CHESTER, N.J. (Morris County) — Wellness Hills Mental Health Treatment New Jersey has launched clinical operations in Chester, aiming to close what providers describe as a critical gap between inpatient psychiatric care and traditional weekly therapy.
The licensed treatment center, operating under New Jersey Department of Health License No. 70290104, is located at 425 Main St., Floor 1. It offers partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP) and general outpatient (OP) services for adults who require structured, high-level support while continuing to live at home.
Founder Robert Marino said the goal is to address what he calls the “revolving door” in mental health care, where patients cycle between short hospital stays and outpatient therapy that may not provide enough clinical oversight.
“The biggest breakdown we see is in the gap between higher levels of care and what weekly therapy can realistically support,” said Robert Marino, Founder of Wellness Hills. “We didn’t just build another office; we built a structured environment for those who have reached a clinical plateau. Whether someone is stepping down from a crisis or needs to ‘step up’ because an hour of therapy a week isn’t working, we provide the medical oversight to make that transition safe.”
Unlike a traditional private practice, Wellness Hills is structured as a high-intensity medical bridge, providing daily stabilization and multidisciplinary care.
The clinical team includes Leigh Rasmussen, LPC, LCADC, program director; Paula Weisman, PMHNP-BC, who provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management; Abby Goodrich, LAC, a primary therapist; Rachael La Ponte, director of admissions; and Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., who reviews clinical materials for alignment with best practices.
The center treats a range of conditions consistent with DSM-5-TR standards, including depressive and anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, panic disorder, social anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and prolonged grief.
Treatment modalities include individual, group and family therapy, along with evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure therapy, internal family systems therapy, experiential therapy and narrative therapy. Holistic practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, art, music and nutrition education are integrated alongside clinical services.
Admissions Director Rachael La Ponte said the center was designed to reduce delays that can derail treatment.
“When someone finally reaches out for help, momentum is the only thing they have,” says Rachael La Ponte, Director of Admissions. “If intake feels slow, confusing, or financially unclear, families sometimes step back before treatment even starts.”
The facility says intake assessments are typically scheduled within days, with higher-acuity cases fast-tracked into PHP or IