The People Treating Your Teen

Anthony Fletcher is the Founder and CEO of Hillside Horizon, dedicated to helping teens and their families navigate some of life’s most challenging seasons. With more than a decade of experience in the mental health and substance use treatment field, Anthony has worked across nearly every department, combining leadership, clinical education, and hands-on frontline experience. His passion lies in building exceptional teams of people who share his commitment to helping young people discover their strengths, rebuild confidence, and find purpose in their lives.

Anthony’s connection to this work is deeply personal. During his own teenage years, his family experienced firsthand the challenges of finding high-quality, trustworthy behavioral health services, inspiring his commitment to creating a better treatment experience for families. Having also served as a motivational speaker in middle and high schools, Anthony’s mission is to raise the standard of adolescent mental healthcare by creating an environment where teens feel understood, families feel supported, and every young person is treated as more than a diagnosis.

Alejandro Alva, M.D., is the Founder, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists (PNS), a reputable psychiatric medical group that specializes in treating psychiatric disorders and dual diagnosis conditions, including substance use disorders. Dr. Alva earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton, and completed medical school at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine in Mexico. He then returned to California, where he completed his psychiatric residency at the University of California, Irvine.

Prior to Dr. Alva’s formation of PNS, he was involved in multiple endeavors, including detoxification and rehabilitation work, both inpatient and outpatient, including the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Chapman Medical Center in Orange, as well as multiple rehabilitation centers. Since the formation of PNS, Dr. Alva’s focus is on the latest treatments available for psychiatric disorders and chemical dependency as well as aspects of ethnicity and gender and their correlation to pathological states.

With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Alva has served the medical community in various capacities: as a patient advocate, researcher, and medical director. His expertise in adolescent, adult, and geriatric psychiatry makes him one of the nation’s most innovative and prominent psychiatrists. Dr. Alva and his team at PNS are committed to utilizing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, including anti-craving treatments, to address complex dual diagnosis conditions such as depression and substance use disorders.

Stacia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a longstanding passion for supporting children, adolescents, and families. She began her career in Infant Mental Health and Early Childhood Development, working with children ages 0–5 and families facing socioeconomic barriers to accessing quality care. She later transitioned into middle and high school settings, serving as an educational liaison where she worked closely with teachers and school staff to strengthen their understanding of mental health, recognize students’ emotional and behavioral needs, and promote a more supportive learning environment.

She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco in 2012 and has been licensed since 2020. Throughout her career, Stacia has served in clinical leadership roles, including as Clinical Director, where she combines her experience, compassion, and commitment to mental health to support clients, families, and clinical teams.

Driven by her personal experience, Jess has found purpose in helping individuals and families navigate behavioral health care. She began her career more than 11 years ago as a driver and behavioral health technician and has since served in multiple roles, developing a broad understanding of the responsibilities and complexities across levels of care. Jess completed her Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certification at Saddleback College and earned her bachelor’s degree in Community Advocacy and Social Policy from Arizona State University.

As Director of Outreach at Hillside Horizon for Teens, Jess combines her experience with a passion for helping others. Whether answering questions about the residential program or connecting families with resources, she is committed to helping parents and teens feel informed, supported, and encouraged throughout their journey toward healing.

Aaron brings more than 13 years of experience in the mental health field and a deep commitment to helping others. After spending much of his career working with adults, he transitioned to adolescent care, recognizing the opportunity to make a meaningful difference earlier in life. At Hillside Horizon for Teens, he understands that being a family’s first point of contact is an important responsibility and approaches each conversation with compassion, patience, and respect.

Inspired by his own challenges growing up, Aaron understands the value of seeking help and how difficult that decision can be for families. He is dedicated to helping parents and teens feel heard, supported, and informed as they take the first steps toward residential mental health care.

Alyssa leads day-to-day programming with a focus on structure, safety, and skill-building. She coordinates milieu staff, schedules, and the routines that help teens stay steady while they do hard therapeutic work.

Victor brings deep experience supporting youth with complex behavioral needs. He partners with clinical leadership to keep groups small, interventions consistent, and every teen's plan visible to the whole team.

Justin has more than fifteen years working with adolescents in behavioral health. He helps teams stay accountable to each teen's goals inside and outside session.

Zaida provides individual and family therapy using CBT, DBT, and related methods chosen for each teen's diagnosis and history. She is direct, warm, and steady under pressure.

Brandon supports teens working through anxiety, depression, trauma, and family conflict. He collaborates closely with program staff so skills practiced in therapy carry into daily residential life.

Raul coordinates care transitions, documentation, and communication between clinical, program, and family systems. Families rely on him for clarity about meetings, updates, and next steps.

Banay advocates for teens with special needs and at-risk youth, helping translate treatment goals into daily supports on campus. Her background in behavioral health keeps care plans practical for staff and understandable for parents.

Kayla assists clinicians and program leaders with scheduling, charting, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps treatment running smoothly. She is often the friendly face families meet when visiting campus.

Katherine oversees nursing assessments, medication coordination, and the medical monitoring teens need in residential care. Parents appreciate her clear communication about health, safety, and daily wellness.

Judy supports round-the-clock nursing coverage alongside our LVN team, helping teens stay medically stable while they engage in therapy.

Michael leads our culinary program with restaurant-quality meals that support brain health, routine, and community at the table. Good nutrition is part of how teens learn to care for themselves again.

Arturo partners with Michael to keep our kitchen running smoothly for a busy residential campus. Together they accommodate dietary needs and make mealtime a grounding part of each day.