World Class Therapists & Clinicians

About 

Joe brings to Newport Healthcare a wealth of insight and knowledge gleaned over more than 30 years in the medical and treatment field. His successful history of executive leadership includes 16 years with Acadia Healthcare Company (NASDAQ: ACHC) and CRC Health Group. Prior to that, Joe served in management positions with Susquehanna Health and Geisinger Health System. In his role as CEO, Joe is expanding Newport’s services into new markets, to reach more communities and ultimately help more families in need. His fresh ideas and initiatives support our mission to provide the highest-quality care to teens, young adults, and families across the country.

About

Jameson has created, led, and served on trusted and high-performing teams in some of the most challenging and dynamic environments in the world. Prior to joining Newport, he served as CEO of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics, where he led behavioral health services for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network, and school-based mental health programs administered by the company. During his time there, he achieved unprecedented growth in outpatient, inpatient, emergency psychiatry, telehealth, and integrated behavioral health services across the company. Before that, Jameson was CEO of Acadia Healthcare’s North Tampa Behavioral Health facility, where he oversaw a large inpatient expansion and launched three new services, including a military program commended for its innovative approach to empowering post-traumatic growth and recovery.

About

Jay Campbell has more than 20 years of professional experience in business development, marketing, management, and operations for the behavioral health, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries. Before joining the Newport Healthcare team, Jay was the Vice President of Business Relations for Acadia Healthcare, and prior to that, the National Director of Business Development for CRC Health Group. Throughout his career, Jay has advocated for people with healthcare needs by working with providers in frontline positions and building teams of multidisciplinary professionals dedicated to offering clients the highest-quality care. Jay’s skill, experience, and passion inspire him to deliver results and develop future leaders.

About

Kristin is passionate about the delivery of integrated care in the treatment milieu to address the myriad of stressors that today’s teens and young adults face. She believes that higher levels of emotional resilience allow young people to more easily adapt to stressful situations or crises, with fewer negative effects. Kristin has been working in the treatment field since 1997, in a variety of mental healthcare settings, including inpatient, residential, and outpatient levels of care; and with numerous types of addictions, including chemical dependence, process addictions, and eating disorders.

Clinical Expertise 

Kristin holds a master’s degree in Psychology and Creative Arts Therapies and presents workshops nationally on using the creative arts to foster authentic connections with teens. Her dedication to an integrated model of care is further demonstrated by her certification as a yoga teacher. Kristin is a licensed clinician who formerly served as a clinical supervisor, executive director, trainer, interventionist, and clinical outreach representative. She previously held the title of Senior Regional Director of Marketing for a major behavioral health network, after spending seven years running an outpatient behavioral health department in Pennsylvania.

About

A healthcare executive and consultant for more than 16 years, Ed Speedling has spent his career participating in, establishing, and leading successful, diverse teams to make a meaningful impact on public health issues. He consistently seeks to help build communities where all people can succeed and achieve their full potential, especially children, families, and those facing health disparities and social injustice. As president of ES Healthcare Consulting, LLC, Ed specializes in working with corporations and organizations to integrate behavioral healthcare services and find innovative solutions that improve outcomes, quality of care, and access to care. Before joining the Newport team, Ed served in leadership roles for BlueSprig Pediatrics, Inc., Corporation of America’s Capital Division, ProMedica Health System, and Arrowhead Behavioral Health, among others. In addition, Ed has worked in the not-for-profit Nemours pediatric health system as a forensic child abuse specialist, trauma and emergency department social worker, and State of Delaware medical subcommittee chair.

About

Julie has more than 15 years of experience in the mental healthcare industry, in direct care, supervisory, and leadership roles. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, she began her career as a therapist at Pacific Clinics, and advanced into a series of executive leadership positions, including director of clinical and administrative operations for Mental Health Systems programs in the Greater San Diego Area, and director of clinical operations for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Most recently, she spent four years at Providence Hospitals and Health Care, rising to executive director of the company’s Mental Health Institute Southern California. Julie is passionate about using her strengths to be an advocate and voice for those who are struggling with mental health conditions.

About

Blake Kinsey brings to Newport Healthcare extensive experience in finance and admissions. In addition, he has strong skills in communication, interpersonal relationships, and creative conflict resolution. He works closely with incoming clients and families and serves as a liaison with insurance companies to guarantee coverage for clients’ treatment needs. Blake’s past experience includes managing companies’ insurance contracts, benefits, policies, and managed care. He worked with employer groups and state, local, and academic entities to fund treatment costs. In addition, he developed strategies for holding insurance companies accountable for providing coverage to their members.

