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THE PREEMINENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Dr. Hassan Minhas, MD

Medical Director

Hassan M. Minhas MD is a board-certified psychiatrist with training in Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry.

In addition to serving as the Medical Director of Turnbridge, Dr. Minhas is also the Chief of Autism Services at the Hospital for Special Care, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Law and Psychiatry.

He graduated medical school from Rawalpindi Medical College in Pakistan, then completed his internship, residency, and pediatric psychiatry fellowship at Brown University. Following his clinical training, he completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry at Yale University.

Dr. Minhas has been the recipient of many awards and fellowships. Some of these include the APA Leadership Fellowship, the Brain Conference Travel Award, the Martin B. Keller Award, and the Haffenreffer Family Resident Award. Most recently, he was recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as one of their 40 under Forty honorees.

Achievements

Education and Training

  • M.B.,B.S., Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
  • Yale University, New Haven, CT
  • Harvard-Macy Program for Post-Graduate Trainees

Honors and Recognition

  • 2011 – 2013 Brown Psychiatry Residency Research Track Awardee
  • 2011 Second Prize Psychiatry Residency Research Poster, Fourteenth Annual Research Symposium on Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  • 2011 Runner-up to the Weinshilboum Prize (invited to attend the 10th Annual Psychiatric Genomics Course), Department of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • 2012 Second Prize Psychiatry Residency Research Poster, Fifteenth Annual Research Symposium on Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  • 2012 Travel Fellowship awardee, 17th Annual Research Colloquium for Junior Investigators, American Psychiatric Association
  • 2012 – 2014 American Psychiatric Leadership Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
  • 2013 Brain Conference Scholar Travel Award, American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training
  • 2013 International Medical Graduate Fellow, American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training
  • 2013 Society of Biological Psychiatry, 68th Annual Convention, Mentor-Mentee Program Participant
  • 2013 Martin B. Keller Award for the Outstanding Resident in the General Psychiatry Residency Graduating Class, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  • 2015 Haffenrefer Family House Staff Excellence Award; awarded to 5 graduating house staff across specialties for demonstrating excellence in clinical service, professionalism, leadership and scholarly activities, Rhode Island Hospital

State and National Organization Committees

  • American Psychiatric Association
  • Rhode Island Council for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Hospital and Training Program Committees

  • Brown University
  • Bradley Hospital
  • Butler Hospital

Publications

  1. Minhas HM, Pescosolido MF, Schwede M, Piasecka J, Gaitanis J, Tantravahi U, Morrow EM. An unbalanced translocation involving loss of 10q26.2 and gain of 11q25 in a pedigree with autism spectrum disorder and cerebellar juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. April 2013;161(4):787–791
  2. Minhas HM, Vahabzadeh A. Autism Spectrum Disorder in DSM-5. The Residents’ Journal, American Journal of Psychiatry, May 2013;8(5):4-6
  3. Banerjee R, Liu JJ, Minhas HM. Lyme Neuroborreliosis Presenting with Alexithymia and Suicide Attempts. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. October 2013;74(10):981
  4. Minhas HM, Lowenhaupt EA. Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor, 2015 edition.
  5. Minhas HM, Philip N. Antipsychotics. The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology, First Edition, 2015.
  6. Minhas HM, Lowenhaupt EA, Xavier, SL. Conduct Disorder. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor, 2016 edition.
  7. Minhas HM, Elliot MB, Price LH. Altered mental status due to hand sanitizer ingestion. British Journal of Psychiatry, December 5 2011. bjp.rcpsych.org/letters/
  8. Aoun EG, Minhas HM, Hunt JI. Synthetic Marijuana: a serious emerging substance use problem in adolescents. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter (CABL). January 2014; 30(1)

Christopher Cutter, PhD

Chief of Adolescent Psychology

Assistant Professor, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine

Dr. Cutter is one of the world’s foremost behavioral healthcare researchers and clinicians in the fields of psychotherapy development, behavioral medicine, and addiction medicine in urban and rural environments. He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University, his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Southern California, and his BA in Psychology from California State University. He has held teaching and/or research positions at Yale University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and University of Hartford.  Dr. Cutter is currently a tenure-tracked faculty member at Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center.

Previously, Dr. Cutter was a clinical program developer within some of Harvard’s teaching hospitals, and directed the Pain Treatment Services Units for Yale’s Department of Psychiatry and Silver Hill Hospital. A former assistant dean of Yale College and a Beck Institute Scholar, Dr. Cutter has received numerous professional honors over the course of his career and his work has been widely cited in peer-reviewed manuscripts and continues to direct a highly active and prolific behavioral science clinical research laboratory out of Yale’s Child Study Center.

Dr. Cutter hopes to one day leverage the exceptional outcomes produced at Turnbridge to lobby congress to support legislation that will increase access to long-term dual diagnosis treatment for all populations.

