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 and now to COO. Laurie is now a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and is currently also holding the role of Team Nurse for our Los Angeles program.

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 Psychosocial Rehabilitation

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.

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 One

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.

Medical Director, Team NY

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.

Director of Admissions and Marketing

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.

Director of Operations, Team NY

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.

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.

Director of Addiction Services (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.

Team Psychiatrist, Team Alpha

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.

PACT Clinician, Wellness Coordinator, Team Alpha

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.

Lead Nurse, Wellness Coordinator, Team NY

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.

Clinical Director, Team NY

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.

Clinical Director, Team LA

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.

Director of Human Resources

Annalisa Lafferty

Director of Administration

Theresa Flaherty

After Theresa earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Boston University she spent the next 13 years as a paralegal and executive assistant in areas relating to juvenile justice. She is a board member with the Boston-based Youth Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the school-to-prison pipeline in Massachusetts, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. As Ellenhorn’s director of administration, Theresa ensures compliance with company policies and procedures, organizes and oversees operational systems, and coordinates administrative processes in each Ellenhorn location.

QUEST 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.

Lead Nurse/AMBIT Coordinator, Team Alpha

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.

Clinical Admissions Manager

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.

Medical Director, Team One

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.

PACT Support, Team NY

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.

Lead PACT Clinician/AMBIT Coordinator, Team One

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.

PACT Clinician, Wellness Coordinator, Team One

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 Residential Services

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.

Lead PACT Clinician/AMBIT Coordinator, Team NY

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.

Lead 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.

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

Team Psychiatrist, Team NY

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, Team NY

Alivia Hall, LMSW

Alivia Hall is a licensed social worker with a passion for providing a non-judgmental and compassionate space where clients can safely explore and better understand their internal experience, process thoughts and identify unhelpful patterns and behaviors that may be hindering personal growth and overall happiness. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University.

Alivia has worked in a variety of inpatient, outpatient and private practice settings working with individuals and families experiencing significant psychiatric difficulties. Prior to joining Ellenhorn, Alivia was working at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Inpatient Psychiatry, where she assessed and provided direct clinical services to high-risk individuals with severe psychiatric and substance use disorders upon initial admission to the hospital inpatient psychiatric unit. Alivia’s approach to working with clients is warm, empathetic, and curious as she strives to work through a strengths-based, person-centered lens. She believes in the importance of building a strong therapeutic alliance with individuals and their families in order to best support overall recovery and growth in a community setting.

Peer Specialist, Team One and Recovery Coach

Amy Trahan

Amy joined Ellenhorn in September 2018 as a recovery coach and now also serves as a certified peer specialist.  Her lived experience with a mental health diagnosis and substance abuse helps Amy connect Ellenhorn clients to multiple pathways to recovery. Amy’s one-on-one work with individuals, along with the support and supervision of a team, is proving very effective for clients.

Amy is a comedian and motivational speaker with a storytelling style that shifts between playing with stereotypes and “telling it like it is.” She frequently speaks and performs for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and participated in This Is My Brave Boston 2017.  Amy proudly uses her humor to advocate for mental wellness. Through a ton of hard work and self-discovery, she is now 11 years sober. This lifestyle has inspired her to dedicate her life to travelling the road of wellness and assisting anyone she can help along the way.

Peer Support Specialist, Team Alpha

Megan Wiechnik, CPS

Meg Wiechnik is a certified peer specialist (CPS), which means she lives with a mental health condition and uses her experience to support and connect with her peers at Ellenhorn. Meg lives well with bipolar disorder thanks to personal education, support communities, helpful providers, the love of her family, and the passage of time. Meg believes in the power of mutual support and using our voices to advocate for what we want in treatment and in life. Meg also works as a peer specialist at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and is an active volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Before her work with Ellenhorn, Meg started an information and resource helpline at NAMI Massachusetts called COMPASS and taught English as a Second Language (ESL). Meg earned both a bachelor of arts in philosophy and a bachelor of science in psychology from Northeastern University in 2012, and trained to become a peer specialist in 2018.

Payroll & Benefits Manager

Amanda Courtemanche

PACT Clinician, IDDT Coordinator, Team Alpha

Brian Scott, Esq., MS

Brian Scott, Esq., holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Juris Doctor from the Massachusetts School of Law. Before  joining Ellenhorn, Brian served as McLean Hospital’s first patient and family navigator, helping those living with serious mental health challenges and their families find resources in their communities and develop resiliency. Eschewing the traditional power dynamics of the therapeutic relationship, Brian forges alliances emphasizing what the client can do, rather than pathologizing what they cannot. He meets clients authentically at the intersections of substance use, mood and thought challenges. Brian draws on a diverse background of lived experience, logotherapeutic and existential psychology and philosophy to help clients find hope, purpose, and meaning.

