We know that mental health and substance use disorders are diseases which affects the entire family. As the Family Liaison for Turnbridge families, Lauren offers support, caring guidance and education to parents and families as they negotiate the pathway to their own recovery. She believes that parents having their own recovery program is not only essential to their own health and well-being, but in turn aids in their sons’ or daughters’ recovery.
Much of the insight Lauren brings to the position of Family Liaison is from her personal experience as the mother of a son who has the disease of addiction. Lauren believes that much of her strength comes from involvement in recovery programs as well as in helping other parents build a program of recovery to find peace and serenity in their own lives. Lauren is a Licensed Master of Social Work. She earned her Masters Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in adolescent health care. She has worked with adolescents and their families throughout her career in hospital setting, child protection, judicial system, special education and social service development in NJ. Lauren currently facilitates a Caron Foundation support group for parents of addicted children in Northern NJ.
Matt Krause is an Academic Advisor and is a certified English teacher for grades 7-12. He has experience teaching in the Hamden, New Haven, and Bridgeport school systems, and is passionate about supporting students from all backgrounds, especially those who struggle with reading and writing. He has a Bachelor’s in English from the University of South Florida and a Master’s in Secondary Education from Quinnipiac University. He has extensive experience creating and implementing curricula for ELA courses that align with the Common Core standards, including: English, Creative Writing, Poetry, Memoir Writing, and Screenwriting. He is proficient in reading intervention strategies and differentiation to accommodate all learning styles.
Matt believes it is crucial to lift every voice and create inclusive spaces. He has worked closely with LGBTQIA+ students, students of color, students struggling with their mental health/addiction, and special education students. He encourages all young people to be life-long learners and to step outside of their comfort zone.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys reading, seeing live music, hiking, and traveling.
Marissa received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. She has been a member of the Turnbridge family for the past 4 years, and previously worked as a Support Staff Manager in the Adolescent Residential program where she was able to learn the in’s and out’s of client experiences. Her background in psychology, along with experience providing operational support, aids in her understanding of our clients and accommodating specific academic needs.
Marissa was born and raised in Branford, CT and is excited to continue serving her community. In her free time, Marissa enjoys musical theater, opera, playing with her cat and spending time with her nephew.
Angela (Angie) Wnuk is a dually Certified Teacher licensed in Visual Arts and Secondary Education. She received a Bachelor of Arts in New Media Design from Queens University of Charlotte, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Liberty University. Angie previously worked in education for six years, primarily teaching Middle-Grades Mathematics. Her background in education, along with experience providing Social Emotional Learning instruction, aids in her understanding of our clients and accommodating specific academic needs.
Angie was born and raised in central Connecticut but relocated to North Carolina for college, where she has resided for the past 11 years. She is excited to return to New England to be closer to family, and for the opportunity to work with students in an alternative setting. In her free time, Angie enjoys hiking, kayaking, crafting, dancing, and spending time with her three dogs.
Burges Young completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Spanish at Michigan State University. He is currently working on his Master of Business Administration. Before working at Turnbridge, he worked as a High School Spanish teacher in the local New Haven School District.
Burgess Young is a Turnbridge graduate himself. During his time here, he worked closely with the Academics team. Being in Recovery, he is keen on acknowledging the hardship that comes with academic re-engagement and helping clients through those difficulties. He has a passion for helping others achieve success, not only in academics but in all facets of life.
In addition to this, he dedicates a large portion of his free time to physical health. He is an avid believer that both physical health and learning are fundamental parts of the Recovery process.
Bill has over 15 years of professional experience in the field of mental healthcare, having made significant contributions as a direct-care clinician and administrator in multiple settings and levels of care. Bill is both nationally and internationally credentialed as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and is a certified BLS & CPR trainer through the American Heart Association. Additionally, Bill’s personal experience in long-term recovery adds to his ability to combine professional expertise with a unique passion and motivation. This has afforded Bill the opportunity to help others achieve their own sustained recovery with approaches that are evidence-based, while respecting the unique needs of the individual.
