ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Manuel Guantez, Psy. D., LCADC
mguantez@tpnj.org

Dr. Manuel Guantez joined Turning Point as Executive Director in 2001. Under his direction, the search for a facility where all residential programs could be permanently housed in one location culminated in 2010 when Turning Point opened an expanded, custom renovated treatment center at Barnert Medical Arts Complex in Paterson, NJ.

Dr. Guantez has also overseen the launch of both an outpatient program in Verona and a groundbreaking Family Wellness Program, which helps local families deal with a loved one’s addiction whether or not that person has made the choice for sobriety.

Dr. Guantez received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Montclair State University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University followed by a Post Doctoral Fellowship at New York University. He has served the fields of addiction and mental health treatment for more than 20 years in a variety of capacities:

• In his very early career, Dr. Guantez worked in residential and outpatient addiction treatment conducting individual, group and family therapies, and coordinating programs for some of the more challenging treatment populations, including adolescents and individuals with co-occurring mental disorders.

• During his graduate and post-doctoral work, Dr. Guantez treated patients in acute psychiatric services, adult, geriatric and adolescent populations.

• Following his studies, Dr. Guantez served as the Coordinator of Addiction Studies at Montclair State University and, as Assistant Professor, taught all core graduate and undergraduate courses in addiction and mental health.

• As a consultant, he has worked with a variety of behavioral health and managed care entities to improve service delivery and treatment outcomes for various populations.

Dr. Guantez has been singled out as an important contributor in shaping statewide policy and practices in mental health and substance abuse by being named Chair of New Jersey’s State Advisory Group to the Commissioner of Human Services on addictions treatment policy. He also serves on the Board of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies and was named to the Merger Advisory Committee of the state’s Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health Services.

In addition, Dr. Guantez has served on the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services’ Residential Licensure Standards Revision Committee, the Residential Treatment Services Committee and the Quality Standards Substance Abuse Treatment Committee.

He is an international speaker and consultant who has worked with the United Nations to help other countries achieve the gains in combating addiction that we have seen here in the United States.

Dr. Guantez is a former U.S. Marine and Presidential Honor Guard. He and his wife, Katherine, have two children.