Turnbridge is a leader in adolescent care where young people become better and caregivers become their best. Compassion for each young person and family we are privileged to help is at the center of everything we do.

Achievements

Education and Training

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University School of Medicine (School of Arts and Sciences), 2009
  • Predoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, 2007
  • Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Northeastern University, 2007
  • M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Southern California, 2002
  • B.A. Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, 1998

Honors and Recognition

  • 2017 Eastern Pain Association, Outstanding poster presentation
  • 2013 Beck Institute Scholar at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  • 2011 National Institute on Drug Abuse Travel Award co-sponsored with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and American Psychological Association Division 28 (Psychopharmacology and Drug Abuse) and 50 (Addictions)
  • 2010 National Institute on Drug Abuse Psychotherapy Development Center Pilot Project Grant
  • 2010  National Institute on Drug Abuse Junior Investigator Travel Award
  • 2010 Psi Chi National Psychology Honors Society Summer Internship Teaching Grant
  • 2009-14 National Institute of Health Clinical Loan Repayment Program by National Institute on Drug Abuse

Awards and Grants

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse
    • 1 R01 DA019511-03: “Counseling for primary care office-based buprenorphine”
    • 1 RO1 DA020576-01A1: “Buprenorphine maintenance vs. detoxification in prescription opioid dependence”
    • 1 R01 DA019511-03: “Pain and Opioid Dependence”
    • 2 P50DA009241: “Psychotherapy Development Center Pilot Program”
    • 5 R01 AA01892303: “Reducing Heavy Drinking to Optimize HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention”
    • 1 R01 DA034678: “Automated Recovery Line for Medication Assisted Treatment”

Select Publications

  1. Moore, B.A., Barry, D.T., Cutter, C.J., Sullivan, L.E., O’Connor, P.G., Schottenfeld, R.S., & Fiellin, D.A.  (2012).  Counseling and directly observed medication for primary care buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance: A pilot study.  Journal of Addiction Medicine. 6(3):205-211.
  2. Beitel, M., Savant, J. D., Cutter, C. J., Peters, S., Belisle, N., & Barry, D.T. (2012). Psychopathology and pain correlates of dispositional optimism in methadone-maintained patients. The American Journal on Addictions, 21, S56-62.
  3. Moore, B.A., Fazzino, T., Garnet, B., Cutter, C.J., Barry, D.T. (2011).  Computer-based treatments for drug abuse and dependence: A Systematic Review.  Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 40: 215-223
  4. Garnet, B., Beitel, M., Cutter, C.J., Savant, J.D., Peters, S., Schottenfeld, R.S., Barry, D.T.  (2011)  Pain catastrophizing and pain coping among methadone maintained patients. Pain Medicine; 12: 79-86.
  5. Barry, D.T., Beitel, M., Cutter, C.J., Garnet, B., Joshi, D., Rosenblum, A., Schottenfeld, R.S. (2011). Exploring relations among traumatic, posttraumatic, and physical pain experiences in methadone-maintained patients. Journal of Pain,12: 22-28.
  6. Barry, D.T., Beitel, M., Breuer, T., Cutter, C.J., Savant, J.D., Peters, S., Schottenfeld, R.S., Rounsaville, B.J.  (2011). Group-Based Strategies for Stress Reduction in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: What Do Patients Want? Journal of Addiction Medicine, 5: 181-187.
  7. Barry, D.T., Beitel, M., Breuer, T., Cutter, C.J., Savant, J.D., Schottenfeld, R.S., Rounsaville, B.J. (2011). Conventional and unconventional treatments for stress among methadone-maintained patients:  Treatment willingness and perceived efficacy.  American Journal of Addiction, 20: 137-142.
  8. Barry, D.T., Beitel, M., Cutter, C.J., Joshi, D., Falcioni, J., Schottenfeld, R.S. (2010).  Conventional and non-conventional pain treatment utilization among opioid dependent individuals with pain seeking methadone maintenance treatment: A needs assessment study. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 4: 81-87.
  9. Barry, D.T., Beitel, M., Cutter, C.J., Garnet, B., Joshi, D., Schottenfeld, R.S., Rounsaville, B.J. (2009).  Allopathic, complementary, and alternative medical treatment utilization for pain among methadone-maintained patients: An exploratory study.  The American Journal on Addictions, 18: 379-385.
  10. Weinberg, I., Gunderson, J.G., Hennen, J., Cutter, C.J. (2006). Manual-Assisted Cognitive Treatment for the Deliberate Self-Harm for Borderline Personality Disorder Patients.  Journal of Personality Disorders, 20: 482-492.

Mark Beitel, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Associate Research Scientist, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine

Dr. Mark Beitel is a practicing clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor. Dr. Beitel holds degrees in psychology from the University of Michigan, Fordham University, and the New School for Social Research. Beitel completed post-doctoral work at the Yale University School of Medicine. 

