John McGuinness

Background

About John McGuinness

John is an inspiring leader and is also the director of Families and Adolescents in Recovery, Inc. He designed the program in 1995 for teens with substance use and mental health disorders and tested its uniqueness at Forest Psychiatric Hospital. In he transitioned the program from the hospital setting to a free standing outpatient facility. To address the complexity of issues each teen and family face throughout the process of recovery he developed a treatment team comprised of a physician, neuropsychologist, clinical psychologist, and counselors specializing in marriage and family therapy, social work, and addiction counseling. The staff utilizes the family systems approach in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. The staff is supported by peer counselors who are teens that have successfully completed the program and serve as role models to the adolescents who are currently enrolled. The participation of an extended network of volunteers offers support to family members who are often overwhelmed by the uncertainty of how to address their teen’s substance use disorder. Each teen is provided with support under the leadership of a case manger, who coordinates care with other professionals who are assisting the teen’s road to recovery. John believes that it takes a team of dedicated people like school counselors, teachers, psychiatrists, therapists and court officers to change the teen’s life for the better. Over the years John and his staff have helped many families and their teens break free from the cycle of problematic drug and alcohol use and other destructive behaviors.