
Meet Our Team

Pamela Alvich

Eric D. Collins, MD

Geoffrey M. Golia, LCSW

Shannon Caspersen, MD, MPhil

Satin Zarkar, MD

Peter Newland, CASAC

John McAteer, LCSW

Manuel Moscoso, CASAC II

Isabelle Adams, LMSW

Indie Cusack, LMSW

Nadine Raia, LMSW

André Vilarinho, LMFT

Dan DeCotiis, LMSW, CASAC-T

Sara Kropf, LCAT

Dylan Tabouchirani

Chief Executive Officer
Pamela Alvich
Pamela Alvich is a mission-driven executive with 18 years of nonprofit leadership and behavioral healthcare experience. She has worked for many years in executive roles within the psychiatric and addiction area for adults and adolescents as an innovative business builder, adroit at strengthening sustainable patient services while leveraging philanthropic initiatives to advance care and education.
She spent numerous years at Silver Hill Hospital, a leading private not-for-profit psychiatric hospital treating adolescents and adults with psychiatric, substance use and co-occurring disorders, where she was responsible for improving procedures in the admissions process, expanding customer service for Silver Hill’s patients and families, and developing business relationships and referrals that resulted significant growth for the 90-year-old organization.
Prior to her experience in the mental health category, Pamela worked in the fashion and luxury goods world, overseeing global product development and management for Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren. Her leadership role with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as a State Officer and current President of her co-op board, further enhance her qualifications to work well with the community at NYCFL.
“I understand the difficulties managing addiction, but I also know that empathy, compassion, and targeted clinical care, will help young people and their families maintain their successful journeys to recovery. I am delighted and proud to be a part of this talented and successful organization.”

Medical Director
Eric D. Collins, MD
Dr. Collins completed his undergraduate studies in economics at Yale in 1984, following which he spent two years teaching chemistry and physics at Tabor Academy, a private high school for boarding and day school students in Marion, MA. In 1986, Dr. Collins enrolled at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he earned his MD in 1990 and subsequently stayed to complete his postgraduate residency training in Psychiatry and fellowships in both Addiction Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Dr. Collins then joined the psychiatry faculty at Columbia and pursued addiction research, including the publication as the first author in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2005 of a landmark clinical trial comparing heroin detoxification methods, including anesthesia-assisted detoxification.
In 2005, Dr. Collins became the Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services at New York-Presbyterian, a role in which he provided direct care to and administrative oversight for patients struggling with addiction, both at the Columbia medical campus of New York-Presbyterian and at the Columbia midtown outpatient treatment center. In 2012, Dr. Collins accepted the opportunity to become the Physician-in-Chief at Silver Hill Hospital, a private, not-for-profit psychiatric hospital in New Canaan, CT, where he oversaw and helped improve and advance psychiatric care, particularly addiction care, in their inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings. In November 2019, Dr. Collins joined the Metropolitan Center for Mental Health, a community mental health center in New York City, as its Medical Director. In September 2021, Dr. Collins joined the New York Center for Living as Medical Director, a role in which he continues to serve.
Dr. Collins is board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. He has published over 30 articles and book chapters, and he has extensive experience caring for psychiatric patients, particularly those with addiction and co-occurring mental and physical illnesses. In addition, Dr. Collins lectures in pharmacology teaches students and fellows at the Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and maintains a private practice of general and addiction psychiatry.

Clinical Director
Geoffrey M. Golia, LCSW
Geoffrey M. Golia, LCSW is clinical social worker, supervisor, and non-profit leader with a deep passion and commitment for helping people seek fulfillment and meet their potential, while advocating for positive social change. Throughout his professional career, he has served with a broad range of people, families, and communities, including adolescents and young adults with substance use and mental health issues, formerly incarcerated young men, and children affected by the foster care system. These experiences shaped his view building a strong foundation of recovery is essential to one’s personal and professional success, and that all people deserve a reflective space to seek support, healing, and change.
Geoffrey was previously the clinical director at Turnbridge, a residential treatment program serving young people and their families struggling with substance use and mental health issues. In that role, he led a team of therapists and psychiatric nurses provide comprehensive, evidence-based care while supporting 12-step and related recovery programs. Prior to that, Geoffrey spent nearly a decade at Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO) serving justice-involved and formerly-incarcerated 16- to 24-year-old men—starting out as a social work intern in the jails on Rikers Island and rising to the position of chief administrative and program officer.
Geoffrey received his bachelor’s degree from New School University’s Eugene Lang College in 2005 and his master’s degree in social work from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work in 2012. He currently resides in New York City with his wife, daughter, two cats, and a dog.

Psychiatrist
Shannon Caspersen, MD, MPhil
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.

