Our team of professionals is dedicated to our mission of fostering long-term, healthy changes in the lives of our clients. We draw on diverse backgrounds and experiences to help our clients achieve recovery.
Leadership
Arden O’Connor founded the O’Connor Professional Group to address the needs of families and individuals struggling with an array of behavioral health issues, including addiction, mental health disorders, eating disorders, learning, and other developmental challenges. With several relatives in recovery, Arden is passionate about helping families and individuals navigate the highly fragmented treatment system in a way that creates positive outcomes and allows families to heal. Arden is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. She remains heavily involved in community activities, as a board member of Winsor School Corporation, Collaboration for Family Flourishing, and Massachusetts Association of Mental Health. Previously, she served as a board member for the Justice Resource Institute (former chair), C4 Recovery Solutions, Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, Harvard Club of Boston, Victory Programs, and Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Boston.
Diana Clark, JD, MA., is OPG’s Chief of Clinical Operations. She is a renowned family recovery advocate in the field of addiction and mental health treatment. With a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School in 1997, Diana has been aiding families during times of turmoil for over 20 years. Prior to her work in the mental health field, Diana was a practicing labor and employment attorney advising employers in the implementation of clear and compassionate policies. As a specialist in both family systems and parenting, Diana is a recognized force of clear speech, logic and loving acceptance, and has helped thousands of family members establish healthy boundaries, manage expectations appropriately, and develop plans for their families. Diana has developed and facilitated numerous workshops for families and professionals and is also the author of the book: Addiction Recovery: A Family’s Journey, which offers guidance for family members of those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health concerns.
Dr. Jonathan Green, Ph.D., is a Senior Advisor at O’Connor Professional Group. A native of Massachusetts, he received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University in Worcester, MA. Jon completed his clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Boston Healthcare System with appointments at Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Here he completed rotations in dual diagnosis (PTSD/substance use disorders) and behavioral medicine while also conducting research in the National Center for PTSD. Jon has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has received awards from the American Psychological Association, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and the Military Suicide Research Consortium. Jon is a founding member of the Suicide and Self-Injury Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and is the current president of the Men’s Mental and Physical Health Special Interest Group. Jon enjoys finding compassionate and creative ways to apply gold-standard, empirically supported treatments for clients with unique needs, valuing the relationship between the client and provider as much as the quality of the intervention.
James Kostecki is OPG’s Chief of Business Operations. He is responsible for overseeing the strategy, development, and implementation of business operations as well as managing the finances of the organization. A graduate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, James worked for the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General before moving on to public sector consulting for seven years. During this time, he worked with state agencies in the aging, disability, early childhood, and mental health space to maximize public funding and improve administrative and fiscal policies. James received a master’s in public administration from Suffolk University in Boston. Always solution-oriented, James enjoys collaborating with his colleagues to solve complex problems and improve OPG’s capacity to best serve its clients and their families. He lives with his wife, daughter, and dachshund named Ellie in the suburbs north of Boston.
Dr. Ximena Sanchez, M.D. is OPG’s Consulting Psychiatrist. Ximena Sanchez-Samper, MD is a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist who obtained her degree as a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and completed her Addictions Fellowship through the combined Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital / Brigham and Women’s Hospital Addictions Fellowship program in 2004. Since then she has worked with adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders (and their families) at both Children’s Hospital in Boston and McLean Hospital. Dr. Sanchez-Samper is a vocal advocate of incorporating Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) into the comprehensive care of patients struggling with Opioid and/or Alcohol Use disorders. She co-authored a book chapter in the Handbook of Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence and published an article in Pediatrics in Review addressing the needs of patients struggling with addiction and its aftermath. Dr. Sanchez-Samper is the Medical Director of the Substance Use Services at Newton- Wellesley Hospital and Spring Hill Recovery Center. She is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and lectures throughout the country on Substance Use Disorders identification, diagnosis, and treatment.
Christopher Baker, LICSW, is OPG’s Assistant Chief of Clinical Operations. Chris received his undergraduate education at The University of Rhode Island where he double majored in Political Science and Sociology. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Chris pursued a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Rhode Island College where he completed field work at the Rhode Island Public Defender and worked with clients suffering from chronic substance use and other behavioral health disorders. In Providence, Chris completed further clinical training through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Providence VA Medical Center where he studied and was trained in working with individuals suffering from severe and persistent psychiatric diagnoses including, but not limited to, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. After graduate school, Chris provided consultation to a private health care company on managing the clinical care of the veteran population within their facilities. While in this position, Chris developed systems processes to coordinate veteran care in a clinically-appropriate and policy-informed manner. Chris has professional experience in inpatient psychiatric settings, partial hospitalization settings, community mental health and most recently as a therapist in private practice. In order to best assist individuals in improving their lives, Chris believes that individual evolution is the product of a collective process. In his work, Chris is a strengths-based and client-centered provider who utilizes treatment modalities that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. When Chris is not fully engaged in his work, he enjoys playing golf, being outdoors and valuing the time that he spends with his family and friends.
