Dawn Heimerle, MS, CCTP

Dawn joins us with several years of experience and a vast knowledge of substance use disorder and trauma treatment. Originally from Staten Island, New York, Dawn has lived in the beautiful Pocono Mountains for the past 14 years. A graduate of Walden University, Dawn obtained her MS in mental health counseling with a specialization in trauma in 2014. Upon graduation, she began her career in the treatment industry as a substance use and mental health therapist, while also developing an outpatient program in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which helped both adults and adolescents. While Dawn originally planned to work with veterans who struggle with PTSD, she made the move to drug and alcohol treatment, as addiction and trauma often go together.  

Alongside her professional and educational experience, Dawn has seen the impact of substance abuse first-hand, as various family members have struggled with addiction over the years. Dawn joined Pat Desarno, CRS, who offered SHIELDS, a support group for first responders, where he focused on opening the door to trust, honesty and recovery. Dawn brought her program development background and supported his dream to make this a clinical program for first responders; she then went a step further to continue to develop a program for veterans knowing that there was a need for this level of care that would assist in recovery of substance use and PTSD. Her vision was to support not only the patient but their family as well due to this being a disease that affects not just the individual but their loved ones. The SHIELDS program has since been changed to Stars & Stripes. 

Outside of work, Dawn enjoys camping and going to the beach with her three daughters, as well as meditation and yoga. As a clinical program coordinator for Stars & Stripes, she is focused on continuing to grow this program to provide support for our brave veterans and first responders who have given so much to protect our country.