Leadership Team

Alex Klein, MS, LCSW, Executive Director

For Alex, the path to mental health care started with a deeply personal journey. As a teenager, he overcame his own mental health challenges with the help of skilled, compassionate therapists, an experience that fueled his lifelong commitment to supporting others on their own paths to healing and self-discovery.

Alex holds degrees in psychology, English, recreational therapy, and clinical social work, offering a rare blend of clinical insight and creative thinking. His career began in a therapeutic school setting, where he lived and worked alongside youth navigating emotional and behavioral challenges. From teaching 8th-grade English to becoming a program director, Alex spent nearly two decades shaping therapeutic programs while staying closely connected to the individuals and families he served …read more»

Emily Fulcher, LPC, Clinical Director, Creative Director, Farmington

Emily first decided to enter the therapeutic field after dealing with a serious medical condition as a child. Through her time in the hospital, Emily felt immense impact from the compassionate adults helping her cope and process her medical experience. Emily became inspired by the visual arts and the ability to cope with the world around her through creativity. This led Emily to pursue a career in human services, working with youth and young adults in various settings.

Emily received her undergraduate degree in Art Therapy and her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy. Within these programs, Emily had various experiences in the field working with youth in nonprofit, art studio, and hospital environments. Emily’s most recent fieldwork consisted of working with adolescents in a a partial hospital setting supporting client’s transitions out of inpatient mental health settings.

Emily previously spent 8 years working at a nonprofit serving children and families with life-threatening and serious illnesses. Emily spent several years working on family and child-exclusive programming, volunteer coordination, and creative program design with the organization. During this time, it became clear to Emily that the mental health needs of individuals experiencing hardship and transition were not addressed to their potential.

Emily can best be described as creative and goal-oriented, which are characteristics important to her therapeutic work. Emily utilizes the visual arts and creative expression in her work with clients of all ages, especially children. Emily believes that there are several ways to cope through challenges and obstacles, and her clinical responsibility is to work with clients to explore and utilize these options. She believes that medical and psychiatric challenges affect the individual facing them as well as the entire family and support system. Through fostering a safe environment and meaningful relationship, Emily aims to connect with each client she works with on an individual basis, meeting them where they are at.

In her free time, Emily enjoys creating art, reading, cooking, and traveling with family and friends. She enjoys spending time at the beach and being outdoors with clients whenever possible. Emily hopes to integrate these passions and experiences in her creative and therapeutic work at Shoreline.

Dennis Rinaldi, MPA, Director of Admissions and Development

​Dennis Rinaldi joins The Center team from Harrison, New York. During his college years, he was a stand-out basketball player and led his team as Captain, MVP, and the school’s first All-Conference first-team award winner. Dennis applies his positive on-the-court attitude to his work with children and families. He has always found joy working with kids and has led volunteer trips, nonprofit fundraisers and community events to support youth development.

After graduation, Dennis worked at a therapeutic boarding school for adolescents who, because of social or emotional difficulties, have been unable to make satisfactory adjustments in their home or school environments. He began as a teacher/counselor and was quickly promoted to an advisor/ residential administrator role. He spent 3 years working directly with families and young adults. He was a mentor, coach and role model for residential students and the staff he worked with.

For the past 4 years, Dennis has been working as the Program Director at a non-profit organization for children with severe and life-threatening illnesses. He manages a team of thirty-five counselors, overseas safety for all program activities and focuses on providing a different kind of counseling and healing for children and their families.

Dennis has called New England home for the past 10 years and presently lives on the Connecticut Shoreline.

Janice Lynch, Business Assistant

Jan is The Center practice manager. She ensures that our office runs smoothly and is often one of the first people our clients interact with during the intake process. In short, without Jan, The Center would simply not function!

Jan is a native of Connecticut and has been living on the Shoreline for over 35 years. She enjoys going to the beach, boating, and spending time with family and friends.

