Meet Our Team

Medical Director

Elon Richman, MD

Dr. Richman is board-certified in both general and addiction psychiatry, with expertise in the treatment of substance use disorders, behavioral addictions, mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders, and attention deficit disorder. He is dedicated to helping individuals enhance their self-awareness and self-regulation through evidence-based treatments that integrate psychotherapeutic technique, psychopharmacology, mindfulness, and lifestyle interventions. There are many paths to healing, and his treatment philosophy emphasizes the transformative power of a collaborative relationship to guide clients toward growth and lasting insight.

Dr. Richman completed general psychiatry residency training at Emory School of Medicine, with supplemental certifications through the Emory Psychoanalytic Institute and Institute for Dialogic Practice. Dr. Richman also completed addiction psychiatry fellowship training at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and, as faculty, continues to teach on issues related to substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors. His scholarly work addresses the emerging field of psychedelics, with academic publications featured in journals such as The American Journal of Psychiatry and Journal of Addiction Medicine.

Chief Operating Officer

Manuel Moscoso, CASAC II

Manuel Moscoso continues to accomplish as the Chief Operating Officer a strong foundation in financial strategy and operational leadership. With a proven track record of driving organizational efficiency and sustainable growth, Manuel blends analytical expertise with strategic vision to optimize performance across departments. His background in finance enables him to align operational initiatives with fiscal goals, ensuring profitability and long-term value creation. Known for his collaborative leadership style and results-driven mindset, Manuel plays a pivotal role in steering companies through complex challenges and dynamic market conditions.

Manuel has more than a decade of commitment in various law enforcement agencies and worked with one of the largest non-profit organizations introducing community-based programs and training. Manuel has a long history of mentoring and fostering relationships based on trust and professional boundaries, which enable growth, development and healing.

Manuel is a CASAC ll, Credentialed Acupuncture Specialist-NADA, and an ASHI instructor.  He has provided various treatment modalities in detox, residential, intensive outpatient and outpatient facilities for more than ten years. He has specialized in assisting opening new OASAS licensed facilities and specializing in OASAS regulations and continued certification.

Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist

Shannon Caspersen, MD

Dr. Caspersen completed her B.S. at Yale University in Molecular and Cellular Biology, followed by a master’s degree in art history at the University of Cambridge, UK.  She attended Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and completed her general psychiatry training at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell and her child & adolescent psychiatry training at the combined Cornell and Columbia program at New York Presbyterian Hospital.  She is board-certified in general psychiatry, child & adolescent psychiatry, and addiction medicine.  She worked at Silver Hill Hospital from 2014-2017 and has maintained a private practice in New York City since 2013.  Dr. Caspersen is on the voluntary faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College, where she teaches medical students, residents, and fellows in classroom and clinical settings.  She is has published widely in the academic and popular press, including The New York Times, on topics ranging from medicine to visual art.  She speaks regularly at medical conferences and as an invited guest on mental health and wellness podcasts.

Clinical Director

Carl Castagna, LCSW

Carl is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of addictive disorders through group, individual, family therapy, and intervention services.

His career began in 1975 at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he worked on an inpatient dual-diagnosis alcoholism rehabilitation unit. He later transitioned to the hospital’s psychiatric day program, where he remained for a decade. Following this, Carl joined Beth Israel Medical Center’s renowned chemical dependency program, Stuyvesant Square, for two years.

In recognition of his expertise, Carl was recruited by Cornell University Medical College to design and implement an intensive outpatient treatment program serving both the Medical College and New York Hospital. He went on to become the Founding Director of the Midtown Center for Treatment & Research and was appointed to the voluntary faculty as a Lecturer of Social Work in Psychiatry at Cornell, as well as a Professional Associate in Psychiatry at New York Hospital.

Carl also maintains a private practice.

Controller

Camille Ostezan

Pronouns: She/Her

Camille is a dedicated professional who graduated with a BS in Business Administration, Major in Financial Management from the University of Santo Tomas. Her academic background equipped her with a strong foundation in financial principles and management strategies, while maintaining a value-driven and balanced life.

She brings a distinct background in finance and accounting as the Controller of New York Center for Living and is dedicated to ensuring the fiscal health of the Center while optimizing its financial resources.