Beitel serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, trains students and conducts clinical research. Beitel is a prolific author who has contributed more than 40 research papers and peer-reviewed articles on psychotherapy, substance use, chronic pain, and connections between culture and psychology. 

Dr. Beitel brings a passion for helping people understand and manage their mental health conditions and in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of effective, evidence-based therapy to Turnbridge clients and families. 

Achievements

Education and Training

  • Ph.D. Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 2003
  • MA New School for Social Research, The Graduate Faculty, 1996
  • BA University of Michigan, Psychology Honors Program, 1994

Professional Affiliations

  • American Psychoanalytic Association, Research Associate (2004-08)
  • American Psychological Association, Member (2003-08)
  • Connecticut Psychological Association, Member (2004-present)
  • Mind, Brain, Consciousness & Culture Faculty Group, Yale University, Member (2003-07)
  • Society for Psychotherapy Research, Member (2003-present)
  • The Diversity Initiative, Fordham University, Founding Member (2000-03)
  • University of Michigan Alumni Association (2004-present)
  • Yale Group for the Study of Native American (2013-present)

Select Publications

  1. Oberleitner, D.E., Marcus, R., Beitel. M., Muthulingam, D., Oberleitner, L., Madden, L. M., Eller, A., Barry, D. T. (in press). “Day-to-day, it’s a roller coaster. It’s frustrating. It’s rewarding. It’s maddening and it’s enjoyable:” A qualitative investigation of the lived experiences of addiction counselors. Psychological Services.
  2. Mun, C. J., Beitel, M., Oberleitner, L., Oberleitner, D.E., Madden, L. M., Bollampally, P., & Barry, D. T. (2019). Pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance predict pain severity and interference among methadone-maintained patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75, 2233-2247.
  3. Barry, D. T., Beitel, M., Cutter, C. J., Fiellin, D. A., Kerns, R. D., Moore, B. A., Oberleitner, L., Madden, L. M., Liong, C., Ginn, J., & Schottenfeld, R. S. (2019). An evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for opioid use disorder and chronic pain. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 194, 460-467.
  4. Beitel, M., Wald, L., Hutz, A., Green, D., Cecero, J.J., Kishon, R., & Barry, D. T. (2015). Humanistic experience and psychodynamic understanding: Empirical associations among facets of self-actualization and psychological mindedness. Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, 14, 137-148.
  5. Beitel, M., Bogus, S., Hutz, A., Green, D., Cecero, J.J., & Barry, D. T. (2014). Stillness and motion: An empirical investigation of mindfulness and self-actualization. Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, 13, 187-202.
  6. Barry, D. T., Savant, J. D., Beitel, M., Cutter, C. J., Moore, B. A., Schottenfeld, R. S., & Fiellin, D. A. (2013). Pain and associated substance use among opioid dependent individuals seeking office-based treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone: A needs assessment study. American Journal on Addictions, 22, 212-217.
  7. Beitel, M., Hutz, A. E., Hopper, K. M., Gunn, C., Cecero, J. J., & Barry, D. T. (2009). Do psychologically-minded clients expect more from counseling? Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 82, 369-383.
  8. Barry, D. T., Bernard, M. J., Beitel, M. (2009). East Asian child rearing attitudes: An exploration of cultural, demographic, and self-disclosure factors among U.S. immigrants. International Journal of Psychology, 44, 342-350.
  9. Cecero, J. J., Beitel, M., & Prout, T. (2008). Examining the relationships among early maladaptive schemas, psychological mindedness, and adjustment to college. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 81, 105-118.
  10. Hutz, A. E., Martin, W., & Beitel, M. (2007). Ethnocultural person-environment fit and college adjustment in light of relevant demographics: Some implications for college counselors. Journal of College Counseling, 10, 130-141.
  11. Beitel, M. (1997). Nuances before dinner: Exploring the relationship between peer counselors and delinquent adolescents. Adolescence, 32, 579-591.

MAX GREGER-MOSER, MSN PMHNP

Associate Medical Director

Max Greger-Moser is a board-certified lifespan psychiatric nurse practitioner who received his Master’s degree from Yale School of Nursing.

Max’s first experience providing psychiatric care was with the in-home family counseling intervention service, IICAPS an evidence-based family model developed at the Yale Child Study Center. Since IICAPs, Max has worked as a psychiatric provider throughout the Yale New Haven health delivery network in the emergency department and inpatient psychiatric units. Max also has experience caring for individuals in community clinics managing psychiatric medications and therapeutic interventions.

In addition to his clinical work, Max is a lecturer at the Yale School of Nursing where he educates the future generation of nurse practitioners. He also serves as a preceptor for psychiatric nurse practitioner candidates from Yale and Johns Hopkins in their 2nd year clinical rotations, preparing them to practice as licensed practitioners after graduation.

