Who Will Be Treating My Teen?
Real names. Real credentials. Meet the people your family will actually work with at Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center in Morris County, NJ.
One of the first questions parents ask when considering treatment is: who is going to be caring for my child? At Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center, we think you should know exactly who is in the building before you make any decisions. Our clinical team combines deep academic credentials with specialized adolescent experience — and every key staff member has a full bio on our Our Team page that you can read before you call.
Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center is a Joint Commission-accredited residential program for teens ages 13–17, located in Towaco, Morris County, NJ. As part of the Guardian Recovery network — a nationwide behavioral health organization with more than 20 years of experience — Montville’s clinical team is built exclusively around adolescent care. Every clinician on our direct care team specializes in teens, not adults.
Meet the Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center Clinical Team
| Name & Role | Why It Matters for Your Teen |
| Dr. Tamer Wassef
Chief Medical Officer MD, CDS, ADM, ADP |
Board-certified psychiatrist and neurologist with 15+ years treating mental illness and addiction. Holds three ABPN board certifications including General Psychiatry and Neurology, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. Fellowship trained at the University of Pennsylvania. Former Medical Director of an acute inpatient psychiatry unit at Christ Hospital, Jersey City. Oversees all psychiatric evaluation and medication management for your teen. |
| Frank Mattiace
Executive Director PhD |
Doctoral degree in counseling psychology (USC) and a master’s in addictive disorders (Montclair State). Former professional NFL player (1983-1987) who pioneered recovery work with the Retired NFL Players Association. Creator of the SOARFIT program — a four-stage framework (Seek, Observe, Act, Renew) integrating mind, body, and spirit for lasting transformation. Leads the entire Montville program. |
| Nicholas Fiorito
Clinical Lead MDiv (Harvard), LCADC, CCS |
Master of Divinity from Harvard. Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). Specializes in client-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma-centered techniques, and DBT. Also brings a background in yoga, tai-chi, mindfulness, and somatic awareness — integrated into each teen’s clinical journey. |
| Laura Lauritano
Director of Nursing RN, CARN |
15+ years specializing in adolescent substance use treatment. Began as an emergency department nurse, then psychiatric nursing — now leads adolescent nursing care. Holds the Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) credential. As a mother of two sons, she brings personal understanding of what families are going through. |
| Keesha Scott
National Adolescent Care Director MA Psychology |
Co-founder of Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent Program with 15+ years of professional experience and more than two decades of personal sobriety. Created the adolescent program after her own teenage daughter struggled and she found inadequate local resources. Directly shapes how the program is designed for teens and families. |
| Lenimar Almeida
Care Manager BSW, Rutgers |
Rutgers-trained social worker and former NJ Department of Children and Families investigator. Your family’s main point of contact for day-to-day coordination, clinical documentation, and case management. Frequently mentioned by name in family reviews. |
| Bill Panitch
Director of Operations
|
Former police officer and detective specializing in crisis response and risk assessment. Oversees safety, security, staff training, and emergency preparedness. Ensures the campus is secure and that every teen is supervised 24/7. |
View full bios, photos, and credentials for every team member →
What Is the SOARFIT Program?
One of the things that sets Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center apart is the SOARFIT program, developed by Executive Director Dr. Frank Mattiace. SOARFIT is a four-stage framework — Seek, Observe, Act, Renew — that integrates mind, body, and spirit for lasting transformation.
No competitor in New Jersey offers anything quite like it. Rooted in Dr. Mattiace’s background in both counseling psychology and professional athletics, SOARFIT brings a performance mindset to recovery — teaching teens to build resilience, emotional regulation, and cognitive function as the foundation for lasting sobriety and mental health. Physical fitness, mindfulness, and meaning-making are woven throughout the program alongside evidence-based clinical therapies.
What Credentials Should I Look For in a Teen Treatment Program in New Jersey?
Parents researching staff credentials at teen treatment programs in New Jersey often want to know not just who is on the team, but what their licenses actually mean and whether they are specifically trained for adolescents. Below is a breakdown of the credentials held by Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center’s clinical team and what each one means for your teen’s care.
Not all treatment staff are equally qualified. When evaluating any teen treatment program in NJ, here’s what the credentials actually mean:
Medical Credentials
- MD — Medical Doctor. A psychiatrist with an MD can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications, and lead clinical care.
