About Us

The Hope Institute

Drug and Alcohol Rehab in New Jersey

The Hope Institute is an outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in West Milford, New Jersey. We help people recover from drug and alcohol addiction without putting life on hold, so you can get real treatment while keeping up with work, school, and family. Every plan starts with an assessment and changes as you get stronger.

Addiction rarely shows up alone. Our care combines individual and group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and dual diagnosis support for the anxiety, depression, and trauma that often come with it. As a state-licensed and LegitScript certified treatment center in New Jersey, The Hope Institute gives you care you can trust, close to home.

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WHO WE ARE

Meet Our Team

At The Hope Institute, our leadership team is made up of caring professionals and medical experts who are passionate about helping people recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Each member brings years of experience and a strong commitment to healing and hope. Based in New Jersey, our team has set a high standard for care by focusing on what matters most, the people we serve.

Leadership Team

Dr. Susan Woomer

Program Director

DSW, LCSW, LCADC, CCS

Meghan Zarnick

Clinical Director

MSW, LCSW, LCADC, CCS

Pastor Jason Krail

Chief Marketing Officer

MDiv

Dan Perlman

Chief Marketing Officer

Dan Perlman

Chief Marketing Officer

Meet Dan Perlman

With nearly a decade of experience in behavioral health, Dan brings a unique blend of professional expertise, personal perspective, and genuine passion for helping others. His journey into the field is deeply personal, shaped by his own experiences navigating mental health and substance use challenges, as well as the loss of a sibling to an overdose.

Dan began his career supporting individuals experiencing housing instability and other significant life challenges, an experience that helped shape his compassionate, humble, and people-first approach. Since then, he has excelled in community outreach, building meaningful partnerships with therapists, treatment providers, and community professionals to help individuals and families connect with the care they need.

Known for his authenticity, humility, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life, Dan believes that meaningful relationships, compassion, and access to the right support can make all the difference.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When Dan isn't building connections and supporting the community, you'll likely find him at the gym!

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Workouts

🎵 On the playlist: Depends on my mood!

🌴 Perfect day off: Hanging out in nature

✨ Something you might not guess: His love for Snapple bottle cap facts

💬 Words to live by: Anything is possible.

One Thing Dan Wants You to Know 💚

“I've been on both sides of the journey. Today, I get to turn my experience into opportunities for others.”

Shesha Dave

Executive Director

Shesha Dave

Executive Director

Meet Shesha 👋

With 20 years of experience in behavioral health, including over a decade in leadership, Shesha brings a dynamic blend of clinical expertise, compassion, and a people-first approach to everything she does. Her experience spans multiple levels of care, supporting children, adolescents, and adults navigating mental health and substance use challenges.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), Shesha is passionate about helping her team help others. She believes that clinical excellence begins with strong leadership, a cohesive team, and a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow. Her leadership philosophy centers on fostering collaboration, accountability, and a positive therapeutic milieu where both clients and staff can thrive.

For Shesha, the most rewarding part of her work never gets old, hearing success stories, celebrating small wins, and witnessing the meaningful progress individuals make along their journeys. She also believes that while the work is important, there should always be room for laughter, creativity, and a little fun! Whether through team-building activities or everyday moments of connection, she strives to create a workplace where people work hard, support one another, and enjoy the journey together.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When she's not leading her team, you'll likely find Shesha at the gym, exploring the outdoors and hiking with her family, or enjoying a relaxing day at the beach. She loves a good adventure, but equally appreciates those rare days with absolutely no plans!

💪 Go-to pick-me-up: The gym! Nothing like a good workout to reset and recharge.

🎵 On the playlist: R&B when it's time to pump it up; jazz on a rainy day.

🌴 Perfect day off: No plans, no schedule, just going with the flow! 🙂

✨ Something you might not guess: She's always up for an adventure!

💬 Words to live by: I'll never forget those who saw potential in me, long before I ever saw it in myself.

One Thing Shesha Wants You to Know 💚

I don't just believe in building programs; I believe in building people. When we invest in our teams, lead with compassion, and never lose sight of our purpose, we create an environment where both healing and growth become possible.

LCSW, CCS

Clinical Team

Cassandra Neely

Primary Therapist

Cassandra Neely

Primary Therapist

Meet Cassandra

Cassandra is a primary therapist and clinical team lead with 10 years of experience in behavioral health. She specializes in anxiety, grief and loss, relationship patterns, and substance use recovery. She’s motivated by helping people feel understood, recognize their strengths, and make meaningful changes at their own pace. Cassandra brings warmth, compassion, and authenticity to her work and believes that growth is possible when people feel safe enough to be honest and supported enough to try.

Cassandra holds an MSW and is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) and a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Level 2 (CASAC-L2). Her experience includes substance use treatment, co-occurring mental health concerns, CBT, trauma-informed care, grief support, and clinical leadership.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When she’s not at work, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her animals, reading psychological thrillers, traveling, and staying active.

