Amanda Jurgens is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her Master’s degree in marital and family therapy and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. Amanda has a passion for family work which is evident in the way she cares for her clients. She is dedicated to helping families heal, and providing guidance through difficult therapeutic moments.
Amanda practices from the perspective of the following modalities: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Strategic Family Therapy, Collaborative Language Systems Therapy, and Bowenian Family Therapy. These models all assist Amanda in attuning to each individual in the family while helping them shift perceptions and behaviors in the here and now.
In her free time, she loves engaging in athletics, and traveling to new places as a way to practice her own grounding techniques and self-care in order to more effectively show up for her clients.
Rachel Brennan is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University where she majored in Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Addiction Studies. Here, she learned about the neurobiological processes of addiction and the impact substance use can have on individuals and their families. Rachel received her Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut with a concentration in Individuals, Groups, and Family Practice with a strong focus on child and adolescent trauma.
Prior to working at Turnbridge, Rachel facilitated groups at Yale New Haven Hospital’s Intensive Outpatient Program. Here, she worked with individuals in the Young Adult General Mental Health Track as they navigated recent hospitalizations, mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders, and relational concerns. Prior to this experience, Rachel completed an eight-week-long intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy seminar through Yale University’s School of Medicine. She implemented these learnings into her group practice by focusing on skills associated with the four DBT modules (mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness). Rachel’s individual practice has been largely influenced by the core concepts of motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy as she is certified in Trauma-Focused CBT. Rachel has a specific passion for working with individuals and families impacted by the loss of a loved one to suicide.
Rachel is a lifelong New Haven resident who enjoys traveling, exercising, reading, and spending time with her family.
Hallie Brady is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with nearly a decade of experience in the mental health field. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston University and then continued her training in counseling though internships at a local community college and non-profits in Texas. Hallie is certified in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She is trained in other evidence-based treatments, including Dialectical- Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PC-CARE, and Problematic Sexualized Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT).
Hallie’s background is in working with children, teens, and adults who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. She specializes in PTSD and has served as both fact and expert witness in criminal child abuse court in Dallas, TX. Hallie’s experiences have shaped not only her ability in provided trauma informed care but also her strong belief in the importance of taking a trauma-informed approach to therapy when working with individuals with both mental health and substance abuse concerns.
David’s extensive business background combined with his personal story of recovery led to the founding of Turnbridge in 2003. Under his direction, Turnbridge has evolved into a nationally provider of residential behavioral healthcare services for both young adults and adolescents. He has pioneered innovative approaches and developed programs specifically for these age groups that have changed the way the industry approaches treatment.
His educational background includes a Liberal Arts education from Harvard University. In addition to spending most of his career in the non-profit world, his professional experience also includes a variety of leadership roles with start-up organizations and educational institutions.
He enjoys spending time with his sixteen year old daughter Alexis, is an aspiring musician, and an avid golfer.
As President, Brett provides oversight and support to all departments within Turnbridge. He joined Turnbridge in February 2010 and is responsible for maintaining focused and driven clinical operations, project management and execution, increasing programmatic efficiencies, and ensuring quality outcomes and customer satisfaction are acheived.
As a longtime alumni of the Turnbridge Young Men’s Program, Brett offers a unique perspective on client-centered treatment. He frequently speaks with families and clients to share his experiences and knowledge of the Turnbridge Program. Before joining Turnbridge, Brett worked for Blum Shapiro, the largest regional accounting, tax and business consulting firm in New England. He graduated from Champlain College with a B.S. in Professional Writing. In his free time, Brett enjoys spending time with his family, maintaining an active lifestyle, the arts, and the pursuit of personal growth.
As Executive Vice President, Jamie oversees daily operations and spearheads the effort to build bridges between Turnbridge and other high quality treatment programs across the country. Maintaining close ties with other centers gives Turnbridge two distinct advantages. First, knowing the people, philosophies, and practices of other centers makes the process of integrating new residents from these centers smoother and easier. Second, by understanding the specialties of other centers, it allows Turnbridge to recommend the best care option when Turnbridge may not be their best solution. Jamie has helped hundreds of families navigate the difficult road of choosing a treatment program that best suits their loved one’s needs.
Himself a Turnbridge graduate, Jamie offers a compassionate ear and first-hand knowledge of the Turnbridge program and its unique benefits. Before joining Turnbridge, Jamie attended college for nursing, and has extensive experience caring for people in need including his work with veterans for the American Red Cross. Jamie continues to live his passion for helping others as a Turnbridge Leader.
