Young Adult Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

World Class Therapists & Clinicians

With more than 500 years of clinical and therapeutic expertise, Newport Institute has assembled the best mental health leaders and rehab team in the country to serve as the foundation for our unparalleled young adult treatment centers. Newport Institute boasts a robust and growing roster of experts from all over the world, with a wide range of degrees and experience. 

Executive Leadership

Joe Procopio

Chief Executive Officer

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.

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Jameson Norton, MBA, FACHE

Chief Operating Officer

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.

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Jay Campbell

Chief Growth Officer

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.

Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, CCTP

Chief Experience Officer

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.

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Mary Clark

Chief Payer Relations Officer

About

Mary Clark brings to Newport Healthcare a unique combination of cross-sector healthcare experience and corporate governance. Over 35 years in the field, she has successfully led companies through mergers and acquisitions and worked with multiple constituencies to build operational excellence and exceptional business-to-consumer relationships. Past positions include senior VP of provider relations at One Call, a provider of healthcare solutions to the worker’s compensation industry; and VP of market service at Healthways, Inc., managing strategic business relationships with the nation’s largest medical home program.

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Julie Fortune, LMFT

Vice President of Outpatient Services

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.

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Danielle Roeske, PsyD

Vice President, Operations, Residential Services

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.

Ryan Fedoroff, M.Ed.

Vice President, Learning and Development

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.

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Blake Kinsey

Vice President of Admissions

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.

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Kim Storey

Vice President of Clinical Outreach

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.

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Rebecca Anne Whitehead, MBA

Vice President, Residential Services, Western Region

About

Rebecca is a respected and versatile industry thought leader with proven success in innovating new business and clinical models, applying exceptional consensus-building skills, and driving the delivery of integrated care, yielding profitable growth and client satisfaction. She has 25-plus years of executive leadership experience with global companies including UnitedHealthcare and Healthways. Before joining the Newport Healthcare team in 2023, Rebecca was the Chief Operating Officer for 180 Health Partners, a multi-state provider of behavioral healthcare and community services.

An award-winning author, Rebecca is also a Nashville Healthcare Council Fellow, Advisory Board member of Major Care, appointed member of the Metro Nashville and Davidson County Board of Health, and chair of The Next Door Recovery Board of Directors. Rebecca holds an executive MBA degree from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, and a BBA degree in marketing, with a minor in psychology, from the University of Texas at Austin.

Medical & Clinical Leadership

Dr. Barbara Nosal, PhD, LMFT, LADC

Chief Clinical Officer

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.

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Dr. Michel Mennesson, MD

Psychiatrist

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).

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Sterling Alexander, PhD, PhD

Director of Utilization Review

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.

 

Dr. Jennifer Dragonette, PsyD

Clinical Services Instructor

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.

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Jude L. Levasseur, MBA, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

About

Jude is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who works with children, adolescents, and young adults. Prior to practicing as a Psych NP, Jude was a healthcare executive for more than 20 years, with broad experience in clinical, medical, nursing relations, utilization management, quality assessment, business development, regulatory compliance, and nursing practice.

Clinical Expertise

Jude has a successful track record of implementing safe and effective care to his patients, based on recommended practice guidelines for optimum clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. He holds a Master’s degree in nursing from Walden University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix

Samantha Quigneaux, LMFT

National Director of Family Therapy Services

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.

Meredith Hettler, LMFT

National Director, OCD and Anxiety Program

About

With over 10 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare field, Meredith holds a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from Central Connecticut State University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island. She started with Newport as a Family Therapist and has since held various leadership positions, including Associate Family Program Director and Clinical Director. Her experience in the field includes working with individuals ranging from early childhood through geriatrics, treating a wide array of mental health, behavioral, and relational needs. She specializes in working with adolescents and young adults. Meredith is trained in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

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Gary Fedoroff, MC, CADC II

Director of Experiential Learning

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.

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Michael Roeske, PsyD

Senior Director, Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation

About

Dr. Roeske is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked and studied in a variety of treatment settings, including adult substance use disorder and adolescent mental health programs, community-based psychological services, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. He was also trained as a full battery assessor of children to older adults and has functioned as a supervisor, clinical director, educator, presenter, and operator. Dr. Roeske’s work with the Center aims to establish Newport Healthcare as a leader and innovator in adolescent and young adult residential care, research, and program development..

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Caydin Sanders

National Director of Experience

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.

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Adam Furtado, LMFT

National Director of Patient Access

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.

Program Leadership

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Matthew Nonoshita, CTE, CADC-II, RAS-II

Executive Director

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.

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Helene D'Jay, LPC

Executive Director

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 young adult deserves unconditional acceptance and a nonjudgmental treatment setting in which they can feel safe to share and process difficult emotions and experiences.

 

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Jep Stokes

Executive Director

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.

 

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Kristina Schemnitzer

Executive Director

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 Sacramento, California. 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.

 

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Hannah Chesser, LCSW, LCSW

Director of Outpatient Services

About

Hannah Chesser, Director of Outpatient Services for our young adult program in Connecticut, has been working in the mental healthcare field since 2013. She began her career as a social worker, serving pediatric, young adult, and adult patients at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. Over her seven-year tenure at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, Hannah rose from psychiatric social worker to Supervisor of Admissions. Before joining the Newport Healthcare team in May 2022, she was Director of Admissions at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Clinical Expertise

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Hannah holds a master’s in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

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Luciana Gonzalez, LCSW, ICS

Director of Outpatient Services

About

Luciana is dedicated to providing individualized care and adaptive environments for our emerging adult clients in our our program in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Before joining the Newport team in 2021, Luciana held management and coordinator positions for Norris, a residential youth care facility in Wisconsin; the Division of Youth and Family Services in Milwaukee County; and Wellpoint Care Network (formerly SaintA) in Milwaukee.

Clinical Expertise

A licensed clinical social worker with an MSW from the University of Wisconsin, Luciana entered the mental health field because she’s passionate about “being part of the village that creates a safe space for healing.” She specializes in trauma-informed care and substance use disorder treatment, and is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, among other modalities.