising of diverse personalities, cultures, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. She is a versatile clinician who has worked with incarcerated individuals, DCF-involved youth, adults, children and families. As a clinician, she values building and maintaining strong relationships while examining the systems in which her clients live. She believes in maintaining a compassionate and supportive environment in which she can provide feedback to help her clients succeed. She uses a variety of modalities including psycho-dynamic, cognitive behavioral, and emotion-focused therapy in ways that are specific to her client’s unique goals. Francesca graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Boston University and her Masters in Social Work from New York University.

PACT Clinician

Heidi Wolf, LICSW

Heidi is passionate about building strong relationships through curiosity and respect, and helping others to find healing and change whenever possible. After completing her BA in counseling and family ministries at MBI in Chicago, she attended Boston College for her master’s degree. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She started out her work providing independent living supports for adults with developmental disabilities. Heidi then spent several years living and working in India, helping to develop and implement a program for treating emotional and mental health and improving the quality of care for children living in orphanages and residential programs. She loves to connect with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and to explore the role that ethnicity and culture plays in people’s lives. Heidi then worked as an in-home therapist for children and families, using the Family Centered Treatment model to address individual and systemic issues. This experience gave her a desire to support and encourage families as they cope with unique mental health challenges.

Lead Clinician

Jessica Steyers, LCSW‑R, MA

Jessica Steyers is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma specialist with close to a decade of experience working with adolescents and adults facing chronic and pervasive mental health challenges. Prior to joining the Ellenhorn team, Jessica spent six years at BronxWorks working in supportive housing with individuals experiencing co-occurring substance and mental health challenges who were previously street homeless. As the assistant program director and clinical team lead, she provided staff supervision, training and program development all while continuing direct clinical practice.

Jessica received her training at Newyork Presbyterian – Weil Cornell and in the New York City Public School System. Following her Masters level education from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work, she earned an advanced certificate in Integrative Trauma Treatment from the Trauma Studies Center at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in NYC, where she is currently a supervisor and faculty member, serving on the curriculum review committee.

Complimenting her higher education, she is trained in EDMR Level 2 and sensorimotor psychotherapy level 1. Additionally, she is trained to work with people experiencing food and exercise-related challenges through the Health At Every Size lens, acknowledging that overall wellness and healthy habits are more important than any number on the scale.

Before making a career change to social work, Jessica was a producer, writer and researcher for ABC News Good Morning America, and covered four Olympic Games with NBC Sports. She received an Emmy for work on the 2008 Olympics Games. She also holds an MA in Journalism with a certificate in science and environmental reporting from NYU. In addition to her work at Ellenhorn, Jessica maintains a small private practice in Manhattan.

PACT Clinician, Wellness Coordinator

Elizabeth Miller, LCSW

Elizabeth is an LCSW who first earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Westfield State University, in Ethnic and Gender Studies, followed by a Master’s Degree from Salem State University’s School of Social Work, in Salem, MA. Elizabeth completed field placements in a leadership position for a non-profit PACT team, as well as at a Community Crisis Team where she provided short term, solution-focused clinical intervention evaluations and placements for individuals in extreme states of mind.

Elizabeth joined the Ellenhorn team in November of 2018, following having worked as the lead clinician at a Department of Mental Health-funded public PACT program. In this position, she provided individualized therapy, guided by clinical interventions, evidenced-based practices, facilitated the recovery process and responded to the needs of the individual on a case-by-case basis. During her six years with that program she also served as the vocational specialist, and dual-diagnosis clinician. Her clinical experience in the field is diverse, also having worked for years with at risk children/adolescents and their families suffering with mental health, domestic violence, and homelessness, through a Department of Children and Families-funded program.

Elizabeth believes building therapeutic alliances with individuals and their families are vital in the collaboration of creating effective interventions that promote recovery, rehabilitation, and growth in a community setting. As the Wellness Coordinator for Team One, Elizabeth is dedicated to continued to learning and growth surrounding the importance of the connection between mind and body, in order to inform treatment interventions, and overall health.

Assistant Director of the Brackett House

Michael Chiulli

Michael has been with Ellenhorn since 2009 and has worked in various roles in our residential program. Michael graduated from Suffolk University with a major in personality psychology and a minor in sociology.  After completing his degree Michael worked in varying roles in the field of mental health including; community based outreach at a Boston non-profit, Dept. of Social Services for the state of Massachusetts and as a mental health technician at South Coast Hospital.