- ABPN Board Certification — The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certifies psychiatrists who have passed rigorous specialty exams. Dr. Wassef holds three ABPN certifications, including Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine — an exceptionally rare combination.
- CARN — Certified Addictions Registered Nurse. A specialty credential requiring specific training in addiction nursing care.
Clinical Credentials
- LCADC — Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (New Jersey). A state-licensed credential for clinicians providing substance use counseling.
- CCS — Certified Clinical Supervisor. Indicates training in clinical supervision and oversight of treatment teams.
- LCSW — Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A master’s-level clinician licensed to provide therapy and clinical case management.
Adolescent Specialization
Beyond individual credentials, what matters most for teen treatment is whether the clinicians are trained specifically for adolescents. At Montville, every clinician on the direct care team specializes in ages 13–17. This is a dedicated adolescent program — not an adult program that also accepts teens.
Questions to Ask Any Teen Treatment Program in New Jersey
When comparing programs, here are the questions every parent should ask — and how Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center answers each one:
- Who are the treating clinicians and what credentials do they hold? — See the team table above. Full bios at com/our-team.
- How is an individualized treatment plan developed? — Every teen undergoes a comprehensive psychiatric and substance use assessment on arrival. The clinical team builds a unified plan addressing both mental health and substance use from day one.
- Are clinicians licensed or are some unlicensed staff? — Our direct care clinical team holds active NJ state licenses and national specialty credentials. Therapy is not delivered by unlicensed staff.
- What is the staff-to-teen ratio? — Montville is a boutique 21-bed program, allowing for a high staff-to-teen ratio and genuinely individualized attention. Group sessions run 6–10 teens.
- What does aftercare and step-down look like after discharge? — Our clinical team develops a step-down plan before discharge, connecting families to PHP, IOP, and our alumni program as appropriate.
- Can I speak with the team or tour before deciding? — Yes. We encourage it. Contact us or call (888) 343-3505 — admissions is available 24/7.
Red Flags to Watch For
When evaluating any teen treatment program, be cautious if you notice:
- Therapy delivered primarily by unlicensed staff
- Restricted or heavily limited contact between parents and their teen
- A treatment approach that doesn’t adapt to individual progress
- High-pressure recruitment tactics that discourage you from taking time to evaluate other options
- No named clinicians or vague credentials listed on their website
At Montville, our team’s names, credentials, and bios are published publicly. We encourage families to research us thoroughly before calling.
What Does a Typical Week Look Like at Montville Adolescent Center?
Based on your teen’s individualized treatment plan, clinical care at Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center in Morris County typically includes:
- Individual therapy — one-on-one sessions with a primary therapist, 45–60 minutes, weekly
- Group therapy — small groups of 6–10 teens, clinician-led, daily
- Family therapy — weekly structured sessions with your teen and their clinician
- Psychiatric evaluation on admission and monthly thereafter; medication management when appropriate
- CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and EMDR — woven throughout the program
- Recreational therapy — structured activities that build coping skills, healthy routines, and peer connection outside of formal clinical sessions
- SOARFIT programming — physical fitness, mindfulness, and mind-body integration developed by Dr. Mattiace
- Academic coordination — 2 hours Monday–Friday dedicated to schoolwork; our team coordinates directly with your teen’s NJ school counselor to support continued academic progress
Your teen’s exact schedule is built by their clinical team and adjusted as treatment progresses. To learn more, visit our treatment process page.
Can I Speak with the Clinical Team Before My Teen Is Admitted?
Yes. We encourage it. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer your questions, and you can ask specifically about the clinician who would be working with your teen before you make any decisions.
Many parents also ask for a tour of the campus before admission — we welcome that too. You shouldn’t have to hand your child to strangers sight unseen. Contact us here or call (888) 343-3505.
Is Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center Licensed and Accredited?
Yes. Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center is licensed by the state of New Jersey and accredited by The Joint Commission — the gold standard accreditation body for behavioral health care. The program is also verified by LegitScript, listed by SAMHSA, and recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers (2025).
When evaluating any teen treatment program in NJ, confirm that it is licensed by the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and accredited by a recognized body. These aren’t just credentials — they’re the baseline standard of care your teen deserves.
You shouldn’t have to hand your child to strangers. Ask us anything about the team before you decide — we’re here 24/7.
Call (888) 343-3505 — free, confidential, no obligation.
