About Us

Meet the Team

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George "Slaine" Carroll​

Co-Founder
George Carroll, Chief Community Relations Officer at Charles River Recovery, has earned a reputation of being a pillar in the New England area…
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Dr. Salah Alrakawi

Medical Director
Dr. Salah Alrakawi brings over 30 years of expertise in clinical medicine, academia, and administration. He is dual board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine..
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Jillian Martin

Director of Clinical Services
Jillian Martin, the Director of Clinical Services, brings over 15 years of experience in behavioral healthcare and more than a decade in national…
Jess Conte

Jessica Conte​

Executive Director​
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Steven Barry

Financial and Municipal Management

Valerie Andrews​

Director Of Nursing​
Our Clients

Reviews

Hear from their experience.

Theresa Link
Theresa Link
May 20, 2024
Charles River Recovery has been a beacon of hope and healing for our family. Your overwhelming sense of compassion and dedication has been amazing. You provided not just professional care, but genuine support and understanding that made all the difference in my daughter's journey through rehab. Your personalized approach ensured that my daughter received the exact help she needed, and your constant encouragement gave her the strength to keep moving forward. Seeing her progress and regain her confidence has been such a gift. We are eternally grateful to Charles River Recovery for your unwavering commitment to her recovery and for giving us the hope of a brighter future. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there every step of the way. We are blessed to have found you in our time of need and you will forever be family.
Benjamin Manthei
Benjamin Manthei
May 1, 2024
CRR is a very safe, effective, professionally operated environment to receive treatment from various substance abuse issues such as alcohol and narcotics. No matter where one stands in their addiction they can know that they will be given the highest level of care and treatment. I highly recommend CRR to anyone seeking treatment that truly intends to get control of their addiction and live their life substance free.
Kijuan Badras
Kijuan Badras
April 25, 2024
I went to Charles River a week ago and I loved it throughly. The staff is very hands on from detox to CSS. They would take the time to knock on our door so we could go to meetings, when they only had to check on us every hour. I am prone to having panic attacks and they would often hold my hand or do whatever was needed until it passed. The meetings are led by people who are former addicts which is quintessential to productivity. The food was better than expected and the beds were comfortable. I would highly recommend this facility to anyone in the Boston area.
Lewis H
Lewis H
April 11, 2024
The entire staff truly cares, my room was very comfortable and clean, the food is excellent. The groups are thought-provoking and solid 12 Step groups come each evening. This is an awesome place to begin recovery.
Deon Chidarikire
Deon Chidarikire
April 11, 2024
Charles River Recovery has all my gratitude and love for the Most supportive system, comfort, knowledge, healthcaring, and compassion with helping me have a successful recovery not only in the facility, but going forward once I completed the 30 day program. The experience I had at Charles river recovery was very impacting with the help from the staff members, and other patients who were also in a recovering process. Personally I felt like I was treated like family. I called the same day i decided to seek help and received a call less then a minute getting off of the phone with admissions and was told they would have a bed ready for me whenever I arrived that day. As soon as you do your intake, and meet with the nurses, your in good hands. All questions answered and any other inquiries regarding an outside of the facility was properly handled with my case mangers. The case mangers are very dedicated in helping you with any of your needs well you are in your recovery process. Even if some a case manger was busy, any of the staff members would go out of there way for you to help assist as best as they can. This helped a lot with my recovery knowing that the support system they had, made me worry less with anything I had going. In regards to the recovery process, they are very determined that you are getting the proper medication, well cooked and healthy meals, daily group sessions, 1 to 1 therapy sessions, and aftercare plans for when you have completed the program. Overall the experience I had at CRR was truly amazing for me especially for me as I checked myself in not having an idea about it. I truly believe I was in good hands and I received the best treatment to keep enjoying and living a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally. I would like to thank Charles river for a wonderful treatment and recovery and highly recommend anyone seeking treatment to Charles river for the best recovery you will get!

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George "Slaine" Carroll

George Carroll, Chief Community Relations Officer at Charles River Recovery, has earned a reputation of being a pillar in the New England area for his commitment to supporting thousands of individuals in recovery. George dedicates his success to his own recovery from addiction and uses his own story to help others overcome their afflictions. George, also known as Slaine Carroll, is one of Boston’s most notable rappers and is an acclaimed actor appearing in films such as The Town, Gone Baby Gone, and Killing Them Softly.