Using the biopsychosocial approach to healthcare, Max strives to integrate a holistic approach to the medical management of mental illnesses. Viewing medications as a tool to work towards wellness, Max works collaboratively with a patient so he or she can reach their fullest potential.

Jessica Filipkowski, RD, CDN

Registered Dieition

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, and is specialized and credentialed as a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CEDRD). Jessica has a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from Michigan State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of New Haven. She additionally completed a clinically focused dietetic internship at Yale New Haven Hospital. In this program, she provided medical nutrition therapy to patients with a range of diseases and diagnoses. Jessica has extensive experience working in supporting individuals with eating disorders or disordered eating patterns in a variety of levels of care from residential to outpatient treatment settings. Jessica is passionate about helping others develop a healthy relationship with both food and their body, utilizing a non-diet approach including All Foods Fit, Intuitive Eating, and Health at Every Size philosophies.

Lisa Cormier, LMSW

Primary Therapist

Lisa Cormier is a Licensed Social Worker and a lifelong resident of Connecticut. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University with a focus on trauma informed care. She received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. During this time, she participated in research opportunities focused on adolescent behavior, substance use, and suicidality.

Lisa specializes in working with adolescents and young adults experiencing behavioral, mental health, and substance use challenges. As a social worker, she has served these populations in school-based settings, outpatient clinics and hospital settings. She also has experience working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and promotes inclusivity in mental health and substance use treatment.  

Using a strengths-based approach, Lisa provides individual, family, and group therapy. She takes pride in running inclusive group therapy that incorporates DBT, CBT, positive psychology, art therapy, and life skills. She has presented her experience and technique at national and international social work conferences.

For Lisa, dance, art, and music have always been a passion and means of self-care. She also enjoys baking and crafting. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is affiliated with several professional organizations such as the Phi Alpha Honor Society, Beta Pho Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and the National Society of leadership and success.

Jordan Weiss, LPCA

Primary Therapist

Jordan Weiss is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. Jordan obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Bridgeport as well as a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. She holds experience working with adolescents and young adults who are struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.  Jordan deploys a wide variety of eclectic approaches but specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog and cat, candle making, and traveling.

Jack Britton, LPC

Vice President of Clinical Services

Jack grew up in Dallas, Texas, where he earned B.B.A. and master’s degrees in accounting from S.M.U. and started work with a Big Four firm, auditing hedge funds and energy companies. Getting sober in 2007 led Jack to consider other professions that he might enjoy more, and in 2010 he moved to rural Minnesota where he completed a master’s in counseling from Hazelden. Not a fan of blizzards, in 2011 Jack left for Lubbock, Texas, where he worked as a counselor at a residential treatment program for young adults and developed a passion for helping families. In 2015 he briefly lived in Austin to help a college friend open a counseling office. Over time, Jack saw first-hand how quality of life improves the most when a person engages in long-term treatment, a truth supported by decades of research, and so in 2016 he moved to Connecticut to work in Turnbridge’s young adult program.

Since then, Jack has held roles in all our service offerings. He started as a primary clinician and later a family therapist. In 2017 Jack helped open and was director of Turnbridge’s community outpatient services, which started in New Haven in the evenings and have since shifted to our Westport clinic. In 2020 Jack co-developed and -launched Turnbridge’s first adolescent residential treatment center in Woodbury, serving as clinical director. In 2021 he shifted to non-client care to work on a variety of projects ranging from program analysis and enhancement to hiring and training.

As Vice President of Clinical Services, Jack ensures the ethos of Turnbridge’s mission is carried to and thrives within all our programs. He also recruits and hires superb clinical talent from around the country. Additionally, Jack builds and develops relationships with Turnbridge partners through tours, conferences, and speaking engagements. Jack loves spending his time with his wife and their daughter, golf, and travel.

LAUREN SPRINGER, LMSW

Director of Family Relations

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.

Abigail Horowitz, MSW

Senior Academic Advisor

Abigail Horowitz completed her Master in Social Work degree at Springfield College in 2022. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree(s) in Psychology, Spanish, and Youth Services from University of Saint Joseph. A certified school social worker in Connecticut, she has also participated in ADHD and academic coach training. 

Prior to Turnbridge, she was a Residential Supervisor at a sub-acute psychiatric facility for children ages 6 to 13 and a Supervisor at an Extended Day Treatment Program. She has spent time abroad, volunteering with the elderly and youth in Central and South America and a semester studying abroad in Ecuador. Additionally, she was paramount in facilitating youth programs at a local YMCA and a key player in coordinating the YMCA College Tour in the mid-west and south for students for a number of years. She is passionate about mental health and education, which led her to her current position as the Senior Academic Advisor here at Turnbridge.