Our clinical staff is comprised of highly skilled, knowledgeable professionals who specialize in working with individuals with a dual diagnosis of mental health issues and drug and alcohol addiction. We believe the more people a patient has on his side who are committed to his sobriety, the better his chances for a successful recovery. We owe much of our success to the warmth and dedication of our staff.
Paul Reed, LCSW – Executive Director
Paul Reed is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over fifteen years experience in clinical and administrative positions. He began his clinical career at Miami Children’s Hospital, then progressed to Program Director and Executive Director status in several residential mental health facilities in Florida and Georgia. With senior management experience in for-profit and not-for-profit human service organizations, Mr. Reed brings with him a commitment to clinical and operational excellence at Wellness. He is proud to be a part of the unique integrated dual diagnosis treatment here, and enjoys engaging in a program that maintains a stellar reputation and achieves such success with this population.
Raju Mangrola, MD, PA – Medical Director, Psychiatrist
Dr. Raju Mangrola is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He has been in private practice in Palm Beach County, Florida for the past 17 years. He is certified in addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and psychosomatic medicine. Dr. Mangrola has extensive experience treating patients with dual diagnosis and addictive disorders. He is also certified by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (certified by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Kasey Stark, MSW, CAP – Director of Admissions and Compliance
Kasey earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University. She has multiple years of dual diagnosis experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in various treatment settings. Additionally, she has professional experience in such capacities as assessment, therapy, marketing and administration, including supervision and compliance. Kasey is a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) in the state of Florida and Internationally.
Sean Balzer, BS – Admissions Coordinator
Sean earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing his Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) certification. Sean’s experience includes working with adolescents, adults, and military struggling with addiction and mental health issues including trauma in residential treatment settings. He is very passionate about assisting those in need of services, including clients and family members, to find the right program so they can get the help they need.
Renna McGinnis, RN, CD – Director of Clinical and Nursing
Renna has been a certified addiction nurse for 33 years. Previously, she worked as a program director, director of nursing, and admission director. She also worked for 20 years with recovering nurses as a group facilitator for the Intervention Project for Nurses. “After 30 years in the field of addiction, I still love coming to work,” she says. “It is an honor to watch the recovery process. I witness the hope of those who had no hope and see miracles every day.”
Erin Whitaker, M.ED, LMHC – Primary Therapist
Erin has been working in the mental health field since 1998 in various settings, including an inpatient substance abuse treatment program for women and children, a state child welfare agency, and school and home-based individual and family therapy environments. Erin received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and liberal studies from the University of Notre Dame, where she participated in research focusing on attachment issues. She received a M.Ed. from Harvard University in risk and prevention, where she participated in research focusing on the effects of trauma.
Phyllis Sammartino, LCSW – Spirituality, Meditation and Adult Issues Group Therapist
Phyllis has worked in the mental health field for the past eight years, specializing in chemical dependence/dual diagnosis, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and family issues. She graduated from Barry University with a master’s degree in social work.
Miriam Flynn, MSW, MS & Primary Therapist
Miriam Flynn has worked in the field of addiction treatment and mental health for over 15 years. She has a Masters degree in Sociology and a Masters in Social Work. She has extensive training and clinical experience conducting individual and group therapy on a wide spectrum of issues including, but not limited to, substance abuse/dependence, trauma, relationship difficulties and mental health problems/dual diagnosis. She believes that individuals are capable of changing problematic behaviors through an internal process whereby a person begins to see the benefits of changing behavior as outweighing the benefits of maintaining behavior. Her role is to form a therapeutic alliance employing a highly empathetic style in order to encourage feelings of self-efficacy surrounding the client ability to successfully change problematic behaviors, and assist clients in making their own changes by facilitating their movement through the stages of change.
Jessica Ponn, MSW – Primary Therapist
Jessica obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University. She has worked with clients who have been diagnosed with co-occurring disorders at various levels of care including intensive out-patient, partial hospitalization, and residential settings. Jessica brings enthusiasm in working with her clients and their families. She believes in direct communication and feels that family involvement is an integral part of the recovery process.