Jennie J. Kramer, MSW, LCSW-R, CEDS is OPG’s Senior Clinical Advisor providing clients and their families expert counsel based upon her years as the Founder and Executive Director of Metro Behavioral Health Associates located in Scarsdale and NYC. She is the co-author of Overcoming Binge Eating for DUMMIES™, served as Chairperson for the Board of Directors of the Binge Eating Disorders Association, and served as Director of the Renfrew Centers for Eating Disorders in NY and NJ. While she is a nationally known expert in eating disorders, her training and expertise also extend to multiple diagnoses and coaches many of our most complex families. Prior to her work in clinical and behavioral health she was a management consultant to the healthcare industry. Jennie has dedicated her life to helping others and is honored to be a part of the OPG team. She looks forward to providing motivational and therapeutic coaching to individuals and families needing support. In her spare time, Jennie enjoys spending time with family and friends and giving back to her local community.
Sean M. Rose, M.Ed., is OPG’s Diversity and Wellness Coach. Sean has more than 24 years of experience working with and advocating for the needs of individuals, families, and communities. He has held various leadership roles in the public sector, private programs, and municipalities. In Sean’s positions in the therapeutic community and municipal government, he has successfully partnered with schools, communities, corporations, and emergency services to overcome issues of social injustice. Throughout his career, Sean has successfully enabled youth, families, and communities to develop and meet their full potential. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts from Lesley University and was awarded a Master’s Degree in education and school administration from American International College. Sean and his wife Maureen are the proud parents of four beautiful girls. His favorite thing to do is to spend time with his family when not engaged in his work.
Jeremy Varnum is the Director of Outdoor and Experiential Programming at OPG. In this capacity, he coordinates and designs outdoor and experiential service recommendation packages for clients. Additionally, he supervises case managers who are responsible for delivering these services to our clients. With over 5 years of personal experience in recovery, Jeremy’s approach incorporates motivational interviewing, combined with outdoor education, adventure therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Jeremy has a BS in Kinesiology (Outdoor Education) from the University of New Hampshire and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Social Work. When he has free time, Jeremy can be found outdoors rock climbing, snowboarding, and hiking.
Amy Battey is the Director of Operations at O’Connor Professional Group, overseeing and facilitating daily operations for the team and assisting with administrative tasks. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an Associate’s degree in Chemical Dependency from Keene State College. After graduating in 2012, she worked as an inpatient mental health counselor, then as the shift coordinator at a social model detox. In spare time, Amy can be found reading, singing, or enjoying the outdoors.
Whitney Johnson is the Director of Marketing at O’Connor Professional Group (OPG). In this role, she is responsible for new business development, referent relationships, and ensuring families and professionals understand the services offered by and extensive capabilities of OPG to address behavioral health issues. Prior to joining OPG, Whitney was Founder & CEO of an international nonprofit that provided health and psycho-social support services to young people living with HIV. Whitney’s work received recognition and she was named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in 2012, attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in 2014, was guest speaker at Chicago Ideas Week, and has been interviewed on several news outlets. She leverages 10 years of experience in programmatic operations and business development. Whitney earned a B.A in Psychology from Colorado College and is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach. She lives in New York with her husband and enjoys hiking, surfing, and yoga in her free time.
Natalie Cohen is Director of Intake at O’Connor Professional Group (OPG). In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the referral process for clients and our professional partners. Natalie works in an efficient and clinically informed way with prospective clients to understand their unique needs and guide them towards appropriate services. With more than seven years of experience in eating disorders and mental health, Natalie comes to us with a passion for ensuring that clients get the services they need and aims to offer a high level of customer service to anyone who contacts OPG. A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono, Natalie earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Child and Family Relations. After graduation, she held positions in Marketing, Community Outreach, Intake, and Communications for Walden Behavioral Care, an eating disorder treatment center based out of Massachusetts. Natalie enjoys spending time doing yoga, exploring the restaurant scene in Boston, and doting on her Pomeranian mix, Bella.
