Meet the Evoke Wellness Waltham Staff
At Evoke Wellness Waltham, our team of well-trained, licensed professionals is dedicated to our patients. Our primary mission is to evoke healing and wellness through proven therapy for you or your loved one going through detox.
Our licensed physicians and nurses are central to the Evoke mission, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Our team comprises a wide range of behavioral health professionals to help the individuals in our care along the road to recovery. Psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, and other medical professionals work together with our clients to construct an individualized plan to meet their unique needs. Many of our staff have gone through recovery themselves personally, and as a result, they have devoted themselves to helping you on your journey.
Dr. David Kashan, MD
Chief Medical Director
Dr. Kashan is an attending psychiatrist as well as the medical director of Evoke Wellness at Hilliard and Evoke Wellness at Cohasset. He attended Bucknell University for undergraduate studies and A.T. Still University for medical school. Addiction and mental health struggles have impacted several of his close friends and family members throughout his life. Accordingly, it is his mission to make sure that those afflicted with these conditions receive the best treatment possible. He is extremely proud that the stigma associated with mental health and addiction is finally on the decline. “Life is hard and it is okay to not be okay. Personally, I see the ability to ask for help as a sign of strength rather than weakness. My goal at Evoke Wellness is to ensure optimal patient care, which means treating symptoms in a way that minimizes side effect burden and utilizes the least number of medications necessary to alleviate those symptoms. It is truly an honor to be able to treat and restore hope to patients who have so much to offer the world if just given the right tools to do so.”
Jennifer Harrington
Clinical Director
Jennifer Harrington was born and raised in Cambridge, MA, and currently resides in Waltham, MA. She graduated from Suffolk University in Boston, MA with a major in Personality Psychology. She then traveled to Boulder, Colorado to attend Naropa University where she received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology.
Jennifer has over 13 years of working in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment. She has worked in various treatment settings including inpatient, outpatient, and home-based services. Jennifer has a strong passion for connecting with others and helping them find and hold on to hope to experience the miracles of recovery. Jennifer works from a systemic, collaborative, strengths-based approach, with both staff and clients. She believes in a hands-on approach and is dedicated to supporting a team that creates a healing community where people feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
In addition to her Clinical Director position, Jennifer also sits on the Board of Directors for Hike The Good Hike, a nonprofit working to spread awareness of mental health and the healing powers of nature.
Dr. Luis Sanchez
Medical Director
Dr. Sanchez is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction and has worked in the field for many years. Prior to becoming a doctor, he graduated from West Point and served in the Army as a Captain in the Corps of Engineers and was airborne and ranger certified. He was a company commander in an infantry division in Vietnam among other assignments. Following his military service, he attended and graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his medical and psychiatric training at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, MA. He has remained in the Boston area throughout his career. Dr. Sanchez is on the board of directors of a trauma-based program which assists women with substance use disorders coupled with social, mental health, and family problems.
Dr. Sanchez joined Evoke Wellness in September 2022 as the Medical Director of Evoke Wellness at Waltham. He first heard of Evoke through his connection with our Corporate National Accounts Director who was his go to person for years assisting with referrals for his patients with substance use disorders. He was introduced to the Cohasset and Waltham programs which he found to be well organized and helpful for his patients who enrolled in the programs. That encouraged him to accept the Medical Director role. He continues to feel extremely fortunate to work with so many capable and enjoyable staff of Waltham PHP and IOP.
Separate from his medical and psychiatric career, Dr. Luis Sanchez considers himself to be an amateur gardener, an avid composter, and a furniture refinisher, as well as a lover of the blues and jazz from an early age coupled with his interest in the guitar.
Justin Halloran
Executive Director
Justin started working in treatment in South Florida as a manager for a few years. Once he came to Evoke Wellness, he started off as Alumni relations manager before getting promoted to site director. He loves working at Evoke Wellness because he is in recovery himself and it gives him a platform to be able to help others in early recovery and share his knowledge of the program and the 12 steps. He knows that he cannot keep what he has unless he gives it away and Evoke Wellness allows him to run 12 step groups and to pass his knowledge along to those who need it.
In his free time, Justin enjoys working out, taking care of himself, and going to recovery sporting events.
Christi Palmer
LICSW
Clinical Supervisor
Christi Palmer was raised in central MA and currently resides in the South Shore. She graduated from Worcester State University in Worcester, MA with a major in Psychology. She received her master’s degree in social work at Simmons University in Boston, MA. Christi has 10 years’ experience working in Mental Health Treatment and 6 years in Substance Use Treatment. She has worked in various treatment settings including residential programs, outpatient, and home-based services.
