Behavioral Health Professionals to Know 2025

I am a seasoned mental health and addiction specialist, dedicated to the field of treatment and recovery since 2015. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from South University in Royal Palm Beach, FL, and I am credentialed as both a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Over the years, I've gained hands-on experience in various areas, including psychiatric acute stabilization, psychiatric partial hospitalization, and both in-patient and out-patient substance use treatment. My journey has taken me through clinical counseling, program development, and organizational leadership. Before joining New Waters, I served as the Clinical Director at Gupta Psychiatry and Wellness in Raleigh, NC, where I helped shape a respected substance abuse partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of quality clinical programming and its impact on long-term sobriety. With a compassionate approach, I am committed to helping individuals and families overcome substance use disorders, guiding them toward a life free from addiction.

I’m a seasoned professional in the healthcare industry, deeply committed to making a difference in mental and behavioral health. My journey is personal, shaped by the impact that mental health has had on the lives of my family and friends. Over the past decade, I’ve dedicated myself to advancing the quality and accessibility of care, and my time at Penn Medicine inspired me to develop Alpas, a company focused on creating better environments for healing across various healthcare fields. Graduating summa cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University in Healthcare Administration, I’ve always been driven to go beyond individual care and address broader public health needs. My mission is simple yet powerful: to transform healthcare for the better, one initiative at a time.

Garrett Diamantides is a dedicated substance abuse and mental health business owner with over a decade of experience in the industry. Growing up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, he has been passionate about supporting others on their recovery journeys since achieving his own in 2006. Garrett combines personal experience with professional expertise to create impactful programs that foster healing and resilience in the community. Committed to advocacy and education, he strives to break the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders.

I'm a dedicated psychotherapist and founder of Uncover Mental Health Counseling. With a deep understanding of cultural dynamics and a commitment to helping diverse communities, I'm passionate about guiding individuals toward healthier, more fulfilling relationships. With a background in Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, and LGBT Health, I specialize in working through generational and racial trauma, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and relationship challenges. I also provide support for relationship conflicts, family dynamics, teen counseling, parenting, grief and loss, and addiction, offering a compassionate space for growth and healing.

I am a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Duke MBA graduate, and founder of shrinkMD, a national virtual mental health platform dedicated to providing accessible, high quality psychiatric care to adults. With over a decade of clinical experience, I’ve treated individuals from all walks of life ranging from high performing executives and elite athletes to students and underserved populations. My approach blends deep clinical insight with the strategic thinking of a healthcare entrepreneur, giving me a unique lens into the future of mental health care. My background in sports psychiatry includes consulting roles with professional organizations like the NFL and Jacksonville Jaguars, where I’ve supported athletes in navigating performance pressure, identity challenges, and psychological recovery from injury. These experiences have sharpened my focus on mental resilience, optimization, and the intricate connection between mind and body. I'm widely recognized for my work in urgent care psychiatry, helping patients find rapid, effective relief from acute mental health challenges without the long wait times that plague traditional systems. At shrinkMD, I lead a care model rooted in the biopsychosocial and spiritual framework, ensuring that every individual is treated as more than a diagnosis honoring their unique history, strengths, and personal bandwidth. Beyond clinical care, I’m deeply committed to addressing the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing mental health services whether that’s a lack of providers, financial constraints, stigma, or outdated delivery models. My work sits at the intersection of mental health innovation, digital health, and patient centered care, and I’m passionate about changing the narrative around what psychiatric support can look like in today’s world. I am a trusted voice on a range of topics, including telepsychiatry, burnout, workplace mental health, healthcare equity, emotional wellness, performance psychology, and the future of virtual care. I provide clear, concise, and thought provoking commentary that connects clinical science with real life relevance whether it's for national media, healthcare publications, or expert panels. If you're seeking an authoritative, articulate, and forward thinking mental health expert, I’m available to provide expert insight, commentary, and collaborative thought leadership.

I am the co-founder of Epiphany Wellness, bringing over five years of experience in the Behavioral Health industry, with a focus on Outreach and Business Development. My journey in this field is deeply personal, as I am in long-term recovery myself, a perspective that allows me to connect meaningfully with those suffering from Substance Use Disorder. I firmly believe that helping others is essential to lasting recovery and personal growth. At Epiphany Wellness, my goal is to create an environment that inspires our staff to support clients as they find their way back to a life of health and happiness. Drawing from my previous experiences, I am dedicated to shaping the future of our organization by implementing the latest clinical strategies and improvement indicators. This commitment ensures that we provide the highest standard of care, ultimately supporting the success of both our clients and Epiphany Wellness as a whole.

I began my educational and professional journey later in life, starting at the age of 45 at East Los Angeles College in the Addiction Studies Program with the goal of becoming a drug and alcohol counselor. What began as a single college course turned into a life-changing path that led to the completion of a master’s degree in psychology. Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the owners of this company, who supported me every step of the way. My career began as a driver, then progressed to technician, drug and alcohol counselor, and coordinator of the internship program for addiction counseling. I later transitioned to the mental health field, where I managed PHP/IOP programs, ran an RTC, and facilitated family therapy groups. I bring comprehensive experience across both addiction and mental health services and am deeply familiar with the roles and responsibilities of each position. My clinical approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and solution-focused practices. I am committed to meeting each client exactly where they are in their recovery journey. In addition to my clinical work, I serve as an adjunct professor at East Los Angeles College—teaching in the same program where I began my journey 15 years ago. As someone with lived experience in both active addiction and long-term recovery, I bring empathy, insight, and dedication to my work. I recently celebrated 15 years of sobriety and am deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. Outside of work, I’m an avid Dodgers fan and enjoy spending quality time with family and friends.

