Our Team
Meet Our Team
Our staff community embodies the same beliefs and tenets we hold for clinical care: that individuals thrive and do their best growing when working alongside each other in a welcoming and committed environment. If you are looking for not only a job, but a place to belong, we’d love to hear from you.
Clinical Team
Megan Harrison, LMFT
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner
Megan Harrison is the Chief Executive Officer and a managing partner of the Anew Treatment Center. Megan has a wealth of clinical and managerial experience through her roles as a therapist, clinical directorships, senior managing positions, and as president of a private consulting firm. She joined the Hanbleceya Treatment Center in 2014, igniting her passion to bring an informed systems approach to helping individuals and their families heal from current and generational effects of mental illness. Megan is eager to expand the reach of a therapeutic community system that has helped to heal thousands of individuals for more than 40 years by bringing a renewed and fresh approach to the Scottsdale area.
Megan joined active-duty service for the United States Navy in August of 2001. While on active-duty, she supported deployment needs in the Middle East including efforts to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Following her honorable discharge in 2007, she supported government contract initiatives to develop employment opportunities for veterans transitioning from active-duty service into the civilian workplace.
Karlyn Pleasants, Psy. D
Chief Clinical Advisor and Managing Partner
For 25 years, Dr. Pleasants has helped create thriving therapeutic environments that have supported thousands of individuals and their families successfully build a life of self-management, health, and independence beyond the bounds of psychiatric diagnoses. She joined the Hanbleceya community in 1997 as a therapist, acquired the program in 2005 and co-founded the Hanbleceya Treatment Center, and has since dedicated herself to cultivating programs with a culture of belonging, hope, and sustainable change. She sees recovery and growth as a collective endeavor that relies on reciprocal support, promoting the belief that we thrive by receiving as well as giving back. Dr. Pleasants is considered one the nation’s authorities on working with severe mental illness at the individual, sibling, and whole-family levels. And now, she is excited to bring her vast experiences and clinical skills to the Anew Treatment Center team.
Jessica Van Leer, LPC
clinical director
A well-respected Arizona Board licensed LPC and Clinical Supervisor, Jessica graduated from Arizona State University in 2015 with a Masters Degree in Counseling. While she specializes in individual, group and family therapy, her particular areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, self-esteem, life changes and relationships. Jessica’s passion is to help individuals and families develop a pathway for growth and use those skills to improve relationships, increase happiness and decrease conflict. Prior to working at Anew Treatment Center, Jessica’s previous employment history provided her with valuable experience in adolescence and adult substance abuse, common mental health issues and behavior modification in a school setting. Experienced across various age groups, her primary focus is providing exceptional client care. Jessica has been licensed since 2016.
Jennifer Holloway, LMFT
Senior Licensed Therapist
Jennifer Holloway is an Arizona Board licensed LMFT and Clinical Supervisor, and received her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from University of Florida in 2016. Prior to working at Anew Treatment Center, Jennifer’s experience consists of working in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, providing individual, family and group therapy, as well as teaching experience as a Counseling Adjunct Faculty with the Maricopa Community College system. She works from a strengths-based perspective and views each client through a systemic lens; her focus is on empowering clients and their families, providing them with opportunities to learn, grow, and implement positive coping strategies as they focus on their healing and building meaningful connection. While she has experience in working with individuals from all ages and backgrounds, her particular areas of expertise are family conflict, trauma, anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, and adjustment to life changes.
Alyssa Rothermel, MAS-MFT
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Alyssa Rothermel is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who received her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University in 2022. Alyssa strives to increase awareness of mental health diagnoses and help empower individuals and families through a systemic lens. Prior to her time w0rking at Anew Treatment Center, Alyssa’s clinical experience consisted of providing therapy services in an outpatient setting, facilitating individual, group, and family therapy. Alyssa specializes in trauma informed therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and behavior modification. Alyssa is passionate and committed to helping individuals and families receive quality care within a therapeutic community environment. She believes support, connectedness, and honesty are aspects to growth and healing. Alyssa encourages individuals and families to share their stories in a safe cohesive environment, to learn from past experiences and create mindful change.
Kayla Karesh, M.A.T., M.A.
Clinical Consultant
For over 20 years, Kayla has passionately served with warmth as a clinician and leader, supporting integrative innovation to care for the whole person (mind-body-spirit), the whole family, and the whole community. Kayla has held program director, clinical director, and executive director roles at various treatment programs, including 10 years of service and leadership in the Hanbleceya Community, where she supported the growth and expansion of the model and program. Kayla’s philosophy is to compassionately embrace the beauty of our lived stories and how they are held in our bodies, families, and communities. Kayla takes an integrative systems approach, promoting wellbeing by noticing and leaning mindfully into the subtle moments where we shift and grow, trusting the interconnectedness of all growth as spiritual empowerment, where we change ourselves and future generations through attunement, love, and forgiveness.