PACT Clinician, Team One

Teresa Dias, LMHC

Teresa believes that clients have an internal compass that aims towards healing.  She takes a client-centered approach, and is passionate about helping clients uncover and explore their innate creativity.

Teresa has an undergraduate degree in expressive therapies which covers art, movement, and drama techniques.  She was educated at Lesley University for both undergraduate and Master’s degrees.  Her Master’s degree is in mental health counseling with a specialty in drama therapy.  Teresa also has advanced training in play therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered play therapist.

Before coming to Ellenhorn, Teresa worked with children and families in outpatient and public school settings using trauma-informed care. Her family work focused on dyadic work with parents, and parent education to foster secure attachment.  She is biracial, bicultural, bilingual in Spanish, and speaks German.

Since 2019, Teresa has been Ellenhorn’s expressive therapist on Team One.  She is delighted to use her creativity with clients, to explore many materials, and to do sand tray therapy. In addition, Teresa has acted for 12 years in a Playback improvisational theater company called True Story Theater.

She co-authored a chapter entitled “The integration of Drama therapy and play therapy in attachment work with traumatized children” in the book Creative Arts and Play Therapy for Attachment Problems, edited by C. Malchiodi and D. Crenshaw, D.,  and published in 2014 by Guilford Press.

Team Nurse, Team NY

Leah Puffer, BSN, RN

Leah Puffer, BSN, RN, is a nurse on Ellenhorn’s Team One. Leah received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from James Madison University. Before becoming a nurse, she worked as an EMT and a residential support worker. After earning her nursing degree from the University of New England, Leah joined a PACT team specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Leah enjoys working alongside people as they overcome life’s challenges and make desired changes. She has a passion for community integration and holistic-centered care

PACT Clinician, Team Alpha

Francesca Vitale, LICSW, RYT

Francesca is a licensed independent clinical social worker, yoga teacher, and emergency medical technician with a passion for supporting people in creating their own sustainable wellness.  She earned a master’s in social work from Simmons University. Upon graduating from Simmons, Francesca worked as a mobile crisis clinician and with tenants in affordable housing who experience mental illness, addiction disorders and/or developmental disabilities. Francesca also taught yoga at the state Department of Mental Health, working with people to use emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness skills. Francesca uses a narrative therapy approach to incorporate dialectical behavioral therapy skills while drawing on both cognitive behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapy tools. At Ellenhorn, Francesca teaches a weekly yoga group that incorporates movement and mindfulness skills that supports clients in developing and using grounding and coping skills.  She also leads a weekly walking group that focuses on practicing tools and skills learned in therapy.  To complement her work at Ellenhorn, Francesca volunteers as a clinician with the Boston Critical Incident Stress Management team through the Boston Fire Department.

Hospitality Coordinator

Rachel Shunamon

Rachel joined the Ellenhorn team in March 2020 as a milieu counselor and quickly transitioned to a hospitality coordinator role. Previously, Rachel served for three years as a personal caregiver to a young man on the autism spectrum. As part of that work, she used music therapy treatment, while helping her client develop core life skills, such as executive functioning ability, time/money management, and physical activity. Before working as a caregiver, Rachel was employed at the College Internship Program in Lee, MA, where she taught independent living skills to adults on the spectrum. Rachel graduated from Franklin Pierce University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in creative writing. While at school, she worked at the Forbes five-star luxury resort, Blantyre, for six years. There she learned firsthand about hospitality and the hotel business. Rachel also had a brief stint at a local newspaper where she honed her communication and interpersonal skills.

PACT Clinician, Team One

Carissa Melillo, LMHC

Cari is a PACT clinician at Ellenhorn and a licensed mental health counselor. She is a classically trained painter who received her Bachelor’s degree from The School of Visual Arts in New York and went on to become an art therapist focusing on fiber arts and receiving a Master’s degree from Lesley University in 2017.  Cari joined the Ellenhorn team in 2020 after years of experience working with youth and families at Riverside Community Care as an intensive care coordinator specializing in eating disorders. She worked for the Eating Disorder Center of Boston under the umbrella of Monte Nido and Affiliates, working as the group and primary therapist for the Partial Hospital Program and Intensive Outpatient Program. Believing in person-centered, person-first treatment, Cari makes strong individual connections with each client she works with. She is a person of safety and a source of laughs for many clients in treatment. Cari always works collaboratively with parents, families and other team members. She has seen clients work hard to lay down the bricks for their road to recovery and start to build meaningful and purposeful lives.  She believes in the value of sprinkling fun, soul-filling and meaningful activities into daily life. These qualities can be found in Cari’s personality and in all her work with clients.

