Kara has been a nurse for over 10 years. She completed her undergraduate work at Bryn Mawr College in classical cultures. Kara went on to complete her nursing degree and graduate work at Yale School of Nursing where she specialized in pediatric primary care. Kara comes to us with a wealth of experience in residential living and is passionate about adolescent care services and care coordination. Kara strives to integrate mental and physical health models into treatment programming and values building relationships with her clients.
Achievements
Education and Training
- Yale School of Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, August 2008
- Bryn Mawr College, B.A. in Classical Cultures and Society, August 2003 – May 2007
- Connecticut State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, 2010
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Board Certified, 2010
- Connecticut State Registered Nurse, 2009
- Infant, Child and Adult CPR /AED certified, American Red Cross, 2018
- DCF Certified Medication Administration Instructor, 2018
Honors and Recognition
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society member, Delta Mu Chapter, Bryn Mawr College, May 2010
Tammy Platt is a certified teacher in Special Education, Physical Education, and Health. Tammy has Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island and completed graduate work at Southern Connecticut State University. Tammy has been in education for over fifteen years and has extensive experience in general and special education. Tammy has a broad range of experience outside academics including coaching youth and high school sports and founding the first Unified Sports Program in region 14.
Tammy oversees the academic and fitness programs at Turnbridge’s Adolescent Boys Residential Treatment Center. Tammy is a consistent, reliable, and compassionate professional who strives for excellence in everything she does. Tammy takes an active role in client’s academic lives and provides assistance and individualized attention to promote each student’s success. Tammy is a fierce advocate for her clients and has fostered a safe learning environment which allows clients to develop meaningful educational goals that are consistent with their personal interests, values, and abilities.
Tammy’s passion for fitness and unwavering commitment to helping youth build a healthy relationship with their mind and body led to the development of our fitness program. The fitness program provides clients with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to empower them to independently navigate any fitness center safely and effectively. Through fitness, clients build the self-confidence and self-efficacy needed to tackle life’s stressors while having fun and building a sense of camaraderie and community with their peers. Clients leave feeling mentally and physically stronger and confident in their ability to tackle the obstacles that lie ahead.
Outside of work, Tammy lives an active lifestyle. She loves spending time with family, sports, and long summer days.
Hiliary Bassett is a Connecticut Certified Teacher that specializes in therapeutic education. She received both a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and a Master of Arts in Education from Fairfield University. Hiliary specialized in secondary education and working with marginalized communities to overcome barriers to schooling.
Prior to coming to Turnbridge, Hiliary worked with students and families in special education and trauma-informed classroom settings, both private and public. Her background in therapeutic education aids in her understanding of our clients and accommodating specific needs that may stand in the way of educational success. She has ample experience creating Social Emotional Learning curriculum and incorporating therapeutic skills into the classroom environment. Hiliary believes in a holistic approach to education and in meeting a client where they are, celebrating successes and supporting setbacks. She creates personalized academic plans for clients while at Turnbridge and works with schools and families to ensure a smooth transition and appropriate services in their continued education.
Hiliary is a Connecticut native with a goal of hiking the highest peak of every state. She is an equine enthusiast and shares her love of horses with many clients on the Killingworth campus.
As program director, John oversees Phase I of the Turnbridge Young Men’s Program, the most structured phase of programming. John is a Professional Recovery Coach and has been with Turnbridge since 2011. Having begun his own recovery journey when he was 18, and being a father of 3 adult boys, John is skilled at building rapport with clients and families, offering emotional support, conveying empathy, and respecting dignity during the critical first weeks in treatment.
John collaborates with the case managers, the operational team, the clinical team, and the wellness and recreation coordinators to help ensure a positive treatment experience for both clients and their families. John uses his training to foster positivity and build clients up to become more invested in their own individual growth. Understanding firsthand the challenges of mental health, John is deeply grateful to support the young men of Turnbridge as they navigate the early part of their wellness journey.
Peter McConnell has been working in the behavioral healthcare field for more than 12 years and the education field for more than 22 years. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Political Science with a concentration in international relations from Southern Connecticut State University where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta honors society. In addition to his work at Turnbridge, Peter teaches college courses in economics and banking at a local community college.