Psychiatry Team
Devin Dunatov, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Dr. Dunatov was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, and from an early age had passion and dream of pursuing a career in medicine. He completed his medical education at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE and Phoenix, AZ. During that time, he found a passion for working with individuals with mental illness, deciding to pursue a career in psychiatry. Dr. Dunatov completed his adult psychiatry residency training at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI, and went on to complete fellowship training in addiction psychiatry. One of the biggest draws to psychiatry is the ability to sit with patients, hear their stories, and offer help in addressing mental health needs that will have impacts in all facets of their lives. He takes an individualized approach in treatment recommendations with each patient he partners with.
Aaron Wilson, MD
Psychiatrist
Dr. Wilson earned his medical degree from Tulane University in 2007. Following graduation from medical school, he completed his Psychiatric residency at Tulane University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and subsequently served as the Chief Resident of Psychiatry in that department from 2010 to 2011. Dr. Wilson has extensive clinical experience and has held many key leadership positions. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of Cottonwood de Tucson residential treatment center, Chief Medical Officer of Sabino Recovery residential treatment, Chief Medical Officer of Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital, and Chief Medical Officer of Cornerstone El Dorado Hospital. He is also actively involved in professional societies including serving as past President of the Arizona Psychiatric Society and is an active member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and Arizona Medical Association. Dr. Wilson is double board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Preventative Medicine in Addiction Medicine.
Clinical Residential Team
Brittney Quintana
Milieu Counselor
Brittney received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and is currently a practicum student completing her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Ottawa University. Brittney has a passion for assisting people in developing authentic and meaningful connections as they work to heal relational trauma. Brittney has experience working in individual, group, and family therapy. She specializes in treating eating disorders and draws from various treatment modalities including trauma-informed therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and systemic therapy. Brittney is an empathetic, compassionate, and empowering individual who strives to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment through trust and rapport.
Ursula Ridens, RDN, CEDRD
Registered Dietitian
Ursula Ridens is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 20 years of experience treating various medical conditions (digestive disorders, cardiovascular disease, etc.) and a wide range of mental health conditions including eating disorders. She graduated from San Diego State University cum laude in 1999 and holds additional credentials as a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Her career path has evolved over various settings including acute care medical hospital Clinical Dietitian, hospital-based Outpatient Dietitian, residential eating disorder treatment program Nutrition Director, residential community-based mental health treatment center Lead Dietitian, and private practice consultant.
Ursula’s passion for connecting with clients and understanding their health goals is paramount in leading to positive outcomes. Her non-diet approach provides a unique look at lifestyle choices and self-care while supporting clients on a path towards peace with food and body. Changing eating and physical activity patterns can be overwhelming and daunting at times but through Ursula’s authentic, compassionate, and non-judgmental care clients take realistic steps towards improving their health and well-being.
Gabrielle Dunlavey, MS, RD
Registered Dietitian
Brittany Gill, RD
Registered Dietitian
Brittany Gill is an Arizona native, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and soon-to-be Certified Life Coach with a variety of expertise in medical nutrition therapy, nutritional counseling, and goal setting for empowered lifestyle change. Brittany completed her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona in Nutritional Sciences with an emphasis in Dietetics and has since demonstrated her skills throughout the greater Phoenix area for the past near decade. Brittany is known for her ambition and pursuit of personal evolution illustrated by her departure from high-level leadership roles to pursue her passion in mental health and wellbeing. Brittany specializes in disordered eating, body image restoration, self-confidence development, and sustainable behavior change with current roles in residential eating disorder treatment and private practice consulting.
Brittany is an enthusiastic and engaging public speaker who enjoys teaching her community the holistic approaches to health and disease prevention through “food as medicine” and “nutrition as self-care” principles. If you nourish your body, you nourish your life. Brittany aspires to reform diet culture and cultivate a health-conscious and body-positive environment to embrace our individual authenticity. Brittany believes there is no “one size fits all” approach to health and happiness and finds bliss in creatively assisting her clients in becoming the best versions of themselves. In her free time, Brittany centers herself with mindful practices such as journaling, yoga, and meditation.
