About us

Psychiatrist

Dr. Newman, MD

Dr. Newman is a graduate of Temple University Medical School. She did her residency in psychiatry at Hahnemann University. Her undergraduate training was at The University of Rochester where she obtained a B.A. in Music. Following this, she spent some time in New York City working in the musical theatre.

Her areas of concentration in psychiatry have included substance use disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and other process addictive disorders. She has worked in long-term recovery programs, including mother-child programs substance use recovery treatment programs in Philadelphia, and was in private practice previously.

Dr. Newman believes that evidence-based, relational, and holistic approaches are the guide to optimizing care. She seeks out team-based treatment settings and continues to be enthusiastic about working with individuals on their journey and the advances in our field.

Physician Assistant

Tyler Scicchitano, MSPAS, PA-C

Tyler began his work in the field of addiction treatment 7 years ago at a halfway house for men located in Edwardsville, PA. In 2014 he enrolled at King’s college where he earned his BS in Medical Sciences and eventually a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2019. He became certified as a Physician Assistant and began his career in Internal Medicine in Scranton Pennsylvania. After one year of Internal Medicine Tyler joined our team to begin his practice in Addiction Medicine. He was drawn to Silver Pines by our client-centered focus and team approach. Tyler is enthusiastic about providing medical care and education to our clients to enable and empower them to build a foundation for a meaningful, positive and fruitful life.

Physician Assistant

Kyle Mummey M.S

Kyle joined the Silver Pines treatment team June 2022 as a per diem provider. Kyle quickly made his presence felt by aligning himself with our client-centered approach and focusing on individualizing medicine by engaging in shared decision making with our clients and creating a strong patient-provider relationship. Kyle comes to Silver Pines with a wealth of experience in family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, pulmonology, and critical care as well as addition medicine. He graduated magna cum laude in 2005 with a B.S. in Medical Studies and minors in Biology and Health Care Administration. Kyle graduated with an M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies in 2006 and is currently working on a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc). In addition to all his work with patients, Kyle also enjoys working with students and his local community. Kyle was a Clinical Faculty member at Kings College and developed Kings’ Endocrinology curriculum for graduate level physician assistants. When Kyle is not working, teaching, and being an all-around incredible human, he gives back to his community by being an active firefighter and EMT. Kyle’s experience, knowledge, and passion are clearly seen with our clients who regard him with respect. Our clients know they are getting top tier care when they work with Kyle. 

Physician Assistant

Jessica Schauer PA-C, MA

Jes is a certified physician assistant that graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies in 2014. Ever since she became a PA-C, she has worked clinically seeing patients in addiction medicine and family medicine. In 2019, she started working at Silverpines and later Steps to Recovery in 2020.  At both locations, she examines and manages patients who battle substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disease processes. She treats individuals in all levels of care, which includes detox, residential, PHP and IOP. Jes graduated with a Master of Arts for Medical Sciences in Biopsychology from Liberty University in 2022. After graduation, she created an addiction-based neuroscience lecture series, that she presents to both locations. She is passionate about educating people regarding addiction to better serve them during their recovery processes.  

Physician Assistant

Jessica Hoffman, MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psych

Jessica is a physician assistant who has worked in various fields of medicine. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant studies at Arcadia University. After years of clinical practice, she took some time away as a stay-at-home mother to take care of her three children, including being an advocate for her son who is on the autism spectrum. Returning to clinical practice after navigating the healthcare system for a child with special needs helped Jessica gain a perspective and approach to patient care which is unique. Her focus on compassionate care fits well with Step to Recovery’s client-centered approach. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, going to the gym, reading, and listening to her vinyl album collection.

Nurse Practitioner

Belinda Early PMHNP,AGPCNP

Belinda Early is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Belinda has 14 years of nursing experience in the medical and psychiatric field ranging from child/adolescent, adult inpatient care, community mental health, and substance abuse treatment. Belinda received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Nursing. Her focus is on treatment of mood disorders, trauma, acute psychosis, anxiety, substance abuse, and chronic mental Illness. I manage these disorders through psychiatric assessment, medication management, motivational interviewing, CBT, and brief psychotherapeutic interventions. Belinda’s focus is to improve the quality of life for all individuals with a goal of improving executive functioning and activities of daily living. She is committed to delivering patient-centered care through evidence-based practices and holistic care.