Christi is committed to promoting mental health and emotional well-being. Her approach centers around evoking hope and uncovering untapped sources of strength within each individual. Through compassionate and personalized care, she aims to help clients realize their full potential and achieve their goals.
Justine Brydges
Clinical Therapist for Veterans
Justine Brydges received her master’s degree in forensic psychology at Arizona State University and is currently working towards her licensure for alcohol and drug counseling. She is working as a Clinical Therapist at Evoke Wellness at Waltham. Justine works with Veterans living with co-occurring disorders, such as substance use disorders and mental health diagnoses. As a United States Navy veteran herself, Justine is honored to provide support for fellow veterans and witness them flourish as they embark on their journey to heal. Justine utilizes mindfulness interventions and CBT to help individuals learn different and healthier ways to cope and change their behaviors to support their goals. In addition to mindfulness and CBT, Justine approaches patients using empathy, validation, reflective listening, and motivational interviewing.
Justine began working in addictions treatment shortly after graduating with her master’s degree. Justine has worked in the mental health field serving at risk adults in the community, survivors of domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault, and has many years of experience raising awareness for suicide prevention. Justine was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2022 as a Master-At-Arms Petty Officer Second Class. During her time in service, she also served as a military sexual assault victim’s advocate. Justine is from Colorado but relocated to Rhode Island from Virginia on military orders.
Leticia Leao
Discharge Coordinator
Leticia was born in Brazil but raised by her parents in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her passion is her love for God and his purpose in her life. God led Leticia to the substance abuse and mental health field where she began working seven years ago. Leticia applied at Evoke Wellness as a recovery support specialist and shortly thereafter was promoted to discharge coordinator.
Substance abuse and mental health run in her family, and she has lost many loved ones due to addiction. It is important in her role as discharge coordinator to ensure her patients are led to further care so they can improve their quality of life. She knows recovery is possible because she has witnessed many people she has helped, stay clean and become stable. “That’s my purpose”
On Leticias spare time, she loves to read and spend time with her family and friends. She is looking forward to wonderful things to come!
Micah Polk
Program Director
Raised in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Micah, now the Program Director at Evoke Wellness of Waltham, began his journey at the facility as a Recovery Support Specialist after attaining one year of sobriety. With a background in operations, case management, alumni outreach, and admissions, Micah brings four years of sobriety to his role. Motivated by his personal battle with addiction and the loss of his parents to the same struggle, Micah is dedicated to assisting others in their recovery journey at Evoke Wellness Waltham. Witnessing patients successfully complete treatment and embark on transformative journeys is the most gratifying aspect of his career.
Mike Tarantino
National Accounts Director
Mike was born and raised in Massachusetts. He grew up with many friends and loved ones suffering with addiction and mental health and he lost countless friends to addiction and suicide. Because of this, he became very passionate about helping others who are struggling.
Prior to joining Evoke Wellness, Mike was the Director of admissions for a behavioral health clinic. During his time there, he had the opportunity to work with many treatment facilities and learn more about the field. He chose to work with Evoke because he believes in what they do here. The indispensable service and care provided by staff is what gives people hope in their own recovery. Mike works within the community, hospital organizations, and other treatment programs to connect people with the resources that will set them up with the best chance of success. In his free time, he likes to spend it with family and friends, staying active outdoors and sports.
John Moncrief
Operations Supervisor
Johnny was born and raised in Florida, growing up mostly in the Tampa Bay area. Johnny is a veteran and has served 3 years in the US Army. In 2016 he moved to South Florida in order to deal with his own addiction issues and to get a new start. After spending time working on himself and with others, he went back to work, this time in the field of treating addiction.
His first job in the treatment field was as a Behavioral Health Technician. Growing and excelling there, he was soon promoted and transferred to Massachusetts. Johnny has been with Evoke Wellness in Florida and Massachusetts going on for 5 years where he works with others dealing with the same issues he’s dealt with and overcame.
Johnny takes great pride in the teams he supervises, and the positive environment they have helped create here at Evoke. He believes client safety and client care are of the utmost importance and keeps it at the forefront of all that EVOKE does!
Ready to Make a Change? Reach Out to Evoke Wellness Waltham Today
We understand that the treatment process can be difficult at times. At Evoke Wellness Waltham, we are committed to assisting you in making progress towards a new life free from the grips of addiction. Contact our addiction treatment team today at 866.276.1920 to learn more.
