Meet the Palm City Wellness Team
Meet the Palm City Wellness team in Palm City, FL. Learn about the professionals providing compassionate mental health treatment and support.
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Meet the professionals
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The Palm City Wellness team is made up of compassionate mental health professionals dedicated to helping individuals feel safe, supported, and understood throughout their healing journey. Each team member plays an important role in creating a calm, structured, and respectful environment where people can focus on their emotional well-being.
Our approach is personal, collaborative, and centered around the whole person. From clinical care and therapeutic support to daily guidance and admissions assistance, our team works together to provide thoughtful mental health treatment for individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, mood changes, emotional overwhelm, and other mental health challenges.
Executive Clinical Director
Brittany Meurer, LCSW
Brittany Meurer, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience in mental health and substance use treatment. She earned her Master of Social Work from Florida State University and serves as the Executive Clinical Director of Palm City Wellness.
Brittany Meurer, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience in mental health and substance use treatment. She earned her Master of Social Work from Florida State University and serves as the Executive Clinical Director of Palm City Wellness.
Brittany is deeply passionate about strengthening individuals and families through education, communication, and compassionate support. She integrates evidence-based interventions, psychoeducation, and family involvement to promote healing, resilience, and lasting recovery. Known for her empathetic approach and unwavering commitment to those she serves, she helps patients and their loved ones rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and navigate the recovery process with understanding and hope.
Guided by both professional expertise and personal experience, Brittany brings empathy, structure, and advocacy to every patient and family she encounters. Her commitment to trauma-informed, family-centered care continues to inspire positive change and improve outcomes across all levels of treatment.
Brittany firmly believes that healing extends beyond the individual and that involving the family is essential to achieving the best possible treatment outcomes. At Palm City Wellness, she is committed to treating every patient with the same compassion, dignity, and dedication she would want for her own loved ones. She believes that when someone becomes part of the Palm City Wellness program, they become part of the Palm City Wellness family. This philosophy guides her mission to provide exceptional care in a safe, supportive environment where hope is restored, lives are transformed, and lasting recovery becomes possible.
Director of Nursing
Chevelle Machleid, RN
Chevelle Machleid, a Registered Nurse, serves as the Director of Nursing at Palm City Wellness, where she provides compassionate leadership and oversees the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. A graduate of Palm Beach State College, Chevelle brings extensive experience in psychiatric nursing and hospital-based healthcare, with a strong commitment to supporting individuals on their journey toward healing and recovery.
Chevelle Machleid, a Registered Nurse, serves as the Director of Nursing at Palm City Wellness, where she provides compassionate leadership and oversees the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. A graduate of Palm Beach State College, Chevelle brings extensive experience in psychiatric nursing and hospital-based healthcare, with a strong commitment to supporting individuals on their journey toward healing and recovery.
Known for her exceptional bedside manner and personable approach, Chevelle has a natural ability to build trust and meaningful connections with clients and their families. She combines clinical expertise with empathy, ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and supported throughout the treatment process.
Chevelle is passionate about creating a safe, therapeutic environment and works closely with the multidisciplinary team to promote excellence in care, medication management, and overall patient well-being. Her dedication, warmth, and unwavering commitment to those she serves make her an invaluable part of the Palm City Wellness team.
Medical Director
Dr. David Hu, Psychiatrist
David Hu, M.D. was born and raised in New York. He attended New York University where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Medical degrees. Dr. Hu completed his residency training and served as Chief Resident in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami. Dr. Hu is dual board certified in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
David Hu, M.D. was born and raised in New York. He attended New York University where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Medical degrees.
Dr. Hu completed his residency training and served as Chief Resident in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami. Dr. Hu is dual board certified in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Hu has been practicing psychiatry and addiction medicine in a variety of settings for more than 20 years and is excited to work with the medical and clinical team at Palm City Wellness. At home, Dr. Hu is a proud (and busy) parent of two sets of fraternal twins!
