EMBRACE - Key Persons

Donna Koby is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as an Advanced Practice Nurse. She is a member of The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and obtained her Masters' Degree from Kean University and her certification in advanced practice nursing from South University in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been working in the medical field for over 30 years and has experience in a variety of areas, including many years practicing in mental health. She continues to be a dedicated, compassionate and knowledgeable medical professional within our Westfield, NJ practice.

Job Titles:

• Founder
• Medical Director
• Psychiatrist
• Member of the American Medical Association

Dr. Bolona is a compassionate bilingual psychiatrist, in private practice in Short Hills and Westfield, New Jersey and serves as a consulting psychiatrist for several local school districts. Dr. Leopold Bolona is an active member of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and has received several awards such as America's Top Psychiatrist and NJ Family Magazine's Top Child Psychiatrist. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Psychiatry and is contracted for various speaking engagements.

Erika received her master's degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Montclair State University. Her treatment approach is informed by a wide range of treatment modalities including but not limited to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Erika utilizes a client centered approach aimed at individualizing the needs of each client and/or family. Erika incorporates a mindfulness-based practice allowing clients to access resources within themselves. This approach assists her clients to understand their emotions with increased clarity helping to create a healthy and stable environment for themselves and their loved ones. Erika's experience focuses on a wide range of services for children, adolescents, and adults. Her work includes individual, family, group, and couple's therapy. She has worked in a variety of placement settings including, outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization. She is a bilingual therapist, treating in both the English and Spanish languages. Erika is committed to creating a safe and authentic

Job Titles:

• Family Nurse Practitioner

Geraldine Tyler is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Association. She also has advanced education in Obesity Management from Obesity Medicine Association. Geraldine originally attended Rutgers University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She then pursued her interests in nursing, graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She enjoyed seven fulfilling years working in various specialties including case management, neurological/stroke unit and psychiatric emergency services as a registered nurse. Committed to advancing her education, Geraldine then went on to complete a Master's of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in internal medicine, gastroenterology and weight management department. She obtained a Post Masters certificate from Washburn University and became certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, expanding upon her knowledge in the field of mental health. Geraldine provides personalized treatment services for each patient according to their needs. She believes in taking the time to listen to each patients concerns to identify the root of the problem. Treatment modalities include education, medication, psychotherapy, exercise, nutrition and/or other integrative approaches. She believes in helping one reach their highest potential and to that extent assist her patients in becoming mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually balanced. Her motto is "We Have Goals." Every patient can be assured that by the time they are done speaking with Geraldine, they will have a clear plan in place to address their most bothersome issues. She is fluent in English and Creole.

Job Titles:

• Neurological ICU Nurse

Heena Patel-Owens started out as a Neurological ICU nurse 10 years ago, but when she discovered her true passion has always been the human psyche, she pursued a Master's Degree in Psychiatry and currently works as a board-certified nurse practitioner at our practice. Heena strongly believes that every individual has a unique story, perspective, purpose and set of problems, which oftentimes impacts ones mental health. She believes one's mental health is the key to having the quality of life a person wants and her priority in treating patients is to achieve the best possible outcome with an individualized and therapeutic approach. She graduated with a Bachelors in Nursing from Villanova University in 2010 and a Masters in Psychiatry from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2017, and has worked with trauma, substance use disorders, and mood disorders.

Job Titles:

• Licensed Professional Counselor

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Lauren is committed to helping individuals acquire skills and strategies for coping with difficult life stressors. Additionally, Lauren has extensive experience working with individuals dually diagnosed with mental illness and an intellectual or developmental disability. She assists parents navigating the world of special education and provides parent coaching to manage or modify behaviors of concern. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist, she works with individuals with varying experienced traumas and utilizes a trauma informed lens in the therapeutic relationship. Additional areas of specialty include depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, substance use and overall emotional distress. Lauren engages her clients in active problem solving to facilitate understanding and her therapeutic approach is individually tailored to meet client's needs to reduce symptomatology. She utilized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) -- helping individuals change their unhelpful thinking and behavior to enduring improvement in mood and functioning -- to inform her practice along with other evidence-based treatment modalities. By leveraging the foundations of mindfulness as well as a wellness approach, Lauren provides holistic, person centered and creative treatment for each client.

Job Titles:

• Social Worker
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Lisa McDermott is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology at William Paterson University and continued her education at Rutger's University, earning her master's in social work with a concentration in addictions treatment. Lisa has worked with diverse populations in the residential and outpatient continuum of care since 2011 treating adolescents and adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Lisa is a passionate social worker that uses a strengths-based approach in her work. She has experience working with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, psychosis, substance abuse, interpersonal, and trauma. She incorporates treatment modalities including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Illness Management and Recovery, and Mindfulness. Lisa thoroughly enjoys guiding individuals, and their families, to improve their overall sense of self worth and quality of life.

Job Titles:

• Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Sylvana Garcia is a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Association. She holds a master's degree in nursing from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University. Before attending graduate school at FDU, Sylvana worked for 6 years as a psychiatric registered nurse for Clara Maass Medical Center and Jersey City Medical Center. Also, Sylvana has worked with children ages 5 to 13 y/o as a school nurse for the Orange School District. Sylvana is a compassionate and caring nurse. She enjoys taking time to listen to her patients and create the appropriate treatment plan. She believes in creating the right connection and wellness between body and mind. She is fluent in English and Spanish. She practices yoga and meditation on her free time. Sylvana joined our team at Westfield Psychiatric Wellness Center on January 2018.