Gary brings an unwavering passion and over two decades of extensive experience to the Resilience Recovery family. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counseling, and EMDRIA trained EMDR therapist, he embodies a rich background in guiding individuals towards healing. His expertise also extends to Motivational Interviewing and certification as a SMART Recovery Facilitator. He has had both a successful private practice and career in the treatment industry. Gary has a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University, and a Masters in Psychology from Florida International University. He is a Miami native and started his career as an educator, first teaching English, then teaching students with severe learning disabilities and mental health disorders. In 2002 he began his life of recovery, and has been working in the field of behavioral healthcare ever since. Fueled by his experience working with the homeless population, initially through case management and employment development, he subsequently moved into a Primary Therapist role. Notably, Gary’s transformative tenure at the South Miami Hospital Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center spanned over eight years. Progressing from Primary Therapist to a Lead Therapist position, he ultimately advanced to the role of Clinical Supervisor. In this capacity, Gary supervised master level interns and provided invaluable guidance to them on their path to professional licensure. During his immersion in the adult and adolescent demographic, he keenly observed a surge in substance abuse and mental health challenges among 18-30 year-olds. To address this alarming trend, he developed and implemented a Young Adult track designed to address their unique needs. In 2017, Gary and his family relocated to Palm Beach County. Since relocating to the area, he has worked with all levels of care from detox to residential, to intensive outpatient treatment. He spent the last several years serving as the Clinical Director at a nationally renowned dual diagnosis treatment facility and has found his home, here with the Resilience Team.