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Shaken Espresso

🎵 On the playlist: Country hits

💬 Words to live by: “You can be a work in progress and still be proud of how far you've come.”

One Thing Cassandra Wants You to Know 💚

“You are more than what you’re struggling with right now. Change doesn’t have to happen all at once, small steps count, and you don’t have to take them alone.”

MSW, LCADC

Jillian Carbine

Primary Therapist, Yoga Instructor

Jillian Carbine

Primary Therapist, Yoga Instructor

Meet Jillian

Jillian is a Primary Therapist with 2 years in behavioral health, specializing in substance use disorders. Passionate about helping people in recovery live a full and meaningful life, Jillian brings humor, authenticity, and creativity to her work and believes recovery is more than just stopping use, it's about reclaiming the freedom to choose how you live, what you value, and who you want to become.

Jillian holds a Master's in Social Work, is a Licensed Social Worker, Registered Yoga Instructor, and has experience in substance use disorders, trauma-informed care, CBT, and DBT.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When not at work, you’ll likely find Jillian practicing yoga or hanging out with her orange cats and pitbulls.

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Swedish Fish!

🎵 On the playlist: Lucky - Britney Spears

💬 Words to live by: “Do it scared!”

One Thing Jillian Wants You to Know 💚

“Hope is the decision to keep lighting the candles, even when the dark keeps blowing them out”

LSW, RYT

Jillian Rogich

Primary Therapist

Jillian Rogich

Primary Therapist

Meet Jillian

Jillian is a licensed social worker with 2 years in behavioral health, specializing in Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Strengths-Based Practice. Passionate about creating a supportive, strengths-based therapeutic environment where clients feel empowered to grow and make meaningful changes, Jillian brings compassion and empathy to her work and believes that every individual has the capacity for growth and change when provided with a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment.

Jillian holds a Master’s Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Social Work and is a Licensed Social Worker. Jillian has experience in CBT, substance use, family systems, adolescents, and recovery support.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When not at work, you’ll likely find Jillian cooking, going to F45 classes, and binging a crime TV show.

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Going out to eat

🎵 On the playlist: Pop music / EDM / House

💬 Words to live by: “Skip the work, skip the progress”

One Thing Jillian Wants You to Know 💚

“Change takes courage, and asking for help is a strength. You don’t have to navigate the journey alone.”

LSW

Michelle Cilibrasi

Director of Case Management

Michelle Cilibrasi

Director of Case Management

Meet Michelle Cilibrasi

Michelle has 16 years of experience in behavioral health and is a compassionate, experienced Substance Use Disorder Clinician with experience in both professional and community-based treatment environments. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), she has a proven record of delivering client-centered care and facilitating recovery through individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and aftercare placement.

Michelle is skilled in collaborating with medical and psychiatric teams to ensure integrated and safe care, with a specialization in serving the homeless population and working in treatment-resistant environments. She is passionate about showing those who feel hopeless that there is hope and a way forward. She brings dedication and empathy to every client she encounters and believes that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and grace.

Michelle holds CADC and CPRS credentials and has experience in CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, substance use, mental health, family systems, recovery support, leadership, detox, and aftercare placements.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When not at work, you’ll likely find Michelle traveling with her husband, spending fun time with her grandkids, or gardening in her backyard.

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts

💬 Words to live by: “Let Go and Let God”

One Thing Michelle Wants You to Know 💚

“It's important to surround yourself with positive people, there's no room or purpose for negative energy.”

CADC, CPRS

Sam Baron

Clinical Lead

Sam Baron

Clinical Lead

Meet Sam

Sam is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with extensive experience in behavioral health, specializing in family recovery support, men's issues, and group work. Passionate about the very human side of recovery, Sam brings sensitivity and a steadfast belief in the power of recovery to his work. He believes recovery is often the key to uncovering the deep humanity within all of us.

Sam holds a CADC and has experience working with young adults, running weekly family support groups, and supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders.

Beyond the Bio 🌟

When not at work, you’ll likely find Sam engaged in community activism and thinking hard about how the world works.

☕ Go-to pick-me-up: Short stories

🎵 On the playlist: Love Will Find a Way by Pharoah Sanders

💬 Words to live by: "Thank you for wanting to honor me with the truth. It's not clever but it's more permanent.", East of Eden

One Thing Sam Wants You to Know 💚

Recovery. The word itself may be foreign to you. You may have had substantial experience with it. It may be something that has always been just outside of your grasp. It might seem terminally impossible, or you might feel fundamentally ready. Whatever the case is for you, I'm here to help you learn a little bit more about yourself, your recovery, and, most importantly, to serve as a caring home base while you navigate these waters.