Gabi Buckley
Residential Program Coordinator
For as long as she can remember, Gabi has always had a passion for helping others and driving change. She knew early on that her passion to be there for others would take her far, fulfilling the dream she had set in place, and that is exactly what she is doing. After completing her 200hr yoga teaching training, Gabi knew she wanted to bring more awareness to the mental health community by teaching yoga. Since then, her continuing education in Psychology at ASU and previous work experience in an outpatient office has given her the ability to shape the perspective of others and help them find their purpose in life. Through education and personal experience, Gabi hopes to help eliminate any judgment or stigma surrounding mental health and to be an advocate for those who suffer from mental illness. In Gabi’s free time you can find her teaching yoga, reading, hanging out with friends or traveling.
Liliana Hernandez
Sunrise House Chef
Liliana is a self-taught inspiring chef that brings a cultural twist to our kitchen. Liliana is born in Chihuahua, Mexico and has lived in the United States for over twenty years. Liliana enjoys cooking for people she loves and cares about, it brings her an overwhelming joy of happiness and fulfillment. Her favorite dish to cook is enchiladas verdes! During Liliana’s free time, she enjoys being around her family, going on hikes and sightseeing new places around the world.
Milieu Team
Graysen Kimball
Milieu Manager
Graysen received her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Jamestown in 2024. She is currently studying at Grand Canyon University to complete her Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling. A highly motivated individual, Graysen has significant experience working with children and helping them to meet their emotional, mental, and physical needs. She is committed to creating a safe environment that promotes the growth and healing of all her clients. In Graysen’s spare time she loves to hike with her beautiful German Sheppard, Megy.
Virginia Reed
Campus Program Coordinator
Virginia originally is from Illinois where she got her Bachelor’s of Science in biochemistry and human development. From there Virginia came to Arizona over 3 years ago and fell in love with the views of the mountains. She graduated with her Masters of Science in health care administration. Virginia’s career path of helping other started at 16 when she worked with children and she continues to help others as much as possible. She has a good understanding of the population here due to studies and personal life experiences. She values living, helping others, and being positive when things don’t go as planned. In Virginia’s spare time she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and trying new food places.
Marketing & Admissions Team
Michaela Zermeno
Marketing/Admission Director
Michaela began her journey in therapeutic community treatment in 2014 and has helped hundreds of individuals develop the skills necessary for long-standing recovery and independence. She has managed various roles in her experience, including specialized activities of daily living training, academic and vocational plan development, and managing clinical and residential milieus. She thrives in creating community-bonding opportunities and has successfully developed and managed multiple events and programs designed to support clients and their families in building cohesion and connection. Michaela is thrilled to bring her extensive marketing and support of the treatment-entry experience to her new role as Marketing and Admissions Director at the Anew Treatment Center.
Alyssa Coelho
Designer & Media Manager
For more than six years, Alyssa has served individuals and businesses on their journeys to positively impact the world around them. As a modern Poet and Novelist, current Designer and full-time Creator, Alyssa uses the power of words, stories, and visuals to romance souls into falling in love with their precious existence. She reminds us of our wild potential, of our hungry spirits, and of the entire world awaiting our unique gifts. She coaches and designs to inspire and mobilize individuals and communities to take action toward becoming the answers our world, our cultures, and our souls need to create a future where every individual is able to experience a vibrant and authentic life.
Administration Team
Rianna Olson
Office Manager
A graduate of Arizona State University’s Family and Human Development Bachelorette Science Program, Rianna serves as our Campus Office Manager. She has a great passion for mental health and wellness, not only as it pertains to family dynamics but also as it pertains to her own individual wellness. In her professional career Rianna has been working in a managerial/administrative role since 2017. Her experience and passion for helping people is a great asset to our growth as a therapeutic community. In her spare time, Rianna enjoys painting, camping, hiking and hot yoga.
Nathalia Luz
Accounting Manager
Nathalia first joined the Hanbleceya Treatment Center system in 2014 as part of the accounting and finance team. She has a long history in both the Hanbleceya and BrightQuest San Diego programs, and established her own accounting business in 2018. Her familiarity with our system and her history of providing consistent and reliable support is a gift for the Anew Treatment Center system.
Kerry Paulson
Managing Partner
Kerry, along with his wife, Dr. Karlyn Pleasants, co-founded the Hanbleceya Treatment Center in San Diego in 2005. A leader in the mental health industry, Kerry has founded and helped develop various residential mental health programs in San Diego, Seattle, Nashville and now Scottsdale, Arizona. After the sale of Hanbleceya and Helix Healing and Recovery in 2017 to Constellation Behavioral Health, he stayed closely involved in the treatment-provision field and ultimately partnered with several others from the industry to help form the Anew Treatment Center, a unique, modernized version of a therapeutic community program model that has thrived for more than 4 decades.
Make an Appointment
info@anewtreatmentcenter.com
Phone
480-270-0024
Address
1250 Golden house, new york
Sample Text