Dr. Ishdeep Narang is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. He is the founder of ACES Psychiatry in Orlando, FL, where he provides expert, empathetic care. Dr. Narang earned his medical degree from Government Medical College, Amritsar, India. He completed his Psychiatry Residency at Case Western Reserve University / MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio. Following residency, he pursued advanced specialization through a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Elmhurst, NY, where he also served as Chief Fellow. He is board-certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). He holds an active medical license in Florida and New York and is ECFMG certified. He is dedicated to mental health advocacy and public education, actively creating online resources and combating stigma.

Erena DiGonis, LCSW-R is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Health Coach, and Certified Clinical Anxiety and Trauma Treatment Professional. She is also certified in Brainspotting and trained in EMDR. Erena has twenty-one years of practical and professional experience as an active clinician, teacher, and supervisor. She has worked in a variety of community, psychiatric, in-home, and private practice settings with hundreds of complex cases. Erena is a sought-after writer, speaker, and consultant and has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Psychology Today, Reader’s Digest, Women's Health, and MEL magazine. She has reviewed book proposals for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and is an Advisory Board Member for the CPTSD Foundation. Erena serves as the Founder and Continuing Education Director of EngagedMinds, a national Continuing Education business providing training for Counselors, Social Workers, and Therapists.

I am the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of Paramount Wellness Retreat, where I've dedicated over 12 years to advancing behavioral health and helping individuals find their path to recovery. My journey in this field has been driven by a hands-on approach and a commitment to innovative strategies, making Paramount Wellness Retreat a beacon of hope for those struggling with mental health and substance abuse. My background in marketing, research, and team-building has been invaluable in navigating the substance abuse treatment industry, allowing me to build effective leadership teams and enhance the operational efficiency of our programs. I am deeply passionate about behavioral health and am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals seeking recovery.

As a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience, I provide individual, couple, and family treatment at Samaritan Counseling Center of the Capital Region. I also offer telehealth services and accept most insurances. My goal is to help people change and progress in their lives by examining their assumptions and understanding their origins. I am also a clinical approved supervisor at AAMFT, where I mentor and nurture the strengths and resources of marriage and family therapists and trainees. I have a PhD certificate in psychodynamic psychotherapy from the Institute for Clinical Social Work and post-graduate training in neuroscience and clinical treatment from Harvard Medical School. I am certified in grief counseling, social work health care, gerontology, advanced bereavement, PASRR, disaster mental health critical responder, and QCSW. I am committed to refining my clinical and supervisory skills and staying involved in the professional mental wellness community. I am licensed in NY and in AZ. Please review my LinkedIn profile for additional information about me. Thank you for your interest in my passions.

Brittani is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who combines a trauma-informed and resilience focused lens in her work with children and families. With a background in special education, school-based therapy and outpatient therapy settings, Brittani provides a unique perspective about trauma, mental health, and behavior. Brittani supports children, families and schools to help foster resilience among staff, students and families. Brittani is an expert of including MTSS approaches with mental health and meeting behavioral needs at school while also coaching families on best practices for behavior and meeting needs at home.

Dr. Lesser Allen is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to helping individuals deepen their self-understanding and navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and resilience. She provides individual therapy for adolescents and adults, parenting coaching/consultation, and virtual “Hold the Mother” workshops for new mothers exploring identity and transition. Dr. Lesser Allen specializes in life transitions, parenthood, perinatal mental health, relationship dynamics, complex family dynamics, identity development, borderline personality traits, and career stress.

I entered the field of recovery as a drug and alcohol counselor, driven by a deep understanding of the importance of treatment and a newfound sense of purpose. This calling led me to make a career change that I approach with immense gratitude. Over time, I transitioned into the role of Director at Serenity Services, and I now serve as the CEO of Ascendant NY. My journey, shaped by both personal and professional experiences, fuels my commitment to providing treatment with humility, compassion, and dignity. As a leader, I work closely with my team to evolve the traditional culture of detox facilities, striving to fill the gaps where treatment often falls short. I’m dedicated to creating individualized, client-centered care, ensuring that every person who walks through our doors feels seen, valued, and supported.

As the Chief Operating Officer at Ocean Recovery, my journey here is deeply personal and academically grounded. I am an alumnus of the program myself, which allows me to truly understand the challenges and triumphs our clients and their families face throughout treatment. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach, I bring a holistic approach to addressing Addiction, Trauma, and Eating Disorders. Over the past nine years, I have grown from a support role into a leadership position, a journey that reflects my dedication and the trust I’ve built within our community. My passion lies in helping others rediscover joy in recovery, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to contribute to the transformative journeys of our clients.

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and professional parent coach. I have been featured in FOX, NBC, CBS, & Style Magazine. I specialize in analyzing and treating problem behaviors and training parents.

I’m a licensed clinical social worker, based out of Oklahoma, and I specialize in working with women who feel “out of place” in their own lives—smart, sensitive, self-aware women who are navigating trauma, identity shifts, neurodivergence, or the lingering impact of toxic relationships. My practice focuses on the deep work: EMDR, attachment wounds, and values-driven healing. I’m especially passionate about supporting women through major life transitions - motherhood, career changes, aging, diagnosis—and helping them understand the stories they carry about their worth, and their place in the world. I often work with late-diagnosed neurodivergent women who are unraveling old narratives and finally giving themselves permission to be fully who they are. My background is in supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. That experience laid the foundation for my work with clients who are untangling the effects of narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, and toxic relationship dynamics, helping them reclaim their voice, rebuild trust in themselves, and reestablish safety in their bodies and relationships. Many of my clients come to me feeling stuck, especially after years in talk therapy that never quite got to the root of their pain. I bring a trauma-informed, non-pathologizing approach to therapy that honors both the intellect and the body, with curiosity and compassion at the center of everything I do. I’m always interested in collaborating on media projects that explore these themes with nuance and heart.