Prior to joining NYCFL, she was a finance specialist in the Controllership team of a beverage manufacturer and was exposed to different areas of the business, from commercial, supply chain and logistics, sales and marketing and human resources.

Her tenure as a finance associate in an academic institution afforded her insight into the unique financial dynamics of educational settings and reminded her that there is joy in learning.

Her past role as a senior accountant for an accounting firm in New York City exposed her to an in-depth understanding of diverse cultures, financial structures and practices that lead her to work as a Controller for a law firm specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice litigations. She developed a keen eye for compliance and regulatory intricacies and considered the job as one of her fulfilled dreams— to be part of a NYC law firm that helps victims of negligence.

In her free time, Camille likes spending time with her husband–traveling, hiking, trying different cuisines and restaurants and playing basketball. She also has a passion for photography and loves nature and landscapes.

Selected Trainings:

• Procure to Pay Champion Training
• Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Effective Presentation Skills
• Making Sense of Business: A Simulation
• CCFPI Tax Lecture Series

Business Development Specialist

Lisa Iapicco

Lisa supports the New York Center for Living in an outreach and business development capacity, leveraging her 20+ years of experience in building and managing relationships in the corporate and non-profit sectors, working in human resources.

She joined the New York Center for Living in 2024 where she worked with the CEO, Board of Directors and the Center’s founder on special events and projects to build awareness of the Center’s fine work and success stories. Transitioning to a full-time focus in this area, Lisa is dedicated to fostering connections with esteemed professionals in the medical and psychological treatment fields to partner in helping people challenged with substance use disorders.

Lisa earned her BA in Communication from Douglass College at Rutgers University and an MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia.

Primary Therapist

Grace Miceli, LMHC, LCAT

Grace is a mental health counselor and art therapist who is passionate about supporting adolescents and young adults as they navigate life transitions, challenges related to their mental health and substance use recovery. Grace takes a trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths-based approach to working with clients. She has experience providing care at intensive outpatient programs and community-based settings and is especially passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent individuals. Grace believes in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate change and growth. She integrates evidence-based modalities such as Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Grace earned her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Antioch University and her B.A. in Studio Art and Film Studies from Smith College.

Administrative Director

Cesar Rosado

Cesar is an artist, educator, and activist dedicated to advocating for policies and initiatives that support adolescents. For seven years, he served as a full-time Teaching Artist and Development Associate at Drama Club, where he taught theater to incarcerated and court-involved youth, ages 12–24, in ACS juvenile facilities and at Rikers Island. Prior to his work in the juvenile justice system, Cesar taught at other institutions, including the Children’s Aid Society, The Public Theater’s Public Works program, the Hunter College M.U.S.E. Scholars Program, the Atlantic Theater Conservatory, and the graduate theater program at The New School. He earned his BFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts and continued his classical training at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Community Relations Ambassador

Aislinn Russell

Ais is a senior at Barnard College, majoring in Psychology. She brings experience from internships at the American Civil Liberties Union, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and Planned Parenthood, where she developed her advocacy skills for causes she is passionate about. As a social media coordinator for organizations like Fruitslice: A Queer Quarterly and Panthera Collective, Aislinn honed her ability to create community-focused content and lead successful digital engagement strategies. She aspires to work in the field of addiction treatment, using her skills and experience to support people on their recovery journeys.

Front Desk Ambassador

Zoe Selman

Zoe supports daily operations and ensures a welcoming environment for clients and staff. She is a Posse Alumni and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Wheaton College MA. Passionate about inclusive care and community empowerment, she is driven by a commitment to fostering supportive and efficient environments.

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Jessica Werfelman

Jessica is very excited to work with New York Center for Living to assist the providers in giving the best possible care to their clients. Jessica has been auditing for a counseling center which caters to clients in need of mental and behavioral health services as well as chemical dependency services for nearly a decade. She is grateful for the opportunity provided by NYCFL to help facilitate this to be a successful clinic to help as many people as possible.

Marketing Specialist

Laura Zito

Laura is a marketing specialist at NYCFL, with a dual focus on developing strategies to grow the center’s social media presence and generating materials which help to spread the core mission of connecting with and treating people on their recovery journey. She is also working to complete her CASAC-T and looks forward to expanding her role as a therapist.

Social Work Intern

Andrew Cohen

Social Work Intern

Brian Lamy