Brian Pagan, B.S. – Primary Therapist
Since joining the Wellness Resource Center team, Brian has held the roles of Support Counselor, Intensive Case Manager, and has been promoted to Primary Therapist. Brian earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Arkansas State University and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University. During his undergraduate studies Brian worked with severely emotionally disturbed youth, part of the Systems of Care (SOC), a federally funded National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grant. Brian is very passionate about recovery and excited to be a part of the team at Wellness.
Shannon Hawke, MPS – Consultant and Equine Therapist
Shannon has been working in the addiction and mental health field for 14 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Counseling. She has worked with individuals, groups and families. Shannon believes that each individual client has the opportunity to arrest their self-destructive behaviors and begin a new life. Recovery is more than stopping the use of drugs and alcohol. It is becoming a functional and happy person and regaining parts of themselves they have lost through addiction.
Alison Tarlow, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist
Eating Disorder Specialist
Dr. Alison Tarlow is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, specializing in Eating Disorders, Trauma and Abuse, Women’s Issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression and Anxiety, and Parenting issues. She has been licensed in the state of Florida since 2001. She completed her doctoral degree at Nova Southeastern University, and completed her post- doctoral residency at The Renfrew Center of Florida, a premier inpatient women’s eating disorder facility, where she went on to hold a supervisory position for 5 years before fully moving into private practice. She has held positions of adjunct faculty and associate professor at Nova Southeastern University for the past 10 years, teaching psychology courses at the undergraduate college. Dr. Tarlow is also a qualified Parent Coordinator, and is certified by the Supreme Court in Family Mediation. She is excited to be working as a consultant with Wellness Resource Center, providing an integrative, team approach to treatment for the patients who experience symptoms of an eating disorder.
Karen Polin, BFA, ATR – Clinical Art Therapist
Karen received her BFA from Boston University and has been a practicing Clinical Art Therapist for the past 37 years since completing her graduate training at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. She served as the Coordinator of Creative Arts Therapies for the Department of Psychiatry at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia for 21 years, where she supervised graduate art therapy students and provided in-service training for medical students, psychiatric residents, and clinical staff. This was followed by independent contracting with public school children through the Penn Foundation in Pennsylvania. Karen has been employed at The Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, Florida since 2000. Her work there with eating disorders is featured in the documentary, THIN. Over the years, Karen has worked with diverse populations within hospital settings, school systems, psychiatric treatment centers, geriatric units, and outpatient clinics.
Haydee A. Cabrera LMHC, CAP, CST, LCSW – DBT Therapist
Haydee (Gigi) Cabrera is a LMHC, CAP, Certified Sex Therapist, as well as Florida Supreme Court certified for Family Mediation and SASSI certified. She has a private practice in West Palm Beach, and is adjunct staff at Palm Beach Community College. For the past 15 years she has worked with the dually diagnosed population with trauma specific issues. Gigi specializes in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT facilitates interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, reality acceptance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.
Through the practice of DBT, patients challenge distorted thinking, reduce impulsivity and emotional pain. By developing mindfulness and awareness they are able to improve the quality of their relationships and lives. Gigi is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Jayne Johnson, M.ED – Family Program Experiential Therapist
A leader in the field of addiction recovery for the past twenty-five years, Jayne has dedicated her career to assist individuals, couples, and families in facilitating a healthy, comfortable lifestyle. Jayne currently maintains a private practice in Palm Beach, Florida. Previously, she served as program manager of the Center for Women’s Recovery at Hanley-Hazelden, now Hanley Center, and worked at several inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment centers. Jayne holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Furman University, and a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Atlantic University. She is CSAT certified and trained, a certified hypnotherapist, a Kripalu yoga teacher, and an insight meditation teacher. She also trained in death, dying, and grief with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, as well as neurolinguistics and narrative therapy.
Carol Sherman, RD – Eating Disorder Group Therapist
Carol is a registered dietitian with more than twenty years of experience as a consultant to mental health and chemical dependency facilities. She also maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. Carol earned her bachelor’s degree in community nutrition from Cornell University and her master’s degree in public health nutrition from the University of California at Berkeley.
