Michael Roeske, PsyD

Dr. Roeske is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked and trained in a variety of settings since 2003, including community mental health clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment programs. He has experience as a supervisor, clinical director, and assessor of children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, he has served as a chief operating officer and chief executive officer. His work with the Center aims to establish Newport as a thought leader in the field and an innovator in bridging science and clinical practice.

Dr. Roeske recognizes the importance of exceptional, ethical, and collaborative clinical care; staff and therapist development; community outreach; and open, transparent communications. As an educator, he has been a national presenter, adjunct professor, and trainer of psychotherapy graduate students. In these ways, he has devoted his life to the science and art of serving those facing substance abuse and acute and/or chronic mental health concerns. Before moving into his role with the Center, Michael was Executive Director at Newport Academy Bethlehem, Connecticut.

A Q&A with Dr. Roeske

Why is research so important to Newport’s mission?

Millions of adolescents and young adults are impacted by mental health concerns each year, and that vast number is doubled and tripled by the number of caregivers and communities impacted. Given how important treatment can be, how pivotal these experiences are for so many individuals and families, and the severity of what we see as a crisis in adolescent and young adult mental health, there is surprisingly little research on outcomes—on what works and why.

Part of the reason is that human beings are almost incalculably complex physical, emotional, and social creatures. And figuring out what provides durable change in behavioral healthcare is just as complicated. Add to that the fact that we, as a profession, often rely upon anecdote, intuition, and personal preference in our work, and research and statistics can be intimidating and feel removed from the actual experience of sitting across the room from a person who is struggling.

The Center can play a vital role in changing that, while supporting Newport’s mission to provide results-driven, state-of-the-art care and to advance the field as a whole.

What projects are already underway at the Center, and what endeavors are currently in development?

The Center arose as a natural outgrowth of our partnership with third-party academic institutions to gather and analyze our outcomes data. We worked first with Vanderbilt University and for the past three years we have worked with Drexel University’s Center for Family Intervention Science. The idea of the Center also emerged from the desire of leadership to utilize Newport’s resources and large data sets for the betterment of all. Some of these efforts are already underway, such as our outcomes research, submission of significant findings for journal review, and utilizing data-informed care. Others are in development, such as providing staff growth opportunities for training and research. And we’re continuing to look at how best to grow and revise what data we collect and how we are collecting it.

How does the work of the Center benefit Newport’s clients and families as well as the behavioral healthcare industry overall?

On the micro level, our clinicians can access data regarding clients’ risk concerns and symptom reduction, and fold those insights back into their patients’ individualized care. The work of the Center can also be used in supervision and to help with staff development and competencies to better serve the needs of the patients. The aggregate data sets and the patient profiles derived from our research can highlight what’s working for specific demographics, at specific geographic locations, or during specific time frames, and thus help guide strategic planning and resource utilization.

On the macro level, everything we learn by collecting, analyzing, and applying outcomes data can also help set new standards of quality for the industry. The development of a robust body of research in this area provides validation and credibility for treatment services, and therefore supports relationships between treatment programs and accrediting organizations, licensing bodies, and insurance payers. This work can potentially be collaborative and generative in a way that creates a synergistic effect—with the ultimate goal of helping more young people find long-term, sustainable healing.