About Us
Program Directors
Tomy Aprame, LPC, PD, MS, MA
Program Director, Outpatient Services in Danbury and New Milford
Over the past 25 years, Tomy has worked with diverse populations as well as individuals, families, and veterans in a supervisory capacity. In addition to his extensive clinical experience, he is also a Medicaid and insurance regulations consultant.
A Fordham graduate, Tomy completed his internship at New York Hospital in Queens before going on to the Center for Family Life in Brooklyn. After a brief stint at Homes for the Brave, he took on the role of Clinical Supervisor at Life Bridge Community Services in Bridgeport where he advanced to Clinical Program Manager. As an adjunct faculty at the University of Bridgeport and Fairfield University, Tomy teaches graduate level courses in Clinical Mental Health focusing on Trauma and Crisis Intervention, Multi-cultural Issues, and Treating Children and Adolescents.
Program Director
Program Director, Outpatient Services in Bridgeport
Originally from CT, Laura joined our management team in March 2024 and brings a wealth of experience from different clinical settings in different states. Upon graduating from State University of New York in Oneonta with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she attended the University of South Carolina and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work. As an intern, she worked in the Warriors in Transition Unit, assisting active-duty service members diagnosed with mental health disorders as well as working with adolescents in a group home and residential setting. Upon graduating, Laura focused her career on helping adolescents and adults battling addiction.
Upon a relocation, Laura’s new role was responsible for assisting in the opening and daily operational, clinical treatment and supervision for several new facilities in Kentucky and Indiana. Wanting to help those who have served our country, she relocated to work for the United States Department of Defense, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker fulfilling her commitment to our military soldiers. As they say, there’s no place like home and Laura’s final relocation was back to Connecticut, joining our team. In Laura’s spare time, she loves to read, crochet, spend time with her pets, travel, and is a volunteer firefighter.
Jennifer Chase ,ATR-BC,LPC,ADS
Program Director, Outpatient Services in Waterbury
Jennifer is a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist with over 30 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. She holds degrees in Psychology from Albertus Magnus College, Counseling and Art Psychotherapy from the College of New Rochelle, and School Counseling from Fairfield University. Jennifer has served in clinical, leadership, and teaching roles—including Clinical Director, adjunct professor at Albertus Magnus College, and guest lecturer for the American Art Therapy Association on trauma-informed CBT and substance use treatment. Her work spans partnerships with DMHAS, DOC, DCF, SAMHSA, and community prevention and crisis programs. She specializes in addiction, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and life transitions. Her holistic, trauma-informed approach integrates CBT, DBT, EMDR, Acudetox, and psychodynamic techniques. Jennifer’s relaxed, compassionate style emphasizes mutual respect and collaboration, helping clients create meaningful change and rediscover that “happiness is an inside job.
Carolyn Carlson, MEd, LADC, AADC
Facility Director, Trinity Glen
Carolyn began her undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts. Upon completion of her BA she was accepted into the graduate program and earned a Master’s degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Rehabilitation Counseling.
In 1993, she joined MCCA as a counselor at its long term rehabilitation program, Trinity Glen. Over the years she has played an integral role in the development and expansion of Trinity Glen Men’s and Women’s programs. Recognizing her dedication and expertise, she was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in 2006 and Facility Director in 2020. Beyond her formal schooling, Carolyn also holds specialty certificates in Co-occurring Disorders, Problem Gambling, Acudetox and specialized training in Tobacco Cessation.
Carolyn’s other interests are in yoga as a Yoga Instructor and is Certified in Yoga of 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR).
Christopher Keenan, MS, LPCA, LADC
Program Director, McDonough House
After 25 years of service as a park ranger and manager with both the federal and state governments, Chris embarked on his second career in human services in 2014 at MCCA’s New Dawn Therapeutic Youth Home. A student of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Ireland, he is a certified logotherapist and utilizes the humanistic approach to therapy, exploring meaning in one’s life through attitudinal change and existential analysis. A practitioner of both the schools of Frankl and Jung, he focuses on meaning-centered treatment and challenges his clients using story-telling, metaphors and the personal hero technique. Chris is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and holds a BS in Criminal Justice from John Jay College, a MS in Counseling from Post University and is currently completing his PhD in Criminal Justice at Liberty University. In his free time Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and their eight children, is a volunteer scout leader and reenacts the role of a Civil War Surgeon, presenting programs at schools and historical sites.
Emily Fiscella, LPC
Program Director, Withdrawal Management Services (Detox and Admissions)
Emily started her career with the desire to provide families of children with autism opportunities in the early 2000s; collaborating with schools for behavior programs. She facilitated leadership programs in lower Westchester for providers/teachers through United Way and high school youth in the Greater Danbury area through DYS to promote an inclusive high school community. As she started her own family, since 2012, She has been working with adults struggling with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders. She has extensive knowledge with behavioral health disorders and have been directing programs since 2019. Particularly, methadone and MOUD treatments and the prevalence of co-occurring disorders the last ten years. She also has experience providing Court Support Services including mental health evaluations, supervised diversionary program evaluations, facilitated MH/SA IOPs and started up Anxiety, Trauma, Marijuana, Anger Management, and gender- based groups to meet needs and challenges of the various communities she worked with. Her experience providing CBT, DBT, Trauma Focused, and Motivational Interviewing therapies has helped to train staff as they have on boarded within the previous agencies; as well as helped prepare counseling staff for CT state licensure. She also maintains private practice since 2017 and provides counseling supervision to students in their master’s program. She loves the ability to take a journey with patients as they become their best selves.