Nurse Practitioner

Monique LaMontagne, MSN, BA, RN, PMHNP

Monique is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and has practiced psychiatric and addictions nursing for nearly a decade. She earned her Master’s of Nursing from Drexel University where she also minored in Addictions Counseling. In addition, she holds a Bachelors of Communications from Arcadia University, a Bachelors of Nursing from West Chester University, and an Associates of Nursing from the Community College of Philadelphia. Before becoming a nurse, she worked as a film & television location manager and union stagehand.

In 2023 Monique proudly celebrated ten years in recovery. She is passionate about serving others who struggle with mental health and addiction challenges. She believes in treating the whole person; mind, body, & spirit and takes a holistic approach with each individual who seeks her care.

Her spare time is spent amongst friends, family, horses, books, and other living things.

Lead Clinician

Erin Carey, MS, CAADC,NCC, LPC

Erin is a Clinician at Steps to Recovery, focusing primarily in StR’s Phase II Outpatient Program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Desales University and received her Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, specializing in Addiction Treatment at Chestnut Hill College. Erin has worked in the field since 2008 at various levels of care and specializes in treating the high-risk/chronic relapse population as well as young adults. Erin believes in both an eclectic and holistic approach to treatment; treating the individual as a whole. Erin strives to individualize treatment, instill hope and utilizes CBT, motivational interviewing and strength-based modalities within the treatment process. Erin is compassionate and her passion for the field fuels her work.

Primary Therapist

Jesus Carmona

Jesus Carmona started at Silver Pines as a Care Coordinator in 2021. After building a strong foundation at Silver Pines, Jesus re-enrolled in school to further his education and advance in the addiction field, specifically with Silver Pines. Jesus transitioned from a Care Coordinator to Counselor’s Assistant, into his current role as a Clinician. Jesus is working towards obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in substance abuse. Jesus’s passion to help others struggling with addiction derives from being a person in long term recovery. Jesus prides himself in helping clients feel comfortable and safe enough to be themselves and helping clients find love for themselves again. In his free time, Jesus enjoys spending time with his family, taking walks with his dog, watching & playing basketball, and designing clothes.

Primary Therapist

Pate DuBois MS, AMFT

Pate DuBois joined the team of Silver Pines Treatment Center in May of 2023. Pate had been living in California for the past 10+ years. Pate moved to Pennsylvania in December of 2021. Pate obtained a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology at the University of Valley Forge in 2010. Pate obtained a Master’s of Science Degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University, Sacramento in 2015. Pate approaches life with curiosity and wonder—often responsible, a serious-minded pragmatist, and thinks systemically. Pate in particular enjoys assisting in the process of improving the welfare of people and making things better for the greater good. Pate sees an abundance of situations to improve and accepts the dynamic chaos of life as it is. Pate has a strong sense of justice and fairness and is willing to tolerate and understand the diversity of humanity to further progress for the greater good. Pate achieves an ideal work-life balance, understands how to relax, and the importance of self-care. Pate often incorporates and utilizes therapeutic techniques and interventions from REBT, CBT, ACT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy.

Family Program Clinician

Marianna “Mace” Cooper-Drew, MA, LPC

Marianna “Mace” Cooper-Drew, MA, LPC, our family program clinician, is a licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience in community treatment services. She is passionate about helping individuals and families impacted by trauma, loss, substance abuse, and neglect. As vice president of STR Behavioral Health — one of the largest providers in southeastern Pennsylvania — Mace provides consultation and supervision to therapists, clinical administrators, and interns.

Mace also runs a private practice in Bucks County, where she uses emotionally focused therapy (EFT) with individuals and couples. She is a certified anger management specialist and trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), eco-systemic family therapy (ESFT), and the attachment, regulation, and competency (ARC) model.

