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Meet the Team

Counselors, prescribers, prevention specialists, and peer supporters. Our staff are caring, competent, and effective.

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Leadership Team

Jessica Branson, Interim Executive Director at Positive Directions
Jessica Branson
  • Interim Executive Director
Melanie DeLapp, Clinical Director at Positive Directions
Melanie DeLapp
  • Clinical Director
  • | MS, LMFT
Margaret Watt, Prevention Director at Positive Directions
Margaret Watt
  • Prevention Director
  • | MPH, MA

Clinical Team

Aisha Abdel, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate at Positive Directions
Aisha Abdel
  • Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc.
  • | MA, LPCA
Tava Auslan, Clinical Intern at Positive Directions
Tava Auslan
  • Clinical Intern
  • | BA, M.Ed.
Leslie Corrigan, Clinical Intern at Positive Directions
Leslie Corrigan
  • Clinical Intern
  • | BA
Julia Daly, Clinical Intern at Positive Directions
Julia Daly
  • Clinical Intern
  • | BS
Jessica Dassori, Licensed Professional Counselor at Positive Directions
Jessica Dassori
  • Lic. Professional Counselor
  • | MA, NCC, LPC
Deirdre Ekholdt, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Positive Directions
Deirdre Ekholdt
  • Lic. Clinical Social Worker
  • | MSW, LCSW
Mohamed Elsamra, Medical Director at Positive Directions
Mohamed Elsamra
  • Medical Director
  • | MD
Araceli Escamilla, Licensed Professional Counselor at Positive Directions
Araceli Escamilla
  • Lic. Professional Counselor
  • | MA, LPC
Karen Krupnik, Licensed Professional Counselor at Positive Directions
Karen Krupnik
  • Lic. Professional Counselor
  • | MS, LPC
Lori Lang, Licensed Advanced Practice Reg. Nurse at Positive Directions
Lori Lang
  • Lic. Advanced Practice Reg. Nurse
  • | APRN
Ryan McGough, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate at Positive Directions
Ryan McGough
  • Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc.
  • | MA, LPCA
Nicole Merlo-White, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at Positive Directions
Nicole Merlo-White
  • Lic. Marriage & Family Therapist
  • | MA, LMFT
Nikoletta Moschidi, Clinical Intern at Positive Directions
Nikoletta Moschidi
  • Clinical Intern
  • | MFA
Sarafina Ndzi, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate at Positive Directions
Sarafina Ndzi
  • Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc.
  • | MA, LPCA
Stephen Osika, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate at Positive Directions
Stephen Osika
  • Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc.
  • | MA, LPCA
Destiny Sammut, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Positive Directions
Destiny Sammut
  • Lic. Clinical Social Worker
  • | LCSW
Bob Vietro, Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor at Positive Directions
Bob Vietro
  • Lic. Alcohol & Drug Counselor
  • | MS, LADC, ICGCII
Ethan Wattley, Licensed Professional Counselor at Positive Directions
Ethan Wattley
  • Lic. Professional Counselor
  • | MA, LPC

Prevention and Peer Support Team

Vivian Balazs, Intern, The Norwalk Partnership at Positive Directions
Vivian Balazs
  • Intern, The Norwalk Partnership
Teraya Broaden, SMART Recovery Groups Facilitator at Positive Directions
Teraya Broaden
  • SMART Recovery Groups Facilitator
Timothy Cohen, Intern, The Norwalk Partnership at Positive Directions
Timothy Cohen
  • Intern, The Norwalk Partnership
Jules Garcia, Peer Support Specialist at Positive Directions
Jules Garcia
  • Peer Support Specialist
  • | RSS
Francesca Guerrier, Manager, Mid-Fairfield Cannabis Project at Positive Directions
Francesca Guerrier
  • Manager, Mid-Fairfield Cannabis Project
  • | MPH
Quinn Jannetty, Manager, CT Support Group Project at Positive Directions
Quinn Jannetty
  • Manager, CT Support Group Project
  • | RSS
Jen Lord, Recovery Coach & Alt2Su Facilitator at Positive Directions
Jen Lord
  • Recovery Coach & Alt2Su Facilitator
Therell Mayes, Social Media Lead, CT Support Group at Positive Directions
Therell Mayes
  • Social Media Lead, CT Support Group
Rylie Peterson, Intern, The Norwalk Partnership at Positive Directions
Rylie Peterson
  • Intern, The Norwalk Partnership

Administrative Team

Kimberly Falconer, Billing Specialist at Positive Directions
Kimberly Falconer
  • Billing Specialist
Ashley Gonçalves, Office Administrator & Clinic Coordinator at Positive Directions
Ashley Gonçalves
  • Office Administrator & Clinic Coordinator
  • | BA

Board of Directors

Officers

Mercedes Escala, President​​

Jessica Branson, Vice President

​Tom Green, Treasurer​

​Suzanne Hermus, Secretary

​

Members

Amanda Benedetto
Robin Chung
Kate DeAngelis
Jodi Gonzalez
Melissa Ialeggio
Kristin Kreuger
Tiffany Loomer

Advisory Council

Lynn Abramson
Casey Berg
Lee Bollert
Gail Kelly
Jeff Wieser

Want to work with us?

We are growing. See open positions and volunteer roles.

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Get in touch

Reach out for counseling, peer support, prevention work, or to talk about partnership.

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