Psychiatrist
Satin Zarkar, MD
Dr. Zarkar completed her undergraduate education at University of California, Irvine, obtaining a B.S. in Biological Sciences. She went on to attend Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine where she received her medical degree before completing her residency in adult psychiatry at Mount Sinai Morningside/West Hospital. It was there, during residency where Dr. Zarkar’s passion for working with children and adolescents grew. This guided her to attend the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she is currently serving as chief fellow. Through her training, Dr. Zarkar has been fortunate to work extensively with both adolescents and adults struggling with addiction in both the inpatient and outpatient setting giving her a unique and compassionate approach to care.

Coordinator Alumni Relations/Primary Therapist
Peter Newland, CASAC
Peter’s work in the field of chemical dependency spans 25 years, first with Phoenix House as a case manager with adolescents and then Director of Adolescent Ambulatory Services where he supervised several outpatient modalities; that included peer groups, multi-family groups and individual sessions. Peter then helped develop a chemical dependency program at Harlem East Life Plan which assessed and treated individuals with the goal of abstinence from alcohol and drugs. In a multidisciplinary setting Peter was the “Coordinator of Adolescent Services at Realization Center, Co –facilitating Family Group, Peer Groups and family workshops.
Peter has conducted numerous seminars and presentations to schools, parent groups, hospitals and mental health professionals. Topics have covered substance abuse and teens, detecting early warning signs for a teen in need of a intervention, how to engage a teen and his/ her family in treatment, and strategies for long term recovery.

Primary Therapist
John McAteer, LCSW
Mr. McAteer’s current position is enhanced by his prior experience as both an Adjunct Professor as well as the Director of Training and Evaluation at the Institute for Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training at Adelphi University School of Social Work. He is certified in Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) and is an OASAS-certified trainer in Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Formerly on staff at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, he has provided evidenced-based training for substance use and mental health throughout the five boroughs. He is a frequent guest speaker on the issues concerning the vaping epidemic. He has his MS in social work from Columbia University and his BA from Adelphi University.

Coordinator Peer Recovery Services
Manuel Moscoso, CASAC II
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. His depth of experience provides necessary skills to meet each client on their own path to recovery offering inspiration, guidance and influence.
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.

Family Therapist
Isabelle Adams, LMSW

Primary Therapist
Indie Cusack, LMSW
Indie Cusack (they/them) is passionate about providing clinical support to people with a range of identities and experiences. Their professional experience includes substantial experience working with people with serious and persistent mental illnesses, neurodivergent people, and people in the LGBTQIAA+ community. Indie is a strong proponent of using a variety of therapeutic approaches to make clinical care accessible to people who may not respond well to conventional methods. Indie has received their BA in Child Development at Sarah Lawrence College and a MSW from Silberman School of Social Work.

Primary Therapist
Nadine Raia, LMSW
Nadine was influenced to pursue a master’s degree at NYU Silver School of Social Work after working with adults struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns at Integrity House in Newark and Secaucus, New Jersey, and adolescents with eating disorders, substance use disorders and co-occurring diagnoses at Next Generation Village Sebring, Florida. Within the master’s program at NYU, Nadine was part of the Substance Use Focusing Learning Opportunity which is a specialized program focused on clinical work with individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Nadine gained valuable experience as a Clinical Intern at The Door NYC, working with Young Adults in Crisis and at Inter-Care, as OASAS licensed outpatient treatment center in Manhattan and Westchester. She received her BS in Journalism from Boston University and her MSW from NYU. She holds additional certifications in Mental Health, Trauma and Addiction Yoga through Kula for Karma and Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. She works from an integrative strengths-based, inclusive and solution-focused approach, focusing on mindfulness, movement, and the gut/brain connection.

Family Therapist
André Vilarinho, LMFT

Primary Therapist
Dan DeCotiis, LMSW, CASAC-T
Dan DeCotiis, LMSW, CASAC-T is a primary therapist with extensive personal and professional experience working with young adults and adolescents struggling with substance abuse and mental health. After receiving his master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University, he has dedicated himself to helping young people rebuild their lives and achieve their goals. Dan found recovery at 20 years old and now has 12 years of sobriety which he credits with giving him a second chance at life. He has worked extensively with crisis intervention, case management, group, and individual therapy, and specializes in motivational interviewing and a strengths-based approach to clinical work.

Art Therapist
Sara Kropf, LCAT
Sara’s educational journey by earning a BA in Psychology from Pace University in 2010, which opened the door to the creative arts, allowing her to combine passion for dance with the exploration of the human mind. Receiving a Master of Science from Pratt Institute led her to become a registered dance/movement therapist, as well as, a licensed creative arts therapist. After working closely with those who benefited from applied behavior analysis, she later became a registered behavior technician (RBT) through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. The combination of her educational background has allowed for expansion of clinical experience across many settings, treating people with various abilities, mental health issues, and ages from 3-103.
Some of the settings include: schools, in-patient psychiatric units, community-based day centers, residential homes, and private practice, where some have included adolescents and young adults with substance use and mental health issues. She also has experience working with individuals experiencing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Conducting regular work both on a one-to-one basis, as well as in small to very large groups, Sara derives treatment from a person-centered approach which is inclusive of the whole person and the many backgrounds which are incorporated in their identities.
