Ali Theis
Ali Theis (she/her), LICSW-MA, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Trainer, The Center for Rehabilitation & Recovery, InUnity Alliance brings more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. Her professional background spans disaster mental health, case management, school social work, outpatient therapy, clinical supervision, psychiatric rehabilitation training, and coaching. Ali received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz and her Master's in Social Work from Boston University. Prior to joining InUnity Alliance, she worked at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, where she developed a deep passion for recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation. A native of the Hudson Valley who has lived and practiced in Seattle, DC, and Boston, she is passionate about fostering hope, resilience, self-determination, and community through a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and recovery-oriented approach.
Amanda Henderson
Amanda Henderson, MS, CPRP, Senior Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialist at InUnity Alliance brings with more than 10 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She has worked with individuals with mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders, those experiencing homelessness, individuals involved in the criminal justice system, and those with varying types of disabilities. She has worked in PROS, care management, supported housing, the Office of Mental Health in the Division of Forensic Services, and has served as a director managing CORE, Health Home Care Management, and Non-Medicaid Care Coordination. Amanda brings to this role the unique perspective of understanding the behavioral health system from the perspectives of a direct service provider, a program director, and a liaison within state government. In addition to her work experience, Amanda holds a Master of Science in Forensic Mental Health from the Russel Sage Colleges. She is also a DCJS certified instructor for Crisis Intervention Team training for Law Enforcement..
Kelly Tran
Coming Soon!
Marlo Pasion
Marlo (Maria Lourdes) Pasion (She/Her), LCSW, CPRP, Vice President of Training and The Center for Rehabilitation & Recovery, InUnity Alliance, partners with New York State mental health and wellness support communities to rouse and rally people’s resilience. Her background in direct social work includes youth residential and youth outreach, families of autistic children, older adults, domestic violence survivors, and outpatient adult mental health. Prior to joining InUnity Alliance (formerly The Coalition for Behavioral Health and ASAPNYS), Marlo served as director at MHA-NYC (Mental Health Association of NYC)’s Harlem Bay Network PROS (Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services). She has presented at national, statewide, and citywide conferences on topics pertaining to Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery-Oriented Practices. Marlo received her MSW (Master's in Social Work) from The Silver School of Social Work at NYU (New York University), and she is a CPRP (Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation practitioner) under the PRA (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association). She is currently a WIP-C (Certified Work Incentives Practitioner) and CCFP (Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional). Her social work lens is ever-evolving and strongly aligned with Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Recovery-Oriented and Humanistic principles, as well as Systems theory.
Melissa Diaz
Melissa Diaz, MPS, LCAT, CLAT, ATR-BC, Senior Training & Implementation Specialist, The Coalition for Behavioral Health, has 15 years of experience in mental health work, providing creative arts therapy and psychotherapy services within inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings throughout NYC. She has provided direct service to individuals with serious and persistent mental health conditions, families impacted by domestic abuse, individuals impacted by homelessness, and people with disabilities. Melissa primarily works with under-resourced communities and marginalized populations, providing person-center, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approaches. Melissa has experience utilizing Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery-Oriented Practices from her history as an Assistant Director at Seamark PROS of Goodwill NY/NJ. Working in PROS is where she honed her skills in integrating evidence-based practice with creative arts therapy techniques for treatment planning and therapeutic services. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and has done so through presenting at conferences and teaching graduate-level art therapy courses. Melissa holds a master’s in Art Therapy & Creativity Development from Pratt Institute, a New York license in Creative Arts Therapy (LCAT), and national registration-board certification (ATR-BC) as an art therapist.
Natalie Lleras
Natalie Lleras, LCSW, CPRP, SIFI, Assistant Vice President of Training, The Center for Rehabilitation & Recovery, InUnity Alliance, maintains more than fifteen years of experience in the field of mental health working directly with populations of individuals who manage significant mental health conditions and most intensely with the providers that collaborate with them. Her focus has centered around finding ways to support and advocate for individuals who are in the process of seeking recovery and bravely moving towards living the life they want for themselves. She has a history of training and curriculum development, clinical practice, and leadership in areas including the PROS Model as defined by OMH, Person centered documentation, Trauma Informed Practice, clinical supervision and management of nonprofit organizations. Natalie maintains a private practice as an avenue for remaining connected to communities in need. Most recently, Natalie was the Clinical Director of Rockaway PROS for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. She has also presented at local conferences on the topics of supervision, recovery-oriented practice and psychiatric rehabilitation. She is a graduate of New York University’s Silver School of Social work and maintains Clinical licensure in the field of social work. She is also a proud Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Provider (CPRP) and maintains a SIFI from NYU.
Pat Feinberg
Ms. Pat Feinberg, MS Ed, WIP-C, Benefits & Work Incentives Practitioner/Peer Educator, The Coalition for Behavioral Health, currently serves as a co-facilitator, in the Introduction to Benefits Management series and is a benefits consultant at her NYC office, where she disseminates information about work incentives. In her work, she draws upon her personal experiences navigating the system. Ms. Feinberg is certified as a Benefits and Work Incentives Practitioner by Cornell University. Ms. Feinberg received her BA in Psychology and Early Childhood, and an MS in Special Education from Hunter College. Previously, she worked as a Peer Educator at Steinway Clinic and as a Dialogue Trainer for Health and Hospitals Corporation in NYC. Ms. Feinberg has authored articles in New York Nonprofit Press and Mental Health News. She has also appeared as a guest on several of NAMI-NYC Metro’s ‘Mental Health Update’ biweekly cable TV shows, and is featured in educational videos including the Coalition’s own ‘Empowering Lives Through Community Mental Health’.
Stephanie Bouillon
Stephanie Bouillon, MSW, WIP-C, Senior Training & Implementation Specialist, InUnity Alliance, has a wealth of experience collaborating with New City Mental Health providers regarding utilization of peer staff and implementation of person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed principles. In 2012, she resumed her career in the non-profit sector as a Peer Specialist at New York City's first Crisis Respite Center and Warmline- a part of the Parachute NYC. This inspired her to move into training, first for ThriveAtWork Peer Training program, then into one of New York City's most notable Mental Health Peer Training programs- Howie the Harp Advocacy Center (HTH). At HTH she worked in an administrative capacity as the Coordinator of Employment and Internship Services, providing supervisory support to peer staff, coordinating internship and Employments placements, and providing technical assistance to programs hoping to utilize peer services. In addition to those duties she served as administrative support to HTH's Assisted Competitive Employment Program (ACE). She is a graduate of Hunter Silberman School of Social Work and currently sits on the Academy of Peer Services Advisory Council.
For questions about training, please reach out to our training operations team at training@iuany.org