Chef

Katrina Vazquez

Katrina joined the Brackett House in the Summer of 2017 bringing with her a passion for cuisine crafted with care and lots of love. After graduating from culinary school, she honed her skills as a chef working in a Residential Care Facility and then spent time as a personal chef where she was able to fully realize her creative side. Using her specialized skills in the French Style, she has taken her knowledge and fondness for preparing soups and sauces from the classics she was taught and modernized them being mindful of the dietary challenges many of us face today. Katrina is passionate about preparing beautiful and healthy food as simply put “Food IS Love!”.

Brackett House Manager

Ryan LaRue

Ryan received his bachelor of science degree at Bridgewater State University. Since joining Ellenhorn in 2013, he has assumed a variety of roles within the Brackett House team. Ryan carries a respectful nature into the milieu and serves to promote healthy community living, while remaining focused on providing positive support for the individuals’ daily routine.

PACT Clinician, IDDT Coordinator

Zach Rieck, LMSW

Zach is a licensed clinician with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Tulane University. Prior to joining Ellenhorn, Zach worked in a supportive housing facility, offering employment services and supportive therapy to individuals with a history of chronic street homelessness.  He has also provided clinical services in a public high school, as well as a halfway house for formerly incarcerated gentlemen.

In his work with clients, Zach employs techniques from CBT and Narrative Therapy, with a backdrop of the principles that arose from the Transpersonal Psychology movement.

Zach’s clinical stance incorporates the values of Harm Reduction theory, especially the acknowledgement of the intrinsic worth of all people, regardless of their current circumstance. He believes that humans are infinitely changeable and, in the proper environment, possess the capacity to heal.

PACT Clinician

Lauren Pellettieri, LCSW

Lauren Pellettieri is a licensed clinical social worker with close to a decade of varied experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults living with extreme states of mind and physical illness. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University and a master’s degree in Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Lauren has worked in a variety of settings including a hospital-based substance use clinic, public middle school, drop-in center and shelter for transitional age youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, and an outpatient mental health clinic. Most recently, she helped develop and implement a scattered-site housing program in the Bronx for people living with chronic illness, providing comprehensive support in people’s transition from homelessness to community living. Lauren employs a strength-based approach that focuses on accepting people for who they are, supporting them in how they want to live their lives, and evoking internal resources for personal development and change.

In complement to her clinical work, Lauren is the founding Executive Director of a dance non-profit, Liberated Movement®, which provides donation-based dance classes to the NYC community. As a life-long dancer and movement enthusiast with over 15 years of teaching experience, Lauren is passionate about helping people get into their bodies in healthy, accessible ways. She enjoys incorporating mindfulness, movement, and breath-work into therapeutic practice, to help people to build a holistic, empowered, and cohesive sense of self.

Director, Community Relations

Melissa Westerman, MA

Melissa graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Anselm College and earned her Master’s Degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations in 2019. She has worked in the psychiatric/behavioral healthcare field since 1996. She began her career with The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (NH) serving in various capacities for seven years including vocational counseling. She continued counseling as a care manager for WestBridge (NH) eventually transitioning to the leadership team and moving into the role of Customer Relations Coordinator managing the Admissions/Marketing/Customer Service team and its functions. Melissa most recently worked in Outreach/Business Development for Lifeskills.

She has had several years volunteer experience chairing fundraising walks such as “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” of Greater Manchester and NAMI Walks New Hampshire. She was a NAMI-NH committee member and was Walk Day Co-Chair for the NAMI Walk, “For the Mind of America” for two years.

If you need to find her, she’s either studying, at a concert, spoiling her dog Margot, or Fenway Park.

Favorite quote “I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person” —Audrey Hepburn

Lead Clinician, AMBIT Coordinator

Shelly Simpson, LICSW

Shelly is a PACT Clinician and the AMBIT Coordinator at Ellenhorn. She has a passion for helping people integrate back into the community and build a life worth living. She previously worked at The Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas as a Program Manager for the Pathfinder Community Integration Program. She received her Master of Social Work Degree at The University of Houston, while receiving psychotherapy training at The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston. Following graduation, Shelly pursued additional training working as a Post-Graduate Fellow at The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston. Shelly has a concentrated focus in addressing the issues of attachment disorders, problematic substance use, trauma, and interpersonal relationship struggles.