About

Dr. Roeske has worked in the mental health field since 2003, providing a wide range of clinical services, including acute psychiatric care, outpatient community therapy, and residential treatment for those dealing with the challenges of sobriety and mental health. Her experience as a CEO, clinical director, program developer, family program director, therapist, and supervisor have afforded her an intimate understanding of the key ingredients for providing quality treatment, and the essential components of a strong clinical and organizational team. She currently serves as the Executive Director for our boys’ campus in Connecticut.

About

Kim brings to Newport a brilliant track record of performance across a 22-year career in healthcare. She has held field and leadership roles in pharmaceutical sales, referral-based account management, and clinical sales team management. Kim brings multidimensional experience, a tireless work ethic, and an ability to create strategic partnerships, lead change initiatives, and develop high-performing professionals. She joined Newport in 2021 and served as our Northeastern Senior Director of Clinical Outreach before ascending to her current role managing the activity and development of Newport’s National Clinical Outreach team.

About

Ryan brings over a decade of academic leadership and classroom experience to her role at Newport Healthcare. As an educator, she is passionate about working with high-risk adolescents and is trained in restorative practices. Ryan works with the Marin County (California) Youth Court and is a member of various community organizations working to combat youth substance abuse. She develops educational and intervention programs to prevent teen and young adult mental health struggles and drug use.

Clinical Expertise

Prior to joining Newport Academy in 2014, Ryan was a student activities director, leadership teacher, and mathematics teacher at Tamalpais Union High School District in Mill Valley, California. She holds a master’s degree in Education Administration, and has also served as secondary summer school principal, mathematics teacher, and student activities director for the Novato (California) Unified School District. Ryan works alongside clinicians to create interventions to assist students dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. She also collaborates with special education teams to create protocols for managing classroom challenges for students dealing with auditory processing and executive functioning deficits.

About 

Jamison is the Founder of Newport Healthcare and its family of programs, including Newport Academy for teens and Newport Institute for young adults. He is a prominent voice in the field of teen and young adult mental health, and an active participant in the movement to reduce the stigma around mental health and substance abuse challenges. A passionate advocate for integrated and compassionate care for young people, Jamison is a writer, spokesperson, Kundalini Yoga instructor, and meditation teacher. Prior to founding Newport Healthcare, he worked in multiple mental health and co-occurring disorder treatment facilities—starting his career as an overnight coordinator and working his way up to Executive Director. Today, he is a credited expert and thought leader in the field, and has appeared on CNN, FOX, ABC, and other major networks.

About

Dr. Nosal is the founding Chief Clinical Officer of Newport Healthcare and oversees the clinical and family programs for all of Newport’s residential and outpatient treatment locations. Dr. Nosal has worked with adolescents and families in the field of mental health, depression, and addiction treatment for more than 30 years. She believes that family involvement is critical to successful outcomes during and post-treatment. Dr. Nosal’s work focuses on deepening family relationships and improving communication through healing early childhood attachment ruptures and relational trauma. As a result, family members build respect, trust, and accountability, and feel safe to be vulnerable and authentic with one another.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Nosal has a doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, among other clinical credentials. She specializes in relational and family therapy, with training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Family Systems, Post-Induction Therapy, and various other therapeutic modalities. Dr. Nosal has held managerial positions in inpatient and outpatient treatment programs throughout California and nationally.

About

Dr. Mennesson thrives on finding new and creative solutions by drawing from a variety of therapeutic approaches. A longtime practitioner of yoga and meditation, he is a strong proponent for integrating mindfulness principles into clinical treatment. Dr. Mennesson is dedicated to providing the highest-quality evidence-based care in a safe, secure environment. He firmly believes in the power of a strong social support network, and he uses Attachment-Based Family Therapy to restore and reinforce healthy relational dynamics for young people and their families. 