In Bill’s current role as Vice President of Operations, he provides visionary leadership ensuring that the logistical systems of staffing, safety, and administrative and procedural reporting are in place and functioning effectively. Bill’s creative leadership has contributed to the growth of the organization through increased operational efficiency. Bill has an energetic style that, combined with respectful and constructive communication, has allowed him to increase the retention, ability, and capacity of his staff, which has directly led to improved outcomes for clients.
Gordon oversees the admissions department and helps families in crisis find help for their loved ones in need. As both a board certified counselor and a Turnbridge alumni, Gordon’s intimate understanding of Turnbridge’s powerful ability to help young people overcome behavioral health conditions is informed by both personal and professional experience. This perspective allows Gordon to relate deeply to these issues, and to explain at a foundational level the many aspects of Turnbridge’s Programs.
After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University, Gordon realized a newfound desire to help others overcome mental health disorders. He subsequently completed a counseling certification program and in January of 2011 joined the team of professionals at Turnbridge, where he’s excelled in a variety of direct-care roles. In July of 2013, Turnbridge asked Gordon to apply his knowledge and insight to the work of Admissions, where he has the privilege of being among the first points of touch between families seeking help, and Turnbridge’s ability to give hope. Today, Gordon leads a team of compassionate and knowledgeable admissions coordinators who on the front lines supporting families through the process of evaluating appropriate treatment solutions for their loved one.
In his free time, Gordon enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children and patronizing New Haven’s many exceptional restaurants.
Beth is a certified interventionist with over 16 years of experience working in behavioral healthcare. She has dedicated her professional life to helping those who have been affected by mental health and substance use disorders. She is an energetic and passionate advocate for change who believes in the profound importance of early intervention.
As a person in long-term recovery, Beth relies heavily on her personal story to impart hope and inspire action in family members seeking support. Being on the front lines helping loved ones navigate the chaos of mental illness and addiction has been the most rewarding and challenging work of her life thus far. It has also cemented the gratitude she feels for the loved ones who fought for her many years ago when she was too sick to fight for herself.
Many moons ago, Beth attended Indiana University on a track and field/cross country running scholarship. She spent eight years working as a high-end real estate professional in New York City, where she collaborated with top marketing firms, architects and real-estate agencies.
Beth is an avid runner, a passionate dog-rescuer, and a loving wife and mother.
As Executive Director of Residential Services, Tom is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the residential curriculum in both the Men’s and Adolescent Extended Care programs of Turnbridge.
Tom earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bentley College, and completed his Masters in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in 2012. Tom held a private practice in Colorado, in which he maintained a clinical focus on trauma and substance use disorders. Tom’s career in the field of addiction treatment began in 2008, a transition that was motivated by his own journey in recovery and his passion for helping others recover.
In his spare time, Tom enjoys playing golf, practicing yoga and meditation, and is an avid handball player.
Kelly grew up locally in small-town Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Connecticut and a master’s in mental health counseling at Hofstra University on Long Island. She has experienced a wide variety of clinical work, from acute hospitalization, extended day programming for individuals with disabilities, outpatient therapy, and Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Her passion for advocacy and destigmatizing mental health care has led her to pursue work beyond the therapy room, participating on a clinician panel and content committee at the 2024 Yale National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder conference. She believes that much of the work to improve mental health outcomes also occurs at the community level. She joined the Turnbridge team with this in mind after witnessing the collaborative, expansive efforts each member of the staff takes to prioritize client success.
In her personal life, Kelly can rarely be found staying idle. She spends most of her time listening to music and attending concerts, and her creative interests extend to painting, performing poetry at open mics, sewing and designing clothing, and reading. Her adventurous nature and independent spirit have pushed her to travel and connect with people wherever she goes. Her philosophy in life is that there are always new things to experience and stories to hear, and the world is a vibrant landscape from which one can continuously learn. Kelly loves bringing this approach into sessions with her as she gets to know client stories, helping them find similar enthusiasm for the world beyond their diagnosis.