At STR, Mace leads the development and facilitation of our family program, anger management curriculum, and trauma-informed resiliency groups. Committed to delivering quality clinical care and fostering self-motivation and growth, she believes, as Brené Brown says, “sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”

Primary Therapist

Alisha Barnes MS, LPC, CCTP

Alisha is a primary therapist at Silver Pines Treatment Center. She holds a BA in Psychology from West Chester University and a Masters in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. As a primary therapist, Alisha is responsible for providing individual and group therapy, as well as insuring case management needs are coordinated in the treatment setting. Alisha presents with a focus in trauma-informed care and is continuing training in furthering this skill set. Alisha began working in Human Services at various clinical settings, providing treatment to young children presenting with behavioral difficulties as a result of both traumatic experiences and in-utero substance dependence. Services focused on offering assistance to both the children themselves, as well as legal guardians, in order to begin the healing process. Over the last 3 years, Alisha has focused on providing services to adults with substance use disorders, as well as other related co-occurring disorders. Her fundamental philosophy is in providing client-centered treatment that attends to the unique needs of each presenting individual. Alisha aims to build a therapeutic alliance, based upon providing a safe and trusting environment that allows for further exploration. As noted by Shannon L. Alder, ” “Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.”

Primary Therapist

Jennifer Fisher, BS

Jennifer Fisher started at Silver Pines as a Lead Care Coordinator in 2018 decided to go back to school in 2019. Worked full time, attended school full time, and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Rehabilitation and Human Services. Jennifer left Silver Pines to further her career as a Program Manager for young adults in an Independent Living setting. Jennifer’s passion has always been to help those in recovery due to battling with addiction. She returned to Silver Pines to be a clinician to fulfill her desire and passion. Jennifer herself has been in long term recovery. She is currently pursuing her master’s in social work at Marywood University.

Primary Therapist

Zachary Houser, CADC

Zachary is a primary therapist at Silver Pines Treatment Center. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his work at Silver Pines, Zachary has worked as a clinician at Firetree Ltd. and in various case management and therapeutic roles at other agencies including Access Services, and Merakey. Zachary brings a total of 12 years of experience to his role in Silver Pines treatment team. His varied work experiences have instilled in him a desire to help people in need, a respect for granting people’s autonomy, and the practice wisdom to help people make the changes that they want to make. Zachary joined Silver Pines in January of 2023. He has brought along skills of working with various populations including both adults and children, intellectually disabled individuals, autistic individuals, people with mental health diagnoses, as well as people struggling with substance use disorders. Zachary came to Silver Pines because of our client-centered approach, our mission of individualized care, and our willingness to go above and beyond for every one of our clients. When not working, Zachary serves as a volunteer staff member of a local non-profit live-action role-playing organization, Wyvern Rising, and plays bass guitar and ukulele in two bands. He also enjoys spending time with his family and 3 dogs.

Primary Therapist: Veterans and First Responders

Harry Fisher, BS

Harry Fisher joined the team of Silver Pines in August of 2024.  What drew Harry to join the Silver Pines team was his desire to work with other clinicians who genuinely care about other people dealing with substance abuse, He also wanted to work for an organization that prioritizes the wellbeing of others.  Harry holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern Gateway community college and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin University and is in the process of beginning his master’s degree in psychology.  Harry is an advanced crisis intervention specialist as well and a graduate of the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy where he was a sergeant for his class.

Harry is a retired police officer with over twenty years of service.  Harry was assigned to criminal investigations and achieved the rank of corporal during his police career.  Harry was a decorated officer with 11 letters of commendation throughout his career and was awarded for his outstanding and dedicated service to the community he served.  Harry also received several life saving awards.  Harry also provides part time private security for the Philadelphia Eagles Football Team at their home games at Lincoln Financial Field.  Most recently, Harry was employed as a drug and alcohol clinician at Firetree LTD and worked as a mental health clinician at Children’s Service Center.

Harry brings unique personal experiences to Silver Pines, and he volunteers working with veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD, trauma, and substance use disorders.  Harry is a student of the three principals of psychology and teaches those principles to others.  He also incorporates and utilizes motivational interviewing, CBT, and DBT.  In Harry’s time off, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, boxing, fishing, and going to the gym.  He is also an avid Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, and Sixers fan.