Human Resources Manager
Ellen Mitchell
As the HR Manager and Office Manager at Palm City Wellness, Ellen is passionate about supporting both our clients and staff in creating a positive and healing environment. With nine years of personal recovery, Ellen brings a unique perspective, compassion, and understanding to her work in the behavioral health field. She is deeply committed to helping others find hope and build meaningful lives in recovery, and I take great pride in contributing to a team dedicated to making a difference every day.
As the HR Manager and Office Manager at Palm City Wellness, Ellen is passionate about supporting both our clients and staff in creating a positive and healing environment. With nine years of personal recovery, Ellen brings a unique perspective, compassion, and understanding to her work in the behavioral health field.
She is deeply committed to helping others find hope and build meaningful lives in recovery, and I take great pride in contributing to a team dedicated to making a difference every day.
Licensed Therapist
Stephanie Haffield, LCSW
Stephanie Haffield is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 14 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health and substance use treatment to adolescents, adults, and families. She earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from Florida Atlantic University and has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while fostering resilience, healing, and personal growth.
Stephanie Haffield is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 14 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health and substance use treatment to adolescents, adults, and families. She earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from Florida Atlantic University and has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while fostering resilience, healing, and personal growth.
Throughout her career, Stephanie has worked across the full continuum of behavioral healthcare, including detoxification programs, residential treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), outpatient mental health and substance use treatment, correctional settings, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and community-based services. This diverse clinical experience allows her to meet clients where they are in their recovery journey and tailor treatment to their unique needs.
Stephanie specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, substance use disorders, grief and loss, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and nervous system regulation strategies.
Stephanie is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered. She believes that healing occurs through connection, self-discovery, and the development of practical tools that help individuals build meaningful and fulfilling lives in recovery.
Behavioral Health Nurse
Carlos H. Idarraga, LPN
Carlos Idarraga is a Licensed Practical Nurse with over 10 years of healthcare experience specializing in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and residential care. Throughout his career, he has worked with individuals facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, providing compassionate, patient-centered care while promoting safety, recovery, and long-term wellness.
Carlos is passionate about helping individuals build healthier futures and believes that recovery is best achieved through compassion, consistency, and evidence-based care.
Behavioral Health Nurse
Shara Brown-Stewart, LPN
Shara Brown-Stewart is a dedicated Licensed Practical Nurse and healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience in patient care. As a Lead Nurse in the mental health and substance abuse field, she is passionate about providing compassionate care, supporting her team, and advocating for those she serves.
BHT Supervisor
Tyneisha Powell
Tyneisha is an experienced Behavioral Health Technician Supervisor with over 10 years of experience in behavioral health, substance abuse and mental health treatment, healthcare support, and client services. She has a proven track record of leading teams, maintaining regulatory compliance, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care in Detox, Residential, PHP, IOP and clinical settings.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Danara Nelson, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC
Danara is a Board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience working in the field of addiction medicine and mental health. Holds two board certifications: one through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and one through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Jodi R. Julien, DNP, PMHNP-BC, AGNP-C, APRN
Jodi R. Julien, DNP, PMHNP-BC, AGNP-C, APRN is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. She specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, insomnia, and substance use disorders.
Licensed Therapist Group Facilitator
Crystal Cruz, LMHC
Crystal Cruz is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience working across inpatient, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient, school, and nonprofit settings. Since entering the mental health and substance use field in 2018, she has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges.
Group Facilitator and Yoga Instructor
Melanie Joy Adams, BA, MBA
Melanie Joy is honored to join the Palm City Wellness clinical team as a Group Facilitator. Now residing in the Sunshine State, Melanie hails from Massachusetts, where she studied Psychology at Clark University. Today, she enjoys leading psychoeducational groups that resonate, exploring a range of topics from emotional awareness, to self-love and coping skills.
Group Facilitator and Addictions Counselor
Alexandrea Squires, BS, CAC
Alexandrea Squires is a Certified Addictions Counselor with 16 years of experience in the fields of substance use recovery and mental health. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Addiction Studies and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Health and Wellness Education.