Meet Our Team

Dr. Emilio Mantero-Atienza, MD, Ph.D, MPH. Board Certified Psychiatrist

Medical Director

Dr. Mantero as he likes to be called is a graduate of University of Sevilla School of Medicine in Sevilla, Spain. He graduated Medical School in 1981 and commenced afterwards his career as Medical Professional. Subsequently Dr. Mantero earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry and a Master’s in Public Health & Epidemiology at the University of Miami Medical School. He was a faculty for over 15 years at the University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He also served as a leader in the Behavioral units at different local hospitals in Miami including Cedars Hospital, Mercy hospital, Kendall Regional Hospital, Southernwind Hospital where he concentrated in General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine (Addictionologist). Dr. Mantero serves as our Medical Director for all our levels of care including detox and PHP/IOP/OP programs and oversees the entire medical staff including APRN’s, RN’s and LPN’s.

Nicole Walck

Director of admissions

Bio coming soon

Sarah Boivin

Alumni Coordinator

Bio coming soon

Yuta Varma

Directory of Operations

Yuta was born in Buffalo, New York and moved to South Florida as a child. He began his journey of recovery in 2010. He brings to United Recovery Project his experience of working in the field of addiction in multiple facets of operations over the previous years. He graduated from the Academy of Addiction Professionals in 2013 and since then has used his passion for recovery to help the next sick and suffering addict or alcoholic.

Alexandra Owoc, LMHC

Lead Primary Therapist

Ali is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida who is passionate and dedicated to helping those battling the disease of addiction. She believes in the healing power of connection, making it her mission to foster a strong therapeutic alliance and relationship with all of her clients.

Ali approaches therapy from a humanistic perspective, taking the stance that everyone is capable of reaching their full potential in life. Her goal as a therapist is to help her clients develop a stronger, healthier sense of self and assist them in accessing and understanding their emotions, in order to create meaning in their lives.

Ali believes in meeting each individual client where they’re at in their recovery process, therefore she utilizes an eclectic approach to treating her clients. As a therapist trained in Gestalt Therapy, Ali helps her clients to face reality, take accountability and responsibility over their lives, increase their self-awareness into destructive patterns of behavior, improve their ability to remain in the present moment and resolve any unfinished business or emotional blocks that may be contributing to their continued substance use.

While her therapeutic foundation is rooted in Gestalt Therapy, Ali also employs cognitive behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing strategies and person-centered techniques to facilitate growth and change with her clients.

Ali comes to the United Recovery Project with several years of experience working in the Addiction/Dual Diagnosis Treatment field. She has worked with a diverse population of clients on various issues such as substance abuse, PTSD, trauma, childhood abuse, grief & loss, combat related stress, depression, anxiety, anger, relational distress, defiance towards authority, treatment resistance and relapse proneness.

Ali received her B.A. degree in Psychology at Florida Atlantic University. She attended graduate school at Nova Southeastern University, where she acquired her M.S. degree in Mental Health Counseling. Ali received training in Traumatic Incident Reduction therapy (TIR) and is currently pursuing her MCAP.

Micah Goldstein, LCSW

IOP Primary Therapist

Micah B. Goldstein is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He brings to the United Recovery Project family over 30 years of experience practicing the art of social work in a variety of locations and with a diverse client population. Micah received his BSW from the University of Kansas in 1985 and his MSW from Yeshiva University in New York City in 1989. There he worked in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn with chronic multi problem families. In 1990 he had his first experience in the field of addiction working in two different residential treatment programs, Contact Pride Site in the East Village and Phoenix House on Wards Island. In 1994 he moved to Miami Beach, FL and took a job as a clinical social worker on the geriatric psychiatry unit of the then Miami Heart Institute. He became an LCSW in 1995. In 1996 he began facilitating group psychotherapy in numerous partial hospital programs and intensive outpatient programs. He also received his certification as a qualified social work supervisor. In 2000 he opened his own private practice on Miami Beach specializing in, among other things, the treatment of mood disorders. He then returned to facilitating groups at the partial hospital program of Larkin Community Hospital in Miami. In March of 2017 he was hired as a group facilitator at United Recovery Project. In August of 2018 he was offered an opportunity to increase his role and responsibility at URP and became a primary therapist in the Intensive Outpatient Program.

Ashleigh Repko, LCSW, CAP

Clinical Director

Ashleigh comes to United Recovery Project with nearly a decade of experience in behavioral health care and 6 years specifically in substance abuse treatment. Ashleigh received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Keene State College, a master’s degree in clinical social work from Florida Atlantic University and is a Certified Addiction Professional. Ashleigh believes in a holistic view of addiction recovery and uses strengths-based and client-centered interventions to help clients overcome their unique challenges and move toward their goals. As the Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program and psychotherapist, Ashleigh oversees daily outpatient program operations and ensures that all clients are supported in reaching their greatest potential.

Danielle Davoren, LMHC

Clinical Director