Clinician

Pete Demeester, MS

Pete Demeester is a Master’s level Clinician who has over twenty five years of experience in the mental health and drug and alcohol field. Throughout the years, Pete has worked at a variety of providers and therefore has a strong Clinical background and supervisory experience. Pete has extensive experience in Individual and group counseling, trauma and addictions counseling, Treatment planning, discharge planning and case management. He’s also been trained in crisis prevention (CPI) and management of aggression using the Mandt System. As a clinician, Pete focuses on developing and enhancing skills for clients that include budgeting, after-care planning, goal setting and relapse prevention.

Clinician

Ashley Mitchell, MAAT

Ashley Mitchell has recently joined the clinician team at STR Behavioral Health Bucks County. Her passion is to help those who struggle with substance use and mental health. Ashley has experienced fighting addiction and mental health in the past and understands the battle. For over seven years, Ashley has worked in this field and believes that with guidance, compassion, and support, anyone can live a beautiful life in Recovery.

Ashley has her master’s degree in counseling and art therapy from Penn West University. She started her education in teaching, where she received her BA at Temple University. She decided to change her major when she realized she wanted to help others who struggled with the same thing she did. Ashley’s favorite outlet is art. She discovered she could use art as a method of therapy. She gained most of her experience as an Art Therapist at Interim House, a dual-diagnosis facility for women. She has done individual and group therapy with adolescents and adults throughout the years at other dual-diagnosis treatment centers. Ashley’s favorite approaches in therapy are solution-focused, DBT, CBT, and exposure therapy. She believes that the most important thing about being a clinician is trust, communication, and listening.

Clinician

Kenneth Benko

Kenneth Benko is a clinician at Steps to Recovery. Kenneth has been working in the substance abuse field for 6 years, both in inpatient and outpatient settings. Kenneth has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kean University and is on his way to obtaining his CADC in the next few months. Kenneth has a passion for helping others grow and overcome their struggles. He utilizes modalities such as Client-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness practices. Kenneth provides a nonjudgmental space combined with active focused listening to guide the individual toward their self-directed goals. In his personal life, Kenneth enjoys creating music, writing, and spending time with loved ones.

Clinician

Belloh Harris, MS

Belloh Harris is a dedicated and compassionate counselor with a strong background in psychology and mental health counseling. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mansfield University and recently received her master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling from Holy Family University. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, providing essential mental health and behavioral services. Belloh has developed a specialization in working with adults dealing with substance abuse, as well as individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Her expertise lies in providing support and guidance to those facing these complex challenges, helping them navigate through their difficulties and work towards positive mental well-being. With her academic background and practical experience, Harris is committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of her clients. She approaches her work with empathy, understanding, and a deep commitment to promoting mental health awareness and resilience.

Clinician

Zaria Raymond, MA

Zaria works as a Clinician in the Outpatient program at Steps to Recovery. Throughout her college career, she has devoted time to studying the effects of racial microaggressions in a college environment. She has a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and has provided counseling to children and adolescents who have been given a variety of mental health diagnoses. She is interested in looking at family systems to understand each person as a whole and focuses mainly on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Zaria is passionate about helping each person develop their autonomy and confidence so they can successfully navigate the challenges of life. She has experience working with people at different levels of care in the SUD field and is passionate about creating an environment that fosters growth and development. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, parasailing and activities rooted in self-growth and development.

Clinician

Brittney Hobbs, M.Ed.

Brittney is a Clinician at STR, focusing on mental health and substance abuse. She received a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Temple University. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in social work and social justice from Rutgers University. Brittney utilizes an eclectic approach to treatment; using approaches that best fit the individual. Brittney likes to incorporate techniques such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) to help individuals understand, and better manage their emotions and behaviors, as well as others. Brittney is empathetic in her approach to treatment. She believes being open-minded, understanding of others, and having good communication skills promotes resilience and a strong sense of self.

Clinician

Abigail Weldner, MA, LPC, CAADC.

Abbey is a clinician at STR Behavioral Health – Lehigh Valley.  She holds a BA in psychology from West Chester University and a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling from Kutztown University . As a counselor she is responsible for providing group therapy and individual counseling.   She has worked in the outpatient setting for seven years,  providing services to those with substance use disorders at the general outpatient and intensive outpatient level.   She has also worked in the jail system, developing and running groups.  She has an understanding that substance use disorder is a family disease, and needs to be treated with the whole family involved.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with children and family.