PACT Clinician, Team LA

Louise White, M.A., AMFT, APCC

Louise White is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with a passion for supporting clients in finding hope, strength and healing. She holds a Master’s of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international development from McGill University. Before joining Ellenhorn, Louise worked with adults, families, couples and teens in a wide range of  settings in the Los Angeles area, including the Southern California Counseling Center — a community mental health clinic and renowned training site — as well as a residence for formerly homeless women, a grief support center, a residential inpatient and intensive outpatient program focused on substance use, and a private practice specializing in grief and trauma. Before making a career change to psychotherapy, Louise worked in publicity and marketing in the music industry for eight years in New York and Los Angeles.

Expressive Arts Therapist/PACT Support, Team LA

Jess White, MA, ATR-BC

Jess White, MA, ATR-BC, is a board-certified art therapist from New York City who received his master’s degree in art therapy from New York University and has extensive experience working with teens and young adults who have endured systemic and institutional trauma and are subsequently battling anxiety, depression, mood disorders, eating disorders and/or substance abuse. He is also a LGBTQIA-affirming therapist and is adept at working with issues related to sexuality and identity formation.

Jess’ passion for working with young adults began while providing care for homeless LGBTQIA youth at the Ali Forney Center in New York City. From there, he served as a primary therapist at various residential psychiatric-treatment centers for young adults and as a senior art therapist in schools throughout New York City. He has also received clinical training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and internal family systems.

Jess firmly believes in taking a strength-based relational approach with his clients, thus providing a safe space for them to explore and overcome the challenges that once prevented them from achieving their personal goals. He focuses on forming strong therapeutic alliances via a combination of creative-arts therapy and psychotherapy that offers a reparative experience for those with a history of relational trauma. Above all, he strives to partner with his clients and walk proudly alongside them on their journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.

PACT Clinician, Team One

Thomas Heneghan, OTR/L

Tom Heneghan is a clinician with a passion for empowerment and enablement. Tom earned his Master’s in occupational therapy from Queen’s University in Canada. As an occupational therapist, he brings to his work a clinical lens focused on functionality; Tom believes that the way a person functions in their environment has a direct effect on their mental health. Tom supports his clients in finding pathways towards meaningful engagement and achieving their goals. Therapeutic approaches aside, he believes that the real value of a clinical relationship is in that relationship. For this reason, Tom is constantly working to forge stronger bonds. Along the way, Tom looks for a bit of levity and a chance to smile. Before coming to Ellenhorn, he was a member of a Department of Mental Health-funded PACT program in Massachusetts where he helped folks establish meaningful lives as they managed complex psychiatric challenges. Tom is invested in social justice and always looking for ways to get involved.

Brand Manager

Leah Kogan

PACT Clinician, Team Alpha

Maggie O’Brien, LMHC

Maggie is a licensed mental health counselor who uses a strengths-based and person-centered approach to collaborate with individuals and their loved ones. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in personality and positive psychology, Maggie earned a Master’s degree in counseling at Boston College. She completed field placements at a Boston area high school and a small liberal arts college. Maggie went on to work with people experiencing more extreme states of mind as an emergency services clinician, as a clinical recovery specialist with an outreach program contracted by the Department of Mental Health, and as a manager of a short-term respite program. Her experience with emergency services, outreach programs, and residential programs deepened Maggie’s understanding of extreme states of mind and acute crises. Through these experiences, she also developed skills in quickly building rapport, navigating community resources, and helping individuals and families collaborate, as well as the ability to build on people’s strengths and to cultivate hope. Maggie is passionate about using an integrated wellness approach by incorporating mindfulness, nutrition, and physical activity into recovery practices.

PACT Clinician, IDDT Coordinator, Team One

Katherine Clemens, LICSW

Katherine is a licensed social worker in the state of Massachusetts.  After receiving a BS in psychology at Champlain College, Katherine earned an MSW with a forensic focus at the University of New England. While in graduate school, she completed field placements as an outpatient clinician through a behavioral health agency and also completed an Americorps service where she supported elementary-school-aged children living in poverty with their emotion regulation. Throughout school, Katherine worked at a homeless shelter for youth addressing symptom management, substance use, housing, and vocational needs. She also received training in psychological first aid and crisis response.