PACT Clinician, Expressive Arts Therapist

Basel Zayed, MT‑BC

Basel believes in the power of creativity and adapts a client-centered and evidence-based approach to his practice when working with his clients. Basel is trained in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches to therapy and incorporates various expressive art modalities in his practice. He uses his skills in the arts to help his clients accomplish their goals in a collaborative and supportive style.

Basel is a board-certified music therapist with a masters degree in music therapy from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has significant experience as a clinician, multidisciplinary team member, music therapy trainer, educator and  supervisor in both academic and clinical settings in the US and abroad.

Lead Clinician

Michael Nicholas, LCSW

As a Lead Clinician for Team Alpha, Mike is passionate about helping individuals overcome the barriers they have encountered in their lives; helping them realize their full potential and achieve their own highest level of independence. Prior to starting his career in mental health, Mike served in the US Air Force until 2007 at which point he honorably discharged and returned to school. He worked as an EMT while obtaining his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire before going on to complete his MSW at Boston University in 2015. Prior to coming to Ellenhorn, he worked as Lead Clinician for a mobile psychiatric emergency services team, providing mental health crisis intervention, assessment, and treatment in the neighborhoods and hospitals of Boston. Additionally, he was the clinician for several residential programs supporting individuals with major mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Mike went on to direct a multi-disciplinary team tasked with providing wraparound person-centered treatment for DMH clients in the Boston area across a variety of settings. Mike specializes in working with people experiencing a thought disorder, intrusive problematic thoughts or beliefs, and helping individuals build meaningful, purpose-driven lives in the community.

Occupational Therapist, QUEST Facilitator

Meghan Catanzariti, MS, OTR/L, CAS

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Masters in Occupational Therapy, Meghan is the first Occupational Therapist to join the Ellenhorn team. Meghan has gained experience in a variety of settings including assisted living, acute care, and home care. Meghan understands the complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and has worked extensively with individuals with ASD and is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS). Recently Meghan has returned to the Boston area from NYC where she was the lead therapist for a specialized acute care unit working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Here at Ellenhorn, Meghan is committed to helping clients achieve a more independent, meaningful life, while restoring hope. Meghan also facilitates the QUEST group, providing opportunities for social engagement while enhancing physical and mental wellness. Meghan is thrilled to join the Ellenhorn team and looks forward to bringing a new perspective to treatment.

Fitness Counselor, QUEST Co‑Facilitator

Morgan Smith, CPT

Morgan joined Ellenhorn in 2016 as an intern with the Brackett House and Team Alpha while working toward a degree in Counseling and Holistic Psychology at Lesley University. After graduation, she became a full-time employee at the Brackett House, working directly with clients to make Ellenhorn feel like home. Morgan recently stepped into a new position as both the Fitness Counselor and a QUEST facilitator. As the Fitness Counselor, she works one-on-one with clients to develop and attain fitness and wellness goals. While facilitating QUEST, Morgan assists clients in navigating unique experiences that integrate building connections with the local community, recreation, support, and treatment. In her spare time, Morgan enjoys rock climbing, practicing yoga, and hiking.

Psychiatrist

Sandra Simmons, MD

Sandra Simmons, MD, joins the team with over 20 years of experience working on PACT teams and managing the psychiatric issues of clients while helping to re-integrate them into the community. She comes from a tradition of psychosocial rehabilitation and integrative psychiatry, and has a passion for using holistic methods alongside traditional psychopharmacology to provide the best care.

PACT Clinician

Barbara Kaynan, MA

Barbara is a registered drama therapist originally from New Jersey and holds an MA degree from New York University’s graduate program in drama therapy. She earned her BA at UNC-Chapel Hill and is thrilled to be back in North Carolina. Currently, Barbara sees clients at the Carolina Creative Wellness office in Durham at Research Triangle Park and works in the community as a drama therapy consultant for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Center for Dramatic Art at UNC-Chapel Hill.

For three years before moving to North Carolina, Barbara led  therapeutic theatre processes for Holocaust survivors and adolescents through Witness Theater. Her creative arts therapy experience up North also included providing expressive-arts clinical support for at-risk youth, hospitalized children recovering from medical procedures and their families, individuals living with chronic and persistent mental illness, adults in acute psychosis, and older adults with skilled nursing and memory care needs.

Barbara specializes in using an integrative approach to the healing process that incorporates psychodynamic and creative interventions. Her thesis work focused on the role of stage director in the therapeutic theatre process which bolstered her understanding of and experience in creating theatre as therapy with clients.