In addition to her office manager role at The Center, Jan has been working with the Westbrook school district for over 30 years as a Food Service Manager and enjoys being a care taker to her two grandsons.

Jake Zoubek, LMFT, Clinical Director

Jake comes to The Center with experience working directly with individuals with behavioral health needs, ranging from autism spectrum disorder to anxiety and substance use disorders. Jake completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in addictions. During his time at college, he worked counseling adolescents with autism, providing one on one care to improve maladaptive behaviors. Jake also spent 6 months in Spain, studying psychology, which afforded him an opportunity to grow as a culturally competent therapist.

During his time in graduate school, Jake worked as a milieu therapist at a residential substance program, providing support to adolescents struggling with substance abuse in an inpatient setting. He provided individual, group, and family therapy to adolescents and young adults struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. During this time, Jake also created and facilitated a parent support group for loved ones of clients. Jake worked as an in-home counselor for a community mental health agency, helping adolescents with conduct/substance disorders navigate struggles within school, community, family and judicial settings. Jake brings a solution-focused approach to therapy, providing clients with support while helping them take steps to achieve their goals.

At The Center, Jake works with adolescents and their families, he is active as a clinician and as a connections coach. Additionally, Jake provides supervision and consultation for all of our Connection coaches.

In his free time, you can find Jake snowboarding, rock climbing, and doing anything else that gets his heart racing!

Hailey Byrne, LMSW, Therapist

Hailey is a Licensed Master Social Worker who is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and their families and helping them foster emotional intelligence and mental well-being. She is committed to providing a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build strong self-esteem.

During her undergraduate career, Hailey was appointed as the undergraduate research coordinator of a child and adolescent anxiety lab. She also pursued an internship where she was able to gain experience in both a children’s outpatient clinic as well as an intensive outpatient program for kids aged 5-12. Hailey previously worked in a public middle school providing individual and group services to students. Hailey received a certificate in Interdisciplinary Early Intervention with Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder through her graduate level work.

Hailey uses a systems theory that emphasizes the importance of building a relationship with her clients as well as their families. Additionally, she integrates a strengths-based approach in her work with clients to help them discover their highest potential. Hailey enjoys being creative in her practice in order to tailor her interventions to the needs of the individual or family she is working with. She uses engaging therapeutic techniques, such as play therapy, art therapy, and interactive activities, which can be particularly effective and rewarding when working with younger clients.

In her free time, Hailey enjoys spending time with friends and family. She loves spending time at the beach, staying active, walking her dog, and practicing self-care.

Kate O’Connor, MS Director of Connections Coaching

Kate joins the team of Connections Coaches after working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Kate has worked among various community-based, in-home, and clinical settings. She has experience with individuals across the lifespan, focusing on vocational skills, life skills, and academics.

She graduated from Springfield College with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies concentrating in children’s developmental services. Kate values a holistic manner to care and applies a strength—based approach centered around the individual.

Kate cares deeply about self-advocacy and community inclusion. She finds joy in making meaningful connections and watching clients grow in development. Kate is goal oriented and enjoys celebrating the “small” victories, however “small” they may be! In her free time, you can find her on Block Island, hiking with her dog, crafting, and enjoying meals with friends and family.

Phil Fulcher, MS Connections Coach

Like many at Shoreline Therapy Center, Phil has a background in non-profits serving youth with serious illnesses. Originally from the UK, he has volunteered with youths affected by serious illness since 2013, inspired by a close family member who lives with Dandy Walker syndrome.

After graduating in 2016 with a master’s degree in engineering, Phil decided to pursue non-profit work in the USA where he met and married his wife. They live together in central Connecticut and both are actively involved with children and young people struggling with mental health. Phil strongly believes that positivity and happiness achieved through therapeutic recreation has far reaching benefits for mental and, to an underappreciated degree, physical health.

Phil enjoys bringing his technical background into sessions with clients, developing problem-solving and creativity. Outside of work he enjoys travel, biking, hiking with his dog, playing squash and photography.