Clinican

Christine Burnette, MS

Christine Burnette is a Clinician at STR Lehigh Valley and a master’s level multicultural clinician, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate obtaining her Ph.D. in the field of Human Services. Her educational degrees, experiences, and pursuits allow Christine to explore the intersectionality of counseling and substance use disorders within different populations, utilizing a broaching technique that enhances cultural humility, contains intercultural dialogues about sociocultural factors between the clinician and client.  As a multicultural clinician, Christine works with clients to examine the sociocultural aspects of their lives as the individual seeks pro-social skills sets that will allow them to achieve their therapeutic goals.  Christine has worked with individuals struggling with substance abuse, mental health, and criminality for over 17 years.  She has worked with many different populations which consist of children (4-13) adolescents (14-18) young adults and members within the senior adulthood range, also including but not limited to individuals on the autism spectrum and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities populations. During her career, Christine facilitated therapeutic groups and individualized clinical sessions using multiple therapeutic modalities and preventative methods insulated within several modes of treatment styles.  Christine is a trauma-informed response trainer certified through SAMHSA’s GAINS Center. Christine’s clinical experience includes her involvement and therapeutic responses with the management of client care with Lehigh and Northampton counties SCA, The TCAP program, Recovery and Mental Health Courts, The Department of Probation and Parole.   In the past, Christine sat on The Northampton Drug Court Treatment Team and participated in the DDAP’s ASAM transition task force committee.

Care Manager

Catherine Hoag

Catherine joined the Silver Pines treatment team on July 6th, 2023, as a Care Coordinator. Cat immediately showed her love and passion for those suffering from substance use disorder and mental health concerns. As a Care Coordinator, Cat spent a large portion of time working with, relating to, and supporting clients. She also learned and became proficient in running the floor and ensuring the safe day-to-day operations of Silver Pines. Her tenacity and get-it-done attitude shined through and established her as a leading candidate for the Care Manager Position. While being part of our team, Cat has consistently shown her commitment to building and fostering meaningful and authentic connections with our clients. Cat embodies our belief that the opposite of addiction is connection. Cat’s empathy is informed by her own involvement in Twelve Step programming and her own journey of finding freedom from hopelessness and despair. Cat is honest, disciplined, and thorough. In the fall, Cat will be attending SNHU and starting her degree in Psychology. When she is not supporting people with care management, she enjoys spending time with her recovery family and friends.

Care Manager

Stephanie Test, M Ed.

Stephanie works as a care manager at Steps to Recovery – Lehigh Valley Outpatient. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College with a BA in Psychology and a Master’s from West Chester University in Counseling Education. Stephanie has worked as a guidance counselor for the Philadelphia Intermediate Unit and Brandywine Heights School District in Berks County. Stephanie has worked in the substance abuse field since 2019.

As care manager, Stephanie hopes to guide clients through treatment to have the best possible outcomes after treatment and link clients with community resources and programs. Stephanie has been committed to her own recovery from drugs and alcohol since 2018. She is thankful to the Lehigh Valley sober community. In her free time, Stephanie likes to travel with her two grown sons and play golf.

Holistic Therapist

Tamara McGovern BSN, RN

Tamara McGovern, BSN, RN, is a holistic healer with certifications in Reiki, Guided Meditation, Thai Massage, and pending Trauma Informed Yoga. Her journey began in 1997 after the loss of her grandfather, where she found solace in holistic practices. After becoming a nurse in 2001, she saw the need for a holistic approach in healthcare, especially in oncology. Incorporating Reiki and guided meditation into her practice, she witnessed their profound impact on patients’ healing journeys. Drawing from her own recovery experiences, Tamara found healing through Reiki, meditation, Thai massage, and yoga. Working in drug and alcohol rehab, she saw firsthand the benefits of holistic approaches alongside modern medicine. As a holistic therapist, Tamara empowers patients to discover themselves and cope with life’s challenges through various modalities such as meditation, Reiki, Thai massage, and trauma-informed yoga. Her mission is to foster holistic well-being and resilience in those she serves.