Professionals
Sydney Breteler is the Intake and Business Development Associate at OPG. In this role, she is primarily focused on responding to inquiries about services and communicating OPG’s capacity to best cater to the needs of individuals and families seeking help and guidance with behavioral health issues. Sydney also works with the marketing and business development teams, lending her 8 years of prior administrative and communications-related experience. Sydney earned a B.A. in Psychology from Clark University. She lives in Boston and has a passion for worldwide travel, hiking, skiing, and always has a book in hand when she’s not spending time with family and friends.
David Carrigan, MSW, is OPG’s Director of Digital Marketing and a Clinical Case Manager. He received his Masters in Clinical Social Work from Boston College and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. David has worked in a number of capacities within the mental health field including as a Senior Recovery Specialist at The Center for Motivation and Change: Berkshires, an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility, and as a supervisor for the Key Program, a residential program for adolescents with behavioral issues. He specializes in working one on one with individuals to set and achieve treatment goals and employs a motivational client-centered approach. David is an experienced group facilitator and active in his local community. He is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. He is a trained SMART Recovery Facilitator and runs a weekly SMART Recovery group in addition to volunteering as a youth mentor. In his role as Director of Digital Marketing, David oversees OPG’s various digital platforms, marketing strategy, implementation, and ongoing campaign management. He is an experienced writer and avid sports fan.
Kaitlin Gatti serves as the Office Manager at O’Connor Professional Group. She provides administrative support to the team and helps with day-to-day operations in the office. Kaitlin holds a Bachelor’s degree from Plymouth State University in Marketing and Professional Communication. Her personal experience with family and friends makes her dedicated and passionate about working in the behavioral health field. In Kaitlin’s free time, she enjoys snowboarding, hiking and spending time with her family.
Jessica Getty, M.A. is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at William James College and a Clinical Case Manager at OPG. Jess earned a B.A. in Psychology from UMass Amherst and an M.A. in Child Development from Tufts University. Additionally, she has completed a certification in Applied Positive Psychology. Jess has worked extensively with youth and families through providing in-home family therapy, individual school counseling, and group therapies in community-based programs. She has a background in crisis intervention and evaluation. She has participated in several research projects through America’s Promise Alliance and The Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development. Her clinical interests include utilizing individual and interpersonal strengths to treat depression. Jess an accomplished marathon runner, and enjoys making art, reading, and vegan cooking in her free time.
Glen Harnish is a Case Manager at O’Connor Professional Group. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Connecticut College and is pursuing an education in both coaching and clinical social work. Glen takes a compassionate, client-centered approach in his work. He focuses on clients’ adaptive strengths, and believes that “the best way to get rid of weeds is to have a strong garden.” Glen has worked extensively with dual diagnosis individuals struggling with addictions, problems with time management, motivation, procrastination, anger and avoidance issues. He helps clients develop systems, strategies, and tools in order to manage their lives more effectively. Also, models positive interactions and behaviors. His interests include rock climbing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, hiking in the white mountains, stacking rocks on the beach, and mountain biking in the woods of the greater Boston area. He leads meditation centered recovery groups in Cambridge, MA. Glen also serves as a volunteer member of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Internal Research Board (IRB) which reviews protocols of researchers seeking approval to enroll patients in research projects.
Alex Kurjiaka, LPCA, is a Clinical Case Manager and Head of Talent Acquisition at O’Connor Professional Group (OPG). In this role, she not only provides coaching to clients in their communities but also sources qualified coaching professionals nationally for OPG. Alex has a diverse background in crisis intervention and treatment, working in multiple capacities in the mental health field including treatment admissions and business development. She has vast experience with behavioral health issues, specializing in substance use disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Connecticut State University and received her undergraduate in Behavioral Science from Concordia University in New York. Alex is also a trained ARISE interventionist. With a background in childcare, Alex has worked with individuals at all stages of development, including children and adolescents. She takes a special interest in family systems and cognitive and emotional developmental norms for adolescents and adults. Alex believes our journeys are unique and that each client must be directed to the best fit for their personal recovery. Alex enjoys photography, writing, and is a self-proclaimed science nerd who loves to laugh.
Justine Padula, M. Ed. is an OPG Clinical Case Manager. Justine completed her Masters at Simmons College and has accrued over nine years of experience working with individuals with behavioral and emotional challenges. She has expertise in providing care in families’ homes, at schools, and in the community as a client transitions back from treatment. Justine has experience conducting and implementing Applied Behavior Analysis, Functional Behavioral Assessments, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy modalities. She is passionate about supporting individuals in developing strategies and tools to manage daily living tasks, achieve their goals, and maintain healthy behavioral changes. In her personal time, Justine enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports, going to the beach, and traveling.