Katherine’s clinical experience includes supporting people living with extreme states of mind, dual diagnosis, and homelessness. Before joining Ellenhorn, Katherine worked as a clinical supervisor for a DMH-funded psychiatric rehabilitation program where she continues to work part-time. While in this role, Katherine acted as the primary risk manager for her team and worked to safely keep people in the community. She also led agency-wide training on crisis prevention and de-escalation, also facilitating harm reduction-based groups for dually-diagnosed and at-risk clients.

As IDDT Coordinator at Ellenhorn, Katherine takes a harm reduction approach that allows people to define their own recovery. She is focused on promoting safety, supporting people in realigning with their values, and identifying the things that bring purpose and meaning into their lives. Katherine believes that everyone is capable of living a meaningful and purpose-driven life no matter what their lived experience has been.

Director of Residential Services

Robert Macdonald, LCSW

Robert is a licensed social worker from the Boston area. He earned a BA in sociology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s degree in social work from Salem State University in Massachusetts.  Robert has 30 years’ experience in the social service field, including nine years in residential care as a direct care worker, supervisor and manager; three years’ experience in home-based family and individual treatment; and twenty years doing child protection work for the state of Massachusetts in roles ranging from case management to supervisor and area clinical manager.

PACT Support Coordinator, Team NY

Miranda Levy

Miranda deeply believes in the Ellenhorn philosophy of rebuilding purposeful lives through compassionate care, and approaches each of her clients with authenticity and empathy as they work together to achieve their goals. She also understands how important laughter is in the healing process, and is passionate about making her clients feel valued and understood.

Miranda holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University and a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in child psychology from St. John’s University. Before joining the Ellenhorn team in 2019, Miranda worked with home- and community-based human-services provider New Jersey MENTOR to support at-risk youth in group-home settings. She is confident that nurturing strong and meaningful connections with her clients makes it possible to champion them as they build happy and rewarding lives.

PACT Clinician, Team NY

Ilana Slott, LMSW

Ilana is a licensed social worker with extensive experience supporting individuals facing varied mental health challenges. Before joining the team at Ellenhorn, she worked as a clinician on a community-based psychiatric crisis team at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, providing crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning services to people in their homes. While at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Ilana also worked on dual diagnosis, general adult, and geriatric inpatient psychiatry units, providing clinical services to hospitalized patients.  Additionally, she provided outpatient individual therapy to young adults at the Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy, working with clients to manage mood and anxiety disorders, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Ilana began her career working with children and families in the foster care system.

Ilana obtained her Master of Social Work at New York University and has since taken coursework at the Ackerman Institute for the Family as well as trainings in evidence-based behavior therapies. Her approach to treatment is collaborative, grounded in respect for the inherent worth and agency of individuals, with an emphasis on a working, safe therapeutic relationship.

Program Assistant, Team NY

Socrates Poche

Program Coordinator Socrates Poche earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, N.Y. Although new to the field of mental health, Socrates brings with him strong analytical and organizational skills developed through his work on data acquisition, as well as a heightened sense of empathy and consideration for others honed during his work with under-privileged families. Socrates is also known for his determination to see tasks through to completion and his meticulous attention to detail.

Junior Chef

Jonas Duffrene

Jonas, junior chef at Brackett House, may have a strong preference for all things Italian, but his passion for cooking and desire to learn ever more about it extends across all cultures and culinary styles. He has spent the past nine years honing his skills at various country clubs and restaurants in Greater Boston, including a stint as sous chef at the popular Osteria Nino in Burlington, Mass. He took his place in the kitchen at Ellenhorn’s Brackett House, a former bed-and-breakfast in Arlington, Mass., in March 2021 and is excited to share home-cooked meals like his beef tassot with djon-djon rice and legumes with the Ellenhorn residents that call it their home.

PACT Clinician, Expressive Arts Therapist/Open Dialogue Coordinator, Team Alpha

Charles Metellus

Driven by a vivid passion for humanhood, Charles started his academic journey studying theater and psychology at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. It was the intersection of these two disciplines that led him to discover the myriad benefits of drama therapy as a graduate student in Creative Arts Therapies at Concordia and subsequently implement theater-based interventions in his professional life. Charles has spent the past decade working with everyone from adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to children on the autism spectrum. He has also provided high school-aged patients with therapy and community education in the form of an inspired tour across the Canadian provinces of Québec and Ontario, and supported at-risk youth in Massachusetts with family counseling on their road to recovery and self-advocacy. Charles is excited to join the Ellenhorn team as a PACT clinician, a position that will allow him to tap into his expertise in drama therapy as well as honor his ultimate goal of working with adults. He is particularly intrigued by the window of retrospection that adulthood offers when it is time to revisit adolescence and childhood.