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Michel is board-certified in general psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, with an added qualification in Addiction Psychiatry. Originally from France, he trained as a pediatrician and internist before entering the field of psychiatry. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Yale University Department of Psychiatry. At Newport Healthcare, Dr. Mennesson specializes in treating young people struggling with issues such as substance use, depression, grief and loss, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

About

Dr. Alexander is skilled healthcare leader with two decades of experience in administration, quality assurance, risk management, and compliance. His accomplishments include redesigning protocols for utilization and fiscal management, strategic planning, quality, performance improvement, utilization metrics, and daily operations for a Fortune 500 managed care insurance company. Most recently, Dr. Alexander led quality assurance, compliance, risk management, privacy, and utilization review at chemical dependency and acute care inpatient behavioral health hospitals.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Alexander is a licensed clinical psychologist. He began his career in behavioral health as the Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Division for a large nonprofit focused on improving the general well-being and education of the Asian, Pacific Islander, and other underserved communities.

About 

Dr. Dragonette is dedicated to helping teams come together to support clients in creating more authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling lives. She was the founding Executive Director of Newport’s Northern California location and now serves in a clinical training and supervisory capacity. As a specialist in her field, Dr. Dragonette understands the importance of whole-person treatment—encompassing physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health as well as psychological. She believes that true healing begins when a young person shifts from an external locus of control to an internal locus of control, and she carries this philosophy into her treatment practices.   

Clinical Expertise

Prior to joining our team, Dr. Dragonette was the Director of Behavioral Health for Petaluma Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Petaluma, California. In that position, she oversaw the Behavioral Health department and coordinated all aspects of operations. In 2017, she developed curriculum for a program to support parents and children in the aftermath of wildfires that ravaged the Petaluma community. She also served in both clinical and leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa’s Chemical Dependency Services.

About

Kristen Riha, MA, LMFT, brings a background in direct management and supervision of residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. Prior to joining Newport in 2019, she was clinical director for Beachside Behavioral Health in Fountain Valley, California. Kristen’s role at Newport focuses on ensuring the quality and continuing evolution of our industry-leading clinical model. “The quality of care that Newport provides is unmatched and unlike any place that I have worked,” she says. “I am thankful to be part of a team that is deeply dedicated to helping individuals and families heal.”

Clinical Expertise

Kristen holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. And is trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy for healing parent-child relationship ruptures. She is also trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Bowen Family Systems Therapy, proven to effectively address depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Kristen is also a Supervisor with the Board of Behavioral Sciences, supervising pre-licensed therapists.

About

Matthew Nonoshita brings to Newport extensive experience and proficiency in program development, management, leadership, team building, and promoting positive culture. He has worked alongside leading professionals to cultivate his expertise, while also providing direct support to clients. Matthew has played an integral role in the accreditation of multiple facilities according to Joint Commission standards of care. He has built and supervised clinical, utilization, and administrative teams, while increasing profit margin and decreasing operations costs. Matthew’s experience in crafting young adult programs, his personal recovery journey, and the diversity of his service give him a broad and multifaceted understanding of the treatment field.

Clinical Expertise

Matthew has held leadership positions at a number of companies, including CEO of Premier Health Group in Newport Beach, California; Executive Program Director for Beachside Behavioral Health in Fountain Valley, California; and Program Director at Balboa Horizons in Costa Mesa, California, among others. During his early career, he served as a substance abuse counselor at Oasis Treatment Center in Anaheim. Matthew holds numerous executive and clinical certifications, and also developed a surf therapy program used at multiple youth treatment centers.

About

As Executive Director of Newport Institute’s programs in Connecticut, Helene brings an invaluable combination of therapeutic and management skills to her role. She has years of experience in the business world as a human resources professional, and extensive experience in her second career as a therapist. She previously served as Clinical Director for the Newport Academy campus in Connecticut. Helene believes that every teen deserves unconditional acceptance and a nonjudgmental treatment setting in which they can feel safe to share and process difficult emotions and experiences.

About

Jep Stokes, Executive Director for Newport’s programs in Minnesota, is an accomplished healthcare administrator and respected leader. Most recently, he was the Executive Director for Newport’s programs in Los Angeles. Before coming to Newport, he served as Market Vice President of Behavioral Health Services for HCA Healthcare. Jep also served as CEO of a 60-bed treatment facility with Acadia Healthcare, and as COO at Universal Health Services. With an extensive background in client relations and account management, and a degree in business administration from Stetson University, Jep has expertise in all facets of program and staff development.

About

An experienced behavioral health leader with more than 22 years in the field helping adolescents, young adults, and families, Kristina oversees our young adult services in Washington State. Much of her career has been with Sunstone, Navos BHN Multicare Health System, an adolescent residential treatment program, where she held the positions of Children’s Residential Administrator, Operations Manager, and ultimately Director of Residential Services. Prior to her time there, she was Manager of Admissions for the Seattle Children’s Home. Kristina is an avid hiker whose hiking team, Alpine Trekkers, placed sixth out of over 100 teams for a 2016 Washington Trails Association fundraising event.