Ray Muszynski, MS, LADC, LPC
Program Director, Outpatient Services in Derby
Ray brings extensive experience to his role as our Derby Outpatient Clinic Director. With over 30 years experience in behavioral health with a primary focus on substance use treatment, he has managed outpatient and residential programs for some of Connecticut’s largest providers.
Ray has overseen programs in multiple locations throughout central and southwestern parts of the state, including Adolescent & Adult Outpatient & Intensive Outpatient programs, Older Adults Treatment & Outreach, Latino Outreach, Prison Re-Entry Case Management & Treatment, and 28-Day Residential Treatment. He has also been involved in several research projects including Rapid HIV Testing in Outpatient Treatment Settings, and Motivational Interviewing Supervision (MIA Step). Ray is trained as an EMDR therapist (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) for clients dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. Ray received his Master’s Degree from Southern CT State University with an emphasis on community mental health. Ray has been a guest lecturer at the University of CT, local schools and community organizations, and has taught on the college level at Central CT State University.
Peter T. Pizzillo, BA Psychology
Program Director, Sobering Center, Sunrise Terrace, Recovery Support Services/Region V Case Management, and Vet House
Peter began as a volunteer at the Sobering Center before officially starting his career with MCCA in March of 2000; being hired on as a Substance Disorder Technician and working his way up the ranks. He has continued to work in the mental health field since 2006, gaining invaluable experience working with this very challenging population.
Prior to entering the field, Peter lived in Manhattan and worked in a family owned produce brokerage business in the South Bronx where he gained valuable business competencies that serve him well in managing multiple residential programs and case management. Peter received his Bachelors degree in Psychology from Boston University. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running and working out.
Alyssa Barcomb, LADC
Program Manager, Problem Gambling Services
Rebecca Humphrey , LCSW
Program Manager, Outpatient Services in Torrington
Rebecca is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 10 years of experience providing outpatient treatment for adults with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from University of Connecticut and is EMDR certified, including training in addiction protocols, as well as Internal Family Services (IFS), Level 2 trained. She specializes in helping individuals navigate addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health concerns. As a lifelong resident of the community, she has deep roots in the area and is passionate about serving the individuals and families who call it home. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring the outdoors, keeping an eye out for local wildlife, or relaxing with a good book in one of her favorite spots around the Northwest Corner
Michelle Tardette , LPC
Program Director, Outpatient Services in New Haven
Michelle completed her BS in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University, and directly went on to obtain her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University. Michelle joined MCCA in May 2018, and shortly after stepped into the role as the liaison for the New Haven Drug Intervention Program. She was able to establish positive relationships within the legal community to better support and understand clientele. She continued to grow in clinical skills as she gained her license as a Professional Counselor, and stepped into the role as Lead Clinician, assisting previous program directors in daily outpatient clinic tasks. Following the position of Lead Clinician, Michelle stepped into Interim Program Director, before becoming Program Director of New Haven Outpatient clinic as of May 2022. Michelle utilizes Person-Centered approaches, with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her experience prior to obtaining her MS degree includes working in special education schools, helping children diagnosed with Behavior Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Macie Regan, LMFT
Residential Program Director in Kent
Macie obtained her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in creative writing from the University of Connecticut. After undergrad Macie began working in the field and found fulfillment as a milieu counselor with a therapeutic residential boarding school. Looking to further her education and service to others Macie sought graduate education with Southern Connecticut State University and obtained her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Macie joined MCCA’s clinical team in 2020 with MCCA’s Treatment Pathways Program (TPP), housed in the Torrington courthouse. Macie worked as a clinician in this program until her promotion to supervisor of TPP programs in Torrington, Waterbury, and New Haven. While in TPP she assisted with providing inmates with an opportunity for treatment as a diversion from incarceration and oversaw the inception of the New Haven Court TPP program. Macie’s hard work, experience, dedication and expertise have made her the perfect candidate to step into the role of Trinity Glen Women’s Program Director. In her free time, Macie enjoys reading, cooking, exercising, interior design, and spending time with loved ones
Imad Chleikh
Pre-Trial Intervention Program Supervisor
Imad obtained a Master of Science in Counselor Education from Western Connecticut State University. His degree concentration was Mental Health Counseling. At MCCA, Imad has held multiple roles, gaining valuable knowledge in various aspects of client care and much experience working with individuals with substance abuse.
Imad has experience working in multiple levels of treatment settings in the addiction and mental health disorders and worked more than a decade in a long-term residential facility, helping patients with co-occurring disorders reintegrate into everyday life. As a manager of Pre-Trial Intervention Program, Imad manage and guides PTIP clinical and administrative staff in ensuring the best quality services. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with family and play soccer
Laura Copperthite
Proud Program Supervisor
Laura has worked in the field of addiction for the last 20 years. She began her career at a behavioral modification program for young adult males, after graduation from the University of New Haven. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, with a concentration in Juvenile and Family Justice and Corrections. Laura then worked with two AIC’s agencies and in this time her desire for group facilitation grew. She then worked at an inpatient treatment program, where her knowledge of addiction grew. She has acknowledged she learned the most about addiction from the individuals she serviced, which she feels is the best education she could have gotten at this time.
Laura then began working at MCCA at the New Haven location in October 2014. When she started with the clinic, the IOP services were co-ed, and she pushed to have a separation for gender specific services. The Women’s IOP has continued to run, with Laura’s facilitation, since March of 2015. In 2020, Laura decided to return to school and obtained her Masters in Addictions Studies and her LADC. During her time in school she focused on trauma, gaining certificates in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Seeking Safety. She at this time started the female trauma group service at the New Haven Location. In October 2023, MCCA New Haven was awarded the grant from DMHAS for the PROUD (Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorders). Laura is the supervisor for the program, as well as the clinician providing direct support to individual that are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or postpartum, who also have a substance use disorder.