Therapist

Angelica Jones, M.A.

Angelica is a therapist at STR Behavioral Health Cedar Creek. She is currently in her 5th year in the Psy.D program at Immaculata University. She completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Immaculata University and earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Maine at Farmington. She is a member of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Association. Angelica has experience working in different clinical settings such as crisis, partial hospitalization, and outpatient. She has worked with clients from different cultural backgrounds. She is well-versed in trauma-informed care and utilizes psychoanalytic theory and emotion-focused theory in her work with clients. She uses free association to allow clients to tell their stories. Angelica is passionate about helping people grow and understand themselves better. Her areas of interest include psychoanalysis, emotion-focused theory, hypnotherapy, human sexuality, personality assessments, and multiculturalism.

In her free time, Angelica enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Therapist

Mike Brill

Mike Brill, LPC, NCC, MS has asked for help and has helped others.  From these two tasks developed and groomed over time, he felt it could become his career.  Mike has traveled to 4 continents, 9 countries, and 24 states to experience culture, tradition, people, and nature.  Meeting new people and learning from them is equally the motivation and fondest memory of all his trips. From primary experiences and conversations with people, he had come to an existential conclusion that all humans were created to succeed, and that life is navigating the roadblocks hindering human success. Mike has interpreted that most often trauma is a mitigating circumstance that creates and reinforces the roadblock and diminishes a human being’s belief that they can independently navigate and achieve personal life success.

Mike proclaims to not be the model citizen of the human development model.  He has very rarely achieved life success at the times others did. More often than not, he put feeble attempts into various forms of achievement and stepped away from most of those efforts and goals.  Finally, after attempting to be a rock star musician for many years, Mike made an integral promise to his cousin Jennifer, who got him a job at Penn Medicine.  His promise was to return to school and obtain a bachelor’s degree.  In 2007, Mike graduated from LaSalle University with a BA.   Since working at Penn Medicine and having a great tuition benefit, he surprised his cousin (and himself) and went on to achieve his master’s degree in counseling psychology from Holy Family University.  In 2015, he completed the requirements and supervision for licensure and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board-Certified National Counselor (NCC). Mike has worked in education, substance use disorders, and mental health treatment facilitating group, individual, and holistic therapies.  Mike uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and existentialism. At the core, each person treated begins with the belief in the presence and positive potential of the human being.  Empowerment and spirituality based on the client’s beliefs and experiences are core values introduced and developed during the therapeutic alliance.  Helping clients to find their voice and tell their story in a way that it brings peace, and serenity is a primary and ultimate clinical goal for each person treated by Mike.

Mike was raised in Northeast Philadelphia in an amazing Irish family.  His mom and dad had four boys, and Mike was the youngest.  Mike embraced vacations, family, church, friendships, and songs endlessly.  Other than traveling the world, Mike is out at concerts or performing with his guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals.  Mike also enjoys golf and hiking, which reinforces his personal relationship with Mother Nature.

Counselor Assistant

Matt Leonard

Matt Leonard is Counselors Assistant at STR Bucks. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with Majors in Marketing and Supply Chain Management and a Minor in Economics. Matt’s background in the healthcare field includes working on National Institutes of Health grant-funded research. Matt’s role at STR includes client engagement in all levels of care to ensure their needs are being met to best support their personal recovery.  In his personal life, Matt loves to lift weights and is a certified personal trainer. He also enjoys playing saxophone and piano, self-development, and learning.

Care Manager

Kelli Hollar

Kelli Hollar is a Care Manager at STR Bucks County. She graduated from Neshaminy High School and is a Bucks County Native. As a member of the STR Bucks alumni family, she is a person in long-term sobriety. Kelli’s experience in direct care started when she decided to get sober and went out to California. She managed a sober living for a year while working at Hotel California by the Sea in the Eating Disorder Program. She then decided it was time to move home and got a job at Penn Medicine in Princeton, NJ, in the Psychiatric Unit. A couple of years later, she found herself back at STR Bucks as a Recovery Support Specialist, working firsthand with clients, giving them direct care, facilitating groups, and being a mentor. She then worked her way into the role of Care Manager. Some of but not all of the duties of the care managers are completing intakes, FMLA/STD/LOA requests and extensions, providing documentation, creating aftercare plans for clients, and much more. Kelli loves to be involved in direct client care, giving hope to those who have lost it fighting through their addiction, as she, too, has fought similar battles. During her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her daughter, going shopping, and watching the ID channel.

