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As Clinical Director of our Ft. Lauderdale location, Genna Risucci is responsible for managing the clinical staff and overseeing the well-being of the clients. Genna is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and she is certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy and Terry Gorski’s Relapse Prevention method. In May 2015, Genna graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Master’s degree in Counselor Education, with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In June 2017, she received her license in Mental Health Counseling. Genna grew up in Utica, NY, but she has lived in South Florida for six years. She loves running, hiking, traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
Grady Ricca serves as the Program Director of our Boynton Beach Location. Grady is a highly skilled, compassionate, empathetic, and client-centered counselor dedicated to the treatment of persons experiencing drug and/or alcohol abuse. He takes a 12-step approach with clients that is centered around the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Grady encourages his staff to express empathy and compassion for our clients. He understands that the road to recovery is a long and arduous one, filled with many challenges and obstacles.
In his current role as Program Director, Grady is responsible for the overall development and operation of the IOP Clinical Program. He works closely with all clinical staff to ensure that clients are receiving the appropriate care in treatment. Grady continually seeks to develop and improve the quality of the therapeutic services offered at The Beachcomber IOP.
Grady holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Michigan, and is a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). Grady is also trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and has an advanced certification in relapse prevention (ACRPS) from Terry Gorski’s CENAPS Corporation.
Courtney graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2011 with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and has practiced throughout the South Florida area. Courtney started working with the chronic and persistent severe mental health population before transitioning into working with individuals with substance abuse disorders. She has extensive experience working at multiple treatment centers, providing dual-diagnosis treatment to clients. Courtney’s previous position before coming to The Beachcomber was Clinical Director at a substance abuse treatment facility, ensuring medical records and treatment services were maintained to the highest standards. As a therapist, Courtney utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy but maintains a focus on cognitive behavioral and solution-focused modalities.
Michael Giorgi is a former Catholic priest. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Pontifical College of the Josephinum, and studied Adolescent Counseling at Fordham University. He taught high school for many years and served as a counselor to both students and families. Coming to The Beachcomber with 25+ years of sobriety and over 30 years of experience in this field, Michael serves as counselor for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Questioning Clients (LGBTQ). He brings a much-needed element into the field of recovery, with a specific program designed for the LGBTQ community. Michael facilitates both men’s and women’s groups and conducts individual and family counseling. Michael has served in many roles in the LGBTQ community, including Co-Chair of the Florida Roundup and President of Lambda North, the 12-step Alternative Clubhouse for Recovery in Lake Worth, Florida. In addition to working for The Beachcomber, he has a business, Dream Wedding Ceremonies, and serves as a non-denominational Minister, officiating weddings throughout Florida.
Eron migrated from Cape Town, South Africa, in 1995 after spending 18 years as a practicing psychotherapist, licensed as a Clinical Psychologist. Eron and his family have resided in Coral Springs for the last 25 years. He has worked in the field of substance abuse, both as a therapist and as a Behavioral Health Supervisor for Broward Addictions Recovery Centers’ (BARC) residential facility in Coral Springs for almost 20 years.
During that time, he supervised a group of eight counselors and techs, and focused on developing quality teamwork. He is qualified as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has attained certifications as a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), as a Certified Sex Therapist (CST), and as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS). He also received training in Certified Best Practices (CBT), and solution-focused therapy. He remains committed to working both as an individual therapist and as a team player within an eclectic theoretical framework, ensuring that it works effectively, is demonstrably ethical, is quality of life improving, and causes no harm to clients.
Eron retired from BARC in 2017, and still enjoys retirement. He has recently begun feeling a call to return to work in a part-time capacity in the front lines of addictions/recovery therapy. Eron is grateful for the opportunity to join The Beachcomber as a part-time employee and a member of the therapeutic team.
Ed Cejka is one of our new primary counselors in the evening for the IOP Program in Boynton Beach. Ed is a Master’s Level Counselor with state, national, and international credentials for over 20 years, and has been treating clients in recovery and with mental health concerns for over 25 years. He has been working with both adult and adolescent populations. He has clinical experience in addiction and has served over the years as a Clinical Director, Compliance Officer, and CEO administrator. Ed is also a Catholic priest. He is semi-retired in ministry, but serves the communities of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Ed previously worked for the Archdiocese of Newark at the parish level, extensively with the homeless and addicted. He is noted for involvement in feeding programs for the poor and working to get treatment programs for recovering addicts. Ed also ran a medical clinic and dental clinic for the inner-city poor.
Ed is a graduate of Seton Hall University, Immaculate Conception Seminary, and holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services. He has been teaching as an Adjunct Professor in Philosophy and Theology at Barry University in Florida for over 20 years. When Ed moved to Florida, he decided to live in the Palm Beach area He has two parrots he raised from babies, and has many horticultural interests. They keep him happy and always in awe of what God and nature can provide us humans when seeking serenity. He also has interests in Astronomy and Geology and has been on archeological expeditions in Ireland.
He brings many years of professional, non-judgmental caring to those suffering addiction and seeking serenity. His specialties include working with families, developing systems of coping, and relationship building. He has been teaching and educating people on how to reduce or extinguish unhealthy co-dependency traits, empowerment of women, LGBT communities, and education to identify domestic violence.
Ed has worked for the Broward sheriff’s office as a therapist in the Broward jail system. He has extensive forensic training and is a court liaison for Broward Co. and Palm Beach Co. He is well known for his contribution in the drug courts and Marchman Act advocacy. He serves on the Broward Interdisciplinary Partnership on Addiction. Ed is one who loves and cares that others are loved as well.
Ty Cowell joined The Beachcomber in 2019 after working at several other treatment facilities in the Palm Beach area and elsewhere for the last 13 years. Originally from Brooklyn, Ty now calls the Boynton Beach area home. Ty is currently enrolled at Springfield College of Tampa to earn his Master’s degree in Substance Abuse and Human Services. In his spare time, Ty likes to spend time with his family, play basketball, and work out at the gym.
Jordanna graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology, and began interning for The Beachcomber by reaching out to alumni who have completed the program and providing assistance on client case management. She currently helps out with both the clinical and administrative teams in Fort Lauderdale, and is set to begin working on her Master’s in Social Work at FAU. Jordanna is always eager to meet our new clients and learn about their past endeavors and challenges that shaped them into the person they are today.
Nancy Ewing was born in the Finger Lakes area of New York. Nancy received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in New York in psychology and education. Nancy has worked in substance abuse treatment centers, mental health clinics, psychiatric centers, a college counseling center, private practice, and as both an administrator and a clinician. Nancy has been in recovery for over 30 years. She specializes in working with trauma, co-occurring disorders, and families. When she’s not working, Nancy enjoys music more than anything else. She enjoys traveling and going to the movies. Nancy says, “I like to laugh”. Her favorite thing about working at the Beachcomber is the people she works with. She says that everyone is very compassionate, professional, and a pleasure to be around.
Dr. Culina has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years. She received her Medical Degree at University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1983. She completed residency training in Neuropsychiatry at University of Belgrade in 1992, and in Psychiatry at University of Miami /Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2007. Dr. Culina is board certified in General Psychiatry (2009) and Addiction Medicine (2014), and has more than eight years of experience in the field of addiction.
I started working at The Beachcomber in February. I enjoy immensely working with the staff here and the opportunity to have such close contact with the clients. It is a great place to work and do service.
