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Ryan has appeared in Wired Magazine and has also been featured in Daily Voice & The Marin Independent Journal. As Newport Institute’s Vice President, Learning and Development, she often speaks to her experience as an educator in relation to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, as well as and how that is coupled with treating substance abuse disorders, depression and anxiety in young people. She also provides insightful advice on tools that for young adults dealing struggling with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse struggles issues can use to help them on their path to success. Experience Ryan has been a leader in the academic community throughout her career and has a proven track record for successful academic program development, staff recruitment, and administration oversight. She has previously served in leadership roles at Tamalpais Union High School District and Novato (California) Unified School District. Colleagues describe her as ‘the type of educator who can adapt to any situation’ and she has been praised for her innovative solutions in the most challenging situations. Outside of her role at Newport, Ryan is an active member of various community organizations working to develop intervention programs for young adults and teens. Advice I Would Give My 20-Something Self Remember that we are all doing the best we can with what we have and the tools we have been given, so don’t be so hard on yourself or others. Give energy and power to your strengths to overcome your weaknesses and to those people that build you up and make you stronger.

Dr. Nosal has appeared as a clinical expert on NBC and FOX News. She is also a frequent contributor to media outlets such as Business Insider, RealSimple and Teen Vogue. As a media contributor, she provides advice and guidance on a variety of mental health related issues such as sleep disorders, depression, body image, drug abuse, and sobriety. Clinical Expertise Given her interests and expertise in the family structure, Dr. Nosal specializes in the Family-Systems approach. One of her main focuses is extracting the negative energy that manifests in young adult’s self-destructive behavior and retargeting it to create& meaningful, lasting connections. Dr. Nosal is both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, as well as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Connecticut. She has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Post-Induction Therapy, and Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy. Prior to joining the Newport family, Dr. Nosal held clinical positions in well-known treatment centers in Southern California. Advice I Would Give My 20-Something Self If I could instill in you elder wisdom, it would be to not allow those insignificant moments in time to define who you are and how you live your life. Speak your truth. Step into your power. Strive for balance. Don’t settle. Don’t take it personally. Don’t be so serious. Follow your dreams. Forgive yourself. Live with integrity and gratitude, guided by humility, in harmony with yourself and others. Life is a journey, not a destination. Live life to the fullest. One day you’ll wake up and the years will have seemed to pass you by. In that moment, remind yourself you did the best you could with what you knew at the time.

Dr. Dragonette has appeared in the L.A. Times and PopSugar and is the go-to expert for publications such as Bustle, VeryWell Family, and Refinery29. As a certified expert in the field of behavioral health, she has advised on a wide array of mental health issues such as PTSD, eating disorders, Munchausen Syndrome, and clinical depression. Clinical Expertise At Newport Institute, Dr. Dragonette’s clinical approach focuses on Attachment-Based Family Therapy and other modalities that work with the whole family as a system, as well as holistic wellness approaches. She is a strong advocate for Trauma-Informed Care and understanding the wide-ranging impact of early trauma, and works closely with individuals around themes of attachment, codependency, and anxiety. Dr. Dragonette is also an expert in the field of Epigenetics, an emerging and intriguing field which explores the ways in which our genes can turn on and off based on our life experiences and environment. Dr. Jennifer Dragonette utilizes a variety of modalities to help young adults who suffer from mental health issues derived from childhood and/or unresolved trauma, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Advice I Would Give My 20-Something Self When you’re having a tough day – and those happen! – it’s essential to understand how to step back. This is where mindfulness comes in—taking the time to pause and acknowledge that you’re feeling a certain emotion right now, and that this emotion is telling you something important. Feelings are just information that we need to pay attention to; avoiding our feelings or trying to ignore the messages from our experiences leads to suffering. No matter how much support you have from friends, family, and loved ones, the healing process really begins when you make the personal decision to make a positive change in your life. There is extreme strength that stems from our internal motivations; therefore, this pivotal decision must come from within.

Dr. Michel Mennesson has been featured in media like MindBodyGreen, Romper, and Elite Daily. As a certified expert in the fields of addiction and adolescent and young adult psychiatry, he often provides advice on an array of topics such as the impact of social media on young adults’ mental health, how to deal with grief and sleep disorders, and substance abuse trends among young people. Clinical Expertise Dr. Mennesson’s career began in his native country of France where he received his medical degree. Since then, he has focused on discovering new, creative ways to integrate a variety of therapeutic approaches, which he continues to explore in his role at Newport Institute. Dr. Mennesson moved to America to study both Adult and Child Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center, where he also completed a Fellowship in Adolescent Psychiatry. Prior to joining Newport Institute, Dr. Mennesson worked as a pediatrician and internist, and completed his residency at Waterbury Hospital Health Center in Connecticut. Advice I Would Give My 20-Something Self Many people don’t realize that practicing mindfulness on a regular basis is the key to unlocking the body’s plentiful natural healing qualities. I strongly believe mindfulness should be incorporated into the clinical treatment model, not only as a supplement, but as an integral part of the process. At its core, the journey to recovery boils down to retraining negative thoughts into positive, healthy lifestyle changes.

Kristin Wilson is a regular contributor for Bustle and has been featured in various media such as Refinery29, Byrdie,com, and Romper. She is often quoted on subjects such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, providing insights accumulated over her 20 years of experience in the mental health treatment field. Clinical Expertise Kristin draws on her master’s degree in Psychology and Creative Art Therapies to encourage creative outlets into the healing process because these activities provide young adults with an opportunity to be grounded in the moment. She has also conducted research on how bridging the generation gap between young adults and parents can protect and be a positive impact on their mental health. Kristin has experience serving as a clinical supervisor, trainer, interventionist, and clinical outreach representative. Previously, she served as Senior Regional Director of Marketing for a major behavior health network and also ran an outpatient behavioral health department in Pennsylvania for seven years. Advice I Would Give My 20-Something Self Building and sustaining authentic connections with family and friends are some of the most powerful tools in life. Supportive, caring relationships are essential to a healthy lifestyle, not only for young adults, but for parents, too. Sometimes you need to take a step back and unplug from a stressful situation so you can re-join with clear intentions. No matter where your life path leads you, having a support system will always be important.