William Browning, MACP, CAP – Primary Counselor
William Ireland Browning has been working at the Wellness Resource Center for seven years. Bill started out as a support counselor and was recently promoted to a primary therapist after completing his Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and Certification in Addiction. Bill lives in Boca Raton, FL with his wife and 2 children and counts it as a privilege to be on a team like WRC — one that knows how to win and make a difference.
Stanley Pullen – Facilities Manager
Stanley began his work at Wellness 6 years ago as a Support Counselor and has progressed to a Case Manager, working more directly with clients. Sobriety and recovery is his personal passion. He finds it challenging and rewarding to assist clients with the next phase of their recovery. Stanley is ever-present at the facilities to ensure the physical plants are running up to standards and addressing any client needs.
Cynthia McLean – Marketing Director
After spending many years teaching in the arts, Cynthia began a second career in business development through advertising sales. She was led to the field of mental health by a psychologist friend, and eventually worked in outreach roles for facilities treating eating disorders, trauma-based disorders and dual diagnosis.
Carla Valela – Business Office Manager
Carla has over 15 years combined experience in Accounts Receivables, Collections, and Billing Office Management for medical and therapeutic facilities.
Wendy Lax, CAC – Intensive Case Management
After a lengthy and noteworthy career in finance, Wendy began a second career in the treatment profession as a Recovery Support Counselor at Wellness six years ago. Subsequently, she advanced to Admissions Coordinator, obtained her Certified Addictions Counselor credential, and recently moved into the position of Senior Support Counselor and Intensive Case Manager. Wendy’s knowledge of recovery and the program at Wellness, as well as her commitment to excellence have proven to be a valuable benefit for those interested in achieving sobriety.
Kathy Delquidice – CAC Intensive Case Management
Kathy has been a valued member of the Wellness team for over three years now. She has held various roles including Support Counselor, Admissions Coordinator, and Intensive Case Manager. Kathy attended The Academy for Addiction Professionals where she earned accreditation as a Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC). Additionally, she is currently attending Broward College where she is working towards obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Kathy is very active in the recovery community and has been featured as a guest speaker at various 12-step events, retreats, and correctional institutions. Working with clients struggling with substance abuse issues is truly her passion!
Vinny Richards, BA Relapse Prevention Therapist
Vinny is a unique clinician who went from working in Treatment Centers to being a successful independent contractor bringing motivational enhancement lectures and relapse prevention programs to half-way houses and rehabs.
He received a BA in Psychology from Queens College. He then went on to further study alcoholism and addictions at the New School. He has been working in the field twenty years and recently celebrated twenty-four years of sobriety. A graduate of Wellness, Martin U. recently filmed a documentary on Vinny and it won an award as the best documentary in his school.
Jennifer Camposano-Wallace, LMHC – Anxiety, Anger Management, and Boundaries Group Therapist
Jennifer received her BA in psychology from Florida State University and her Masters from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. She conducted research in cognitive psychology and has a broad spectrum of specialized training with addictive and psychiatric care. After serving from 2001 as Primary Therapist, Clinical Director and then Executive Director of Wellness Resource Center, Jennifer now divides her time between working with clients at Wellness and motherhood.
Joan Marineau – LMHC, CAP Experiential Therapist
Joan Marineau is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Counselor and a Certified Imago Coach (Relationship coach). She started her career in 1980 at Comprehensive Alcohol Rehabilitation Program (CARP) and was given the Distinguished Professional in the Addiction field award from CARP in 2003. Joan has authored an article in the Counselor Magazine on New Outfits, a piece on changing old behaviors for new ones. At Wellness, Joan facilitates a small ‘internal experiential’ group for those clients who have the ego-strength and motivation to explore parts of themselves that have become the saboteur. ‘My goal is to help clients find a different way of honoring themselves through the use of psychodrama, role play, self-disclosure and creativity. They put themselves in 3-D.’ Joan is most known for her creativity, imagination and passion for her work.