Recovery Coach

Harrison Tract, CARC, MSW candidate

Harrison Tract is a certified addiction-recovery coach (CARC) who joined Ellenhorn in 2021. His personal experience with substance abuse and recovery helps Harrison connect with a variety of Ellenhorn’s clients who are themselves in various stages of recovery. Harrison is dedicated to providing a nonjudgmental, compassionate and humorous space where clients can safely explore their internal experience, process thoughts, and identify and address unhelpful patterns and behaviors that may be hindering their personal growth, overall happiness and recovery.

Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., and is pursuing a master’s degree in social work from New York’s Fordham University. He has completed a clinical-social work internship at the Seafield Center in Riverhead, N.Y., is currently an intern at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in New York, N.Y., and is a volunteer and fundraiser for the national nonprofit The Herren Project. 

Harrison is warm, empathetic and curious and strives to work with clients through a strengths-based, person-centered lens. He believes in the importance of building a strong therapeutic alliance with individuals and their families in order to best support overall recovery and growth in a community setting. Through a ton of hard work and self-discovery, he is nearing nine years sober — a lifestyle that has inspired him to dedicate his life to travelling the road of wellness and assisting anyone he can help along the way.

Occupational Therapist

Hader Farhan, OT

Hader Farhan is a clinician who takes a person-centered, strengths-based and collaborative approach to care. Hader earned her undergraduate degree in the field of early-childhood studies with a focus on disability studies from Canada’s Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. After working with children and families in various settings, she developed a passion for rehabilitation and went on to earn a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Since that time, Hader has been privileged to be a part of the rehabilitation journey of numerous individuals who have experienced complex motor-vehicle accidents and has helped them return to the occupations that bring meaning and fulfillment to their lives. As an occupational therapist, Hader recognizes that engagement in meaningful occupation can promote good mental health, assist in recovery, support self-care and foster community involvement.

PACT Clinician/Open Dialogue Coordinator

Laila Caron, LMSW

Laila Caron is a licensed social worker and therapist with a master’s degree in social work from NYU in New York, N.Y., and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Reed College in Portland, Ore. Prior to joining Ellenhorn, Laila worked in a psychotherapy practice and a community-based mental-health clinic, as well as on a mobile crisis team. Laila has participated in training in psychodynamic and integrative harm-reduction psychotherapy, dialogic practice and couples therapy; her person-centered approach is based on the recognition that caring, authentic relationships in which one feels deeply listened to can create a highly beneficial context for growth and recovery.

Team Psychiatrist, Team One

Elizabeth Weinberg, M.D

Psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Weinberg practices psychopharmacology, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, with a focus on understanding the experience of the person as well as the meaning of illness and treatment in the context of a full life. Dr. Weinberg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1986 and went on to obtain her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where she was recognized for her work in community service. She completed her residency training at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., and subsequently joined the faculty of the department of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, where she was recognized with teaching awards, served as medical director at Ben Taub Hospital, and designed and ran an intensive outpatient program for complex psychological needs. Dr. Weinberg later completed her psychoanalytic training at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston and then joined the staff of the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, Mass., where she provided intensive psychotherapy and psychopharmacology to patients with treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. Dr. Weinberg teaches, lectures and writes with special interest in personality disorders, treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions, psychodynamic psychiatry, and the integration of psychoanalytic and psychiatric practice.

Nurse, Team LA

Will Thomas, RN, MSN, CNL, PHN

Will received a master’s degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco with advanced certification as a clinical nurse leader (CNL), which was earned upon completion of a specialized course of study that combined the development of clinical expertise in direct patient care with training on how to translate groundbreaking evidence-based research into innovative ways to improve patient well-being and satisfaction. Combining this training with a commitment to achieving equity in health-care outcomes, Will has worked as an registered nurse for the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and as the staff nurse for a pilot medical-respite program in West Oakland that serves clients with intertwined histories of complex chronic disease, trauma, mental illness and addiction who are experiencing homelessness and have been discharged from the hospital. Will is also a licensed public health nurse in the state of California.

Peer Specialist, Team LA

Nicole Mensinger

Nicole Mensinger is a Peer Specialist for Ellenhorn Los Angeles whose own journey has instilled in her an incredible passion for mental health, wellness, addiction and healing. Nicole’s motto, learned from a beloved mentor, is that “you can’t be curious and critical at the same time — so stay curious!” She thus enjoys sharing her experiences, tools, humor, curiosity and hope with her clients in order to help them see themselves in a new way and, ultimately, alchemize their “challenges” into “superpowers.”