About

Misty, Newport’s Director of Outpatient Services in the Dallas area, was most recently the Director of Clinical Services for Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas, where she assisted in opening the facility. Previously, Misty held leadership roles at Sundance Behavioral Health Hospital and Mesa Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, focusing on revitalizing and growing outpatient programming. A certified Trust-Based Relational Intervention practitioner, Misty is passionate about creating warm, home-like environments in which young people and families can heal.

About

A key member of the Newport team since 2004, Adam Furtado provides comprehensive support around case conceptualization, treatment planning, and implementation of treatment interventions. He has worked in the mental healthcare field for more than two decades, primarily in clinical supervisory roles. Adam finds it incredibly rewarding to support young people during this critical stage of life when they are defining their identity, building connection with peers and community, and stepping into their emerging adulthood. He specializes in ensuring that clients receive culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care that honors their individual beliefs, life circumstances, and family history.

Clinical Expertise

Along with his certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Adam is highly experienced in conjoint family therapy and trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. He also has extensive training in serving diverse and minority populations, including LGBTQ, first-generation immigrant, and Hispanic/Latino communities. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, Adam is an adjunct faculty member for Chapman University’s graduate marriage and family therapy program.

About

Samantha is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been working from a family systems perspective throughout her career. As Newport’s National Director of Family Therapy Services, she oversees all family programming, which utilizes Attachment-Based Family Therapy to provide support and psychoeducation to families throughout the treatment process. Samantha has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma, including sexual and physical abuse. She also has expertise working with the LGBTQ community and issues related to gender and sexuality. Samantha believes that a necessary step in the healing and recovery process is a strong and genuine therapeutic connection that creates safety and allows for growth.

About

Gary has been working with high-risk teens for nearly 15 years, in settings ranging from community centers to juvenile drug court. He excels in treating adolescents who have lost a sense of connection to self and others, and who are open to new experiences and activities that help them build self-esteem and perspective. Prior to moving into his current role, in which he develops and implements curriculum for Newport’s Adventure Therapy program, Gary served as our Program Coordinator of Intensive Outpatient Services.

About

Caydin joined the Newport Healthcare team in 2014, and established Newport’s Alumni Program as Director of Alumni Services, before becoming our National Director of Experience. Today, her contributions positively impact young people, families, and our team on a national level. Caydin continues to oversee Newport Healthcare’s Alumni Network while working to ensure that every aspect of Newport’s programming exceeds clients’ expectations. She has a degree in sociology, with an emphasis on social work, from California State University. Caydin is also a community volunteer for Mercy Without Limits, a nonprofit providing humanitarian relief around the world.

About

Kristen is an established public relations and communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in the field. In her previous position as Sr. Director of Communications, she played a key role in supporting the growth of Newport’s thought leadership, connecting our expert clinicians and leadership with publications and outlets including Forbes, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and the CBS Evening News, among many others. For the past 15 years, Kristen has worked in the mental health and addiction treatment space, providing PR, media, and marketing expertise. She is passionate about promoting treatment, removing the stigma around mental health, and supporting individuals who are struggling. Kristen graduated cum laude from UCLA with a BA in Communication Studies.

About

Annie Gendaszek brings to the Newport team in-depth experience in quantitative and qualitative research. Additionally she brings professional communication skills across a wide range of platforms. Annie continues to be fascinated by the interface of psychology and law. Furthermore, she has acquired degrees in both psychology and communication studies, and a background in the litigation field. As a subcontractor for Persuasion Strategies, a service of Holland & Hart LLP, Denver, Colorado, she applied her knowledge of social science research methodology to litigation research on a project-by-project basis. She also provided trial support for the Denver District Attorney’s Office. In the same fashion, Annie has assisted deputy district attorneys in drug court with trial preparation and courtroom coverage.

About

Cassie joined the Newport Healthcare team in 2013. She works closely with our Executive and Clinical Directors to ensure appropriate placement for clients and a seamless admissions process for both clients and the internal team. Cassie’s previous work experience includes event planning and management for the M&M Group in Huntington, California, planning, producing, and managing billing for more than 10 events each month. She also managed marketing, crafted advertising strategies, and oversaw content dissemination for NJ Law, APC, in Newport, California. Cassie holds an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.