Peter’s career began in the banking industry while pursuing his undergraduate studies. After working his way up to management at a local bank, Peter’s flair for education became apparent, thus, he transitioned from the field of finance to education. His first teaching position was at a local New Haven school where Peter taught social studies and geography and was elected Rookie Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Year.
Peter began his career in behavioral health over a decade ago when he joined Turnbridge as a case manager. He is currently a program director in the young men’s program where he has been twice elected by his fellow colleagues as Boss of the Year. Peter’s life objective is to help those who are struggling in life to understand WHY they are struggling, whether it be vocationally, academically, mentally, and/or behaviorally, and to comprehend how a program of action can improve their condition on multiple levels.
In his free time, Peter has years of experience as a lifeguard, group hike leader, sponsor, mentor, and community leader. He finds that spending time outdoors is a vital healing experience for himself and his clients.
For over a decade, Peter and Turnbridge have been supporting clients in ever-improving ways as the treatment world has evolved.
David Murphy joined the Turnbridge Young Men’s Program in 2010 and has been an integral part of the development of its Phase III programming. As Phase 3 Program Director, David is responsible for supervising the Phase III Case Management team and coordinating client care with Turnbridge’s Clinical and Academic team leaders. David supports the young men of Turnbridge as they embark on the final leg of their journey at Turnbridge, applying newly learned life skills and coping skills in the context of real-world commitments and responsibilities. David is passionate and leads with the heart. As a person in long-term recovery, David’s desire to help young men overcome mental health and substance use challenges is motivated by personal experiences.
Prior to joining Turnbridge, David was a Residential Manager at Marrakech, a provider of housing and behavioral services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
In his free team, David enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He has discerning tastes in food, music, and clothing, and is an advocate for animal rescue.
Ashley Marie Guerrera graduated in May 2016 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Art Therapy from Albertus Magnus College. In May 2019 she graduated with her duel Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Albertus Magnus College. Ashley is a person-centered therapist who has worked with a wide range of populations such as families, young children, teens, adults, and geriatrics. She specializes and incorporates Mindfulness-Based Practices, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Art Therapy, Systematic Desensitization Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and traditional talk therapy into her practices. Ashley has participated in specialized trainings in meal coaching, MARI (Mandala Assessment Research Instrument), Art Therapy Assessments, Shamanism, and SoulCollage. She has an extensive background in working with the LGTBQ+ community, trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse, behavioral issues and cancer. Her mission for her clients is to improve their quality of life and foster confidence in their abilities.
Lindsay Matera is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Roger Williams University. Lindsay has extensive experience working with adolescents, adults, and families struggling with mental health and substance use in a variety of settings, including a therapeutic group home, intensive and partial hospital programs, and outpatient programs. Lindsay has specialized experience in the areas of trauma, crisis management, generalized anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, and attachment. She incorporates multiple treatment approaches to best meet each individual’s needs, including applying skills from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, and DBT. Lindsay strives to provide a safe and non-judgmental environment using empathy and a person-centered approach to help individuals meet their personal needs and goals.
Alyssa Battipaglia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her Master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University. Alyssa has a breadth of experience working with adolescents and young adults with multiple presenting problems from behavioral issues, school refusal, anxiety, and depression to eating disorders, trauma, addictions, self harm, and low self esteem. She fundamentally believes that all people are capable and resilient.
Alyssa helps clients examine the story their brains have written about themselves and supports them in co-authoring a different, kinder, more authentic story to represent who they really are. Alyssa considers herself a “healer” rather than a “fixer.” She supports her clients in moving toward what hurts and accepting it with courage, so that they may let it go.
Danielle is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communications Studies from Baldwin Wallace University, and then continued on to earn her Master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver.
Danielle’s clinical experience comes from working at several of the leading eating disorder hospitals in the country in both Colorado and Connecticut, in the partial hospitalization and residential levels of care. Danielle is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and is passionate about empowering her clients to reconnect to their own unique potentialities to live value-driven lives. Danielle believes in creating a safe and encouraging therapeutic environment in which she can both challenge and support her clients while at their most vulnerable.
Danielle has a diverse array of interests and enjoys baking, reading, camping, cycling, hiking with her two dogs, and spending time with her family.