Barbara is a published research scholar and current peer review editor for the Drama Therapy Review. Previously, she served as adjunct professor at Long Island University Post, NY. Prior to her drama therapy career, Barbara worked as a freelance stage director and in artistic programming both Off-Broadway and in the independent theatre community in New York City. She has worked with a multitude of artistic partners to build communities around new plays that celebrate diversity and examine the human psyche on both an individual and system scale.

Barbara approaches your creative wellness process as just that: yours. Through active listening, meeting you where you are, and reflecting back to you your experience, she co-creates a space with you that feels safe enough for you to take steps toward

PACT Nurse

Crystal Modde Epstein, PhD, MSN, RN

Crystal received her nursing education from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After graduating with a Master’s degree in psychiatric mental health nursing, she completed a PhD in nursing with a focus on stress, coping and health behaviors in women. Crystal’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health as well as a Presidential Graduate Fellowship from the University of Nebraska. Her scholarly work on depression and the stress response has appeared in respected journals and been presented at national conferences.

Before joining Ellenhorn, Crystal was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, where she continued to develop research in stress physiology as it relates to mood symptoms. She has a special interest in how underlying stress states can exacerbate unpleasant symptoms and how these responses might be alleviated through approaches such as physical activity, social connection, dietary patterns, and sensory experience. As a clinician, Crystal believes in an individualized approach to helping clients handle unpleasant symptoms, while exploring pathways towards states of ease and vitality. Crystal aims to support clients in decision-making, understanding symptoms, treatment options, medications and side effects.  She is trained in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy

PACT Clinician, Yoga Instructor

Lisa Beresnyak, LCAS‑A, LPC‑A

Psychiatrist

Brian Clinton, MD

Dr. Clinton’s psychiatric training was at Harvard University’s Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. While there, he spent his final year focused on mood disorders and psychodynamic psychotherapy. He was chief resident of McLean Hospital in 2009. Dr. Clinton’s medical training was at Columbia University’s College Of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Clinton also earned a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior, studying brain development at Columbia University.

After training, Dr. Clinton served as Assistant Unit Director for Columbia’s 9 Garden North inpatient unit, caring for patients in acute crisis, often with complex diagnostic, medical/pharmacological, and family situations.  He served as a full-time faculty member at Columbia Psychiatry for eight years, treating inpatients and outpatients, and supervising residents. Dr. Clinton often provided second-opinion consultations to patients at a roadblock in their treatment plan.  He worked closely with patients attending intensive outpatient treatment programs such as the Columbia Day Treatment Program (for people struggling with depression, anxiety, and/or personality disorders) , as well as Columbia’s Lieber Recovery Clinic (for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, high functioning autism, ADHD/executive functioning difficulties, and co-occurring disorders).

PACT Clinician

Justine Janis, LCSW

Justine Janis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is passionate about helping people with chronic mental health conditions move forward in their recovery. She received her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed a postgraduate psycho-social recovery fellowship through Yale University and the Veterans Administration in West Haven, Connecticut. For her thesis, Justine orchestrated a theater performance in which veterans shared their recovery journeys through poetry, song and the arts. She  values the power of creative self-expression in the process of mental health recovery.

Before joining Ellenhorn, Justine was the first social worker at both the Chicago Public Library and Evanston Public Library.  A recognized leader in the library social work field, she was a member of the Public Library Association’s Social Work Task Force and presented at the American Library Association’s national conference in 2019. In this role, Justine helped connect residents to vital resources, designed and facilitated trainings for library staff, and provided crisis intervention services. For her leadership and commitment to serving clients, Justine was nominated for the HOPE award from AMITA Health in 2019.

Justine takes a supportive, strengths-based approach in working with individuals and draws on a variety of clinical modalities to help clients reach their recovery goals. She brings enthusiasm to her work, integrates humor, and creates a welcoming space where clients are empowered to be themselves and find joy.

PACT Clinician

Serena Cisneros, MHC-LP

Serena is a Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Mental and Wellness Counseling from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining Ellenhorn, Serena worked with New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as Mental Health First Aid Instructor conducting trainings, raising mental health awareness, and empowering communities to come together to support their community members. Serena has also provided clinical services in outpatient and inpatient settings with a focus on substance use services. Serena is passionate about helping people empower themselves in a meaningful way and support their journey toward wellness. She practices a holistic approach to wellness by integrating mental health with nutrition, exercise, and supports fostering a sense of community. She is currently enrolled in a Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy trauma training as this is an area of interest in her clinical work.