George’s Charles River Why: “I remember waking up sick everyday watching my friends die and everything that ever meant anything to me leave. To come out the other side and live the life I have today has given me immense gratitude and purpose. There is nothing that fills my heart more than helping people rebuild their lives in recovery.”

Dr. Salah Alrakawi

Dr. Salah Alrakawi brings over 30 years of expertise in clinical medicine, academia, and administration. He is dual board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, reflecting his deep commitment to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care.

Currently serving as the Medical Director at Charles River Recovery, Dr. Alrakawi also holds roles as an Attending Physician in the Department of General Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Atrius Health, and the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC). His multifaceted work underscores his dedication to advancing both the treatment of addiction and general internal medicine.

Dr. Alrakawi earned his medical degree from Damascus University and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Woodhull Medical Center. He is also a valued member of the teaching faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he helps shape the next generation of physicians.

Throughout his career, Dr. Alrakawi has been recognized with numerous awards and honors from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, highlighting his contributions to public health, education, and patient care.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Alrakawi is an avid traveler who enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and immersing himself in diverse cultures around the world.

Jillian Martin
Jillian Martin, the Director of Clinical Services, brings over 15 years of experience in behavioral healthcare and more than a decade in national executive clinical leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY, combining psychology and sociology, and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern Nazarene College. Licensed as an LADC I and LMHC, she is also EMDR-trained. Her diverse background spans patient care in various settings, including inpatient treatment for underserved populations, utilizing an eclectic approach and innovative therapies to enhance patient experiences across levels of care. Jillian enjoys planning adventures, living life to the fullest, and spending quality time with her son.
Jessica Conte, BA, LADC II

Jessica Conte, BA, LADC II, serves as the Executive Director at Charles River Recovery. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bridgewater State University. With over a decade of experience in behavioral healthcare, Jessica has worked across various levels of care, including Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Acute Treatment Services (ATS), Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS), and Community Support Services (CCS).

Jessica is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, having obtained her certification in 2021. She is also a Blue Card certified Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) instructor. Her commitment to professional development underscores her belief that learning is a lifelong journey.

In her role as Executive Director, Jessica focuses on improving access to healthcare and enhancing patient care. Her leadership style emphasizes engagement through continuous training and development, fostering an environment of growth and excellence within the organization.

Key Areas of Expertise:

  • Behavioral Healthcare Operations
  • Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counseling
  • Crisis Prevention and Intervention
  • PHP, IOP, ATS, CSS, and CCS Program Management
  • Healthcare Access Improvement
  • Staff Training and Development

Jessica Conte’s extensive background and dedication to the field make her an invaluable asset to Charles River Recovery, where she continuously strives to advance the quality of care provided to patients.

Steven Barry

Steven Barry holds a B.A. in Economics from Bates College with extensive professional experience in both financial and municipal management. In his role as Director of Outreach, Steve leads the Charles River team in fostering relationships across the recovery community, local cities and towns, labor partners, and serving as a general resource for anyone seeking help.

Steve’s Charles River Why – “Anything I have ever done in my professional career has been rooted in helping people.  There is no more direct correlate to that end than assisting people find their path to reclaim their life from the grips of addiction”. 

Valerie Andrews, RN, BSN, CRRN

Valerie Andrews, RN, BSN, CRRN, is the esteemed Director of Nursing at Charles River Recovery. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from UMASS Boston in 2016. Valerie brings a robust background in acute inpatient rehabilitation and medical-surgical nursing, with significant leadership experience as a Nursing Supervisor at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree. There, she specialized in post-acute rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injuries, motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, and neurological diseases such as strokes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Valerie joined Charles River Recovery in November 2022 as an intake nurse, where she excelled in patient assessment and onboarding. Within less than a year, she was promoted to Charge Nurse and subsequently stepped into the role of Director of Nursing in early 2024.

Key Areas of Expertise:

  • Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing
  • Post-Acute Patient Care
  • Leadership and Nursing Supervision
  • Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
  • Neurological Disease Management
  • Patient Assessment and Onboarding

Valerie is deeply committed to addressing substance use disorders (SUD) within the nursing field. She recognizes the pervasive stigma surrounding individuals suffering from SUD and is passionate about being part of the solution. Her mission is to provide comprehensive education, resources, and promote acceptance and respect within the healthcare industry, focusing on patient-centered care.

Valerie Andrews’ dedication and expertise make her a pivotal leader at Charles River Recovery, where she continuously strives to enhance patient care and support within the community.