Destinations Staff

You are here:

Exceptional, Accessible

care for teens and their families.

Daniel Samson

Founder / President

A welcome message from our Founder and President, Daniel Samson.

“Destinations is one of the premier teen treatment centers in the country. Both our residential and out-patient programs are designed to support the whole family throughout their journey to sustainable wellbeing. Our dedicated team of therapists and staff are there for each teen and their family at every stage of their recovery and beyond. By providing a quality safe-haven, a full range of treatments, and an uninterrupted education, we have one of the highest rates of success in the country. Whether treating mental illness, addiction, or both, our concierge service delivers a customized program for each teen with the goal of establishing a pathway to realizing a stable and productive future. We are also one of the ONLY facilities that separates pure mental health clients from those with addiction issues.”

Clinical Leadership

Dr. Baback Gabbay, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Kristen M. Roye, Psy.D.

Clinical Director

Clinical Team

dan carroll teen

Dan Carroll, LMFT CCTP

Regional Residential Services Program Director

Allison D. R. MacIntyre, LMFT CCTP

Program Director

Dr. Vasquez, PsyD

Program Director

Dr. Irit Bar-Netzer, PsyD

Director of Parent Support Programs

Kaz Katseanes AMFT

Assistant Regional Director of Residential Services

Oxana Boyko, ACSW

Therapist

Nathan Lindborg, AMFT

Therapist

selene acosta

Selene Acosta, APCC

Therapist

Wendy Palma-Herrera, AMFT

Therapist

Will McGarry, CADC 4

Recovery Services Manager

Ana Ramos, AMFT

Therapist

Cameron Klein, AMFT

Therapist

Deanna Lopez, AMFT

Therapist

Shahtaj Ahmed Khan, AMFT

Therapist

Tanisha Fulcher, AMFT

Therapist

Academics and Wellness

Scott Decker

Scott Decker, MA

Director of Education

Clara Mahmoudi, RN

Director of Nursing

Dr. Brian Holt, MD

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr. Tom Zhou, MD

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Community Relations

Jordana Goldstein ACSW

Director of Admissions

Alan Ellsweig, LMFT

Director of Utilization Review

Emily Montez, AMFT

Asst. Director of Admissions

Lacey Roberts

Admissions Coordinator

Karla Lopez Barrios

Admissions Coordinator

Support Team

Elvis Reyes, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Lesky Santos-Kiaee

Director of Human Resources

Tiffany Pineda

Director of Operations

Tiffany Hall

Facility Manager

Arlene Carlos

Facility Manager

Ayana Riley

Facility Manager

Devyn Moore

Facility Manager

Elizabeth Morales

Facility Manager

Christopher Devine

Sr. System Engineer

ClickCease

Dear Destinations For Teens Partners,

Destinations For Teens staff are actively getting vaccinated through the county and the hope is to have the majority of our staff vaccinated by the end of January, 2021. Destinations For Teens is likewise committed to educating staff to the benefits of vaccinating and to providing access to the vaccine to all employees. By minimizing the risk of transmission, Destinations For Teens is working hard to protect its clients, families and employees from contracting the COVID-19 virus.

A dedicated COVID-19 task force, including our Medical Director, Clinical Director and our Director of Nursing, provides written materials and verbal education and training to all staff. In the words of Dr. Baback Gabbay, Destinations For Teens Chief Medical Director, the message could not be simpler: "We are committed to the health and well-being of our patients and families. Our staff is committed to the CDC recommend cleaning protocols and have been fortunate to receive the Moderna or Pzifer Covid vaccine this week. Vaccination is important in order to help keep all our employees and the families we serve safe".

In addition to distributing vaccinations, Destinations For Teens facilities has implemented the following procedures for all in-person programs:

• Established a revised screening process for admissions, including questions about recent fevers, travel and mandated negative COVID-19 test results. Anyone who poses a risk to our centers will not be admitted.
• Implement active screening of residents and staff for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.
• Screen all staff at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Actively take the staff’s temperature and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, and sore throat. If they are ill, have them put on a facemask and self-isolate at home.
• Destinations For Teens has revised how they interact with vendors and receiving supplies and equipment, and other non-health care providers (e.g., food delivery, etc.), and take necessary actions to prevent any potential transmission. For example, supply vendors transport supplies to dedicated locations versus inside of facilities.
• In lieu of in-person visits, facilities are offering alternative means of communication for people who would otherwise visit, such as virtual communications (phone, video-communication, etc.)
• Creating/increasing communication to update families, such as advising to not visit.
• Assigning staff as primary contact to families for inbound calls and conduct regular outbound calls to keep families up to date.

Destinations For Teens COVID-19 Vaccinations and Updates.