Art Therapist

Deidre Grieder, MAAT, ATR

Deidre is a kind, compassionate, and dedicated professional who received her Master of Arts in Art therapy from Cedar Crest College in Allentown Pennsylvania. She holds a minor in psychology and is certified in Trauma Art Narrative Therapy. Deidre has been a team member at Silver Pines Treatment Center for two years. She believes that getting to know each individual, their strengths, and perceived weaknesses as a person is key to the therapeutic relationship. She treats each person with respect, patience, and loving kindness throughout their treatment process. Deidre utilizes both art as therapy and art psychotherapy approaches. As an art therapist Deidre acts as a guide alongside the patient through the art process. She facilitates both group and individual sessions, using art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore individuals feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, encourage self-awareness, introduce the art making process as a way to recognize and manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.

Holistic Care Counselor

Kate Blonsky, BS

Kate facilitates Holistic Care Counseling at Silver Pines Treatment center. Kate’s Holistic approach is tailored to the individuality of each person and their unique journey & healing process. Kate’s education includes a BA degree in Psychology & Philosophy at Lock Haven University. Kate is a Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner for over 17 years & trained through schools of the Usui lineage. Kate’s trainings also include Mindfulness teachings through Dharma mentorship of the Thich Nhat Hanh community and Shamanic, Native American teachings within Wellbriety, as well as Interfaith Ministry ordination. Kate implements within group therapy and individual sessions, healing methods of Aromatherapy, Guided Imagery, Drumming & Sound healing, Meditative processes, Reiki & Full Body Reflexology techniques. For Kate, it’s important that each person feels free, in the treatment experience, to explore one’s affinities, interests and what truly brings one to align with happiness and peace within. Also, that each person who would like to discover Spiritual deepening and flourishing–that a Path be opened and lead to well-being, personal freedom from affliction and addiction and find ongoing, Life-Purpose fulfillment.

Lead Care Coordinator

Doug Chupasko

Care Manager

Jennifer Treese

Jennifer Treese, Care Manager at Silver Pines Treatment Center earned her bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science from The Pennsylvania State University. She provides support for individuals on their recovery journey. She works closely with clients and their families to foster a supportive environment that promotes healing and growth. Her experience includes roles as a crisis intervention specialist, school based behavioral health worker and a call center specialist in the substance abuse field. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family.

Office Manager

Leah Crouthamel, BSW

Leah has held a variety of positions ranging from healthcare, mental health, and finance. Leah graduated from Cedar Crest College in 2015 after 10 years of night school. She has worked as a counselor at Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley as well as a Mental Health / Intensive Case Manager across Lehigh County. She is also an interfaith ordained minister. She believes that equality means “everyone, all the time” and there is always a solution, for every problem. Leah knows first-hand that doing things differently and making changes in ourselves is possibly the hardest thing a human can do. In her free time Leah makes soap, lotions, and lip balms, researches her health and organic living, digs up the garden on weekends, raises bunny rabbits, and does crafts.

Office Manager

Pamela Weiner

Pamela Weiner is the Office Manager at Steps to Recovery. Pam graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in early and Elementary Childhood Education. She has many years of experience in the field of education, as well as customer service. As an alumnus of Steps to Recovery and a person with long term sobriety, Pam likes to use her own personal experiences to help and relate to Clients as they enter treatment. As the Office Manager, some of Pam’s duties include overseeing the medical department, arranging transportation, ordering, and organizing inventory, and getting new clients acclimated to the program. Pam acts as a liaison between departments and takes pride in her organizational skills, making sure to be available whenever and wherever needed. Pam is highly motivated and strives to provide authentic care to each client. In her spare time, Pam enjoys being around her family, shopping, and helping others.

Community Outreach Liaison

Courtney Kole