About

James Boozan

James joins Blue Star Recovery with 14 years in the Behavioral Health profession, along with 15 years of sobriety. James has helped facilitate the opening of countless facilities throughout the country, as well as held positions across the entire spectrum of the Behavioral Health industry. James has held positions in Admissions, Utilization Review, Operations, Billing, Marketing and Administration, which allows him to bring a unique prospective to management. His 4 beautiful daughters, loving partner Lauryn, and mini dachshund Wally allow for unmeasurable joy when outside of the office. James aligns with Blue Star Recovery’s vision to provide the best quality of substance abuse and mental health treatment, while helping to enrich individual’s lives. Collectively we aim to rebuild families, restore confidence, and extend a hand to whomever may need it.

Dan Perlman

Dan joins the Blue Star Recovery team with nearly a decade of experience working in the behavioral healthcare space. Having dealt with his own struggles with substance misuse and losing a sibling to overdose, he has a multitude of incentives that have pushed him into this particular line of work. Dan spent the first three years of his career working with the indigent population in a large housing environment. He attributes much of his success to that experience working with such a delicate and vulnerable population. Dan has excelled in community-based outreach, and has developed a network of therapists, facilities and professionals who together help a unnumerable amount of people. Dan brings his expertise and humility to the table always, perfectly rounding out the team of professionals at Blue Star Recovery.

Justin Taylor, MSW, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, CCTP

Dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those impacted by substance use, Justin brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to his role at Blue Star Recovery. His journey began as a crisis response worker in Camden County and the inner city of the Philadelphia school system, where he witnessed firsthand the profound effects of drugs and alcohol. Motivated by a deep desire to assist those in need, Justin decided to dedicate his career to addressing the challenges posed by substance use disorders.

Armed with a master’s degree in social work, LCSW, LCADC, CCS with a specialization in addictions, Justin has continually sought to enhance his skills and knowledge. His focus on trauma has led him to train in EMDR and earn a credential of Certified Clinical Trauma Professional certification. This commitment to professional development extends to the supervision and guidance of therapists, who intend to provide the best possible care to clients. With a certification as a clinical supervisor, Justin is dedicated to shaping compassionate and effective professionals in the field.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Justin finds joy in spending quality time with his wife, Nichole, and their children, Jack and Kennedy. Their two rescue dogs, Leo and Linus, complete the family. Whether they’re exploring the outdoors, enjoying time on the water, immersing ourselves in the mountains, or staying active at the gym, these moments of connection and shared experiences are cherished in their lives. Blue Star Recovery is honored to have Justin as part of the team!

Deirdre Bernaz, MSW, LCSW, LCADC

Deirdre is a dedicated behavioral health professional with years of experience treating co-occurring substance use disorders. As the Clinical Director at Blue Star Recovery, Deirdre leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and families impacted by addiction.

Holding licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Deirdre specializes in integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders which include trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based practice modalities, cognitive behavioral therapy CBT, acceptance commitment therapy ACT to name a few.

Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to clinical excellence, ethical practice, and cultural humility along with building strong clinical teams, improving client outcomes, and fostering partnerships with community agencies and stakeholders. Deirdre’ s background entails working in various settings such as inpatient, outpatient levels of care. She holds a Master of Social Work from Rutger’s University and is eager to mentor the next generation of clinicians in the field of addiction. Deidre brings a passion to Blue Star that is unappareled, and we’re blessed to have her!

Taylor Strothmann, MA, LPC, NCC, ADC Intern

Taylor is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Blue Star Recovery, working towards a second licensure as a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Taylor received a Masters’s in Clinical Psychology from Montclair State University and a second Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Felician University. Taylor has experience working in partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient, and community support service agencies. Taylor has worked with people of all ages as young as eight years old with a wide range of mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc. She believes there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to therapy and utilizes different approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Solution Focused, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to meet the needs of her clients and help them reach their goals. Taylor’s dynamic group skills and empathy make her a valued asset to the Blue Star Recovery team!

Eleni Kalaitzidis, BA, DRCC, CADC Intern

Eleni has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is actively pursuing her master’s degree in counseling at Kean University. Eleni has a decade of experience in treating both adolescents and adults with co-occurring substance use disorders. Eleni currently provides organizational structure, overseeing daily operations including customer service and workforce planning. Eleni uses her fierce advocacy for helping others and is known for her compassionate nature in providing client centered treatment. Her direction entails empowering others through understanding, connection, and personalized care by helping others navigate life challenges and build healthier, more fulfilling lives. Known for collaborative relationship building, Eleni thrives in dynamic environments where agility, leadership, and strategic-thinking are essential by incorporating delivery of measurable outcomes that support organizational growth. Eleni is the glue that holds Blue Star Recovery together, and we’re excited to see what our collective future holds!

Robert Alfano BA, CPRS, CADC Intern

Robert has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Monmouth University. After Robert graduated, he became an International Flight Attendant for United Airlines. During this time Robert became educated in numerous different customs and cultures. Robert soon after entered the addiction field as a Treatment Associate, CADC Intern and then became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. He is currently working towards his CADC. Robert has been working with clients for serval years and has a passion for helping people in the substance field. Robert incorporates his enthusiasm and knowledge in health and nutrition to promote a healthy lifestyle to clients. Robert’s commitment to individuals trying to remain sober is incredibly valuable, and we’re so happy to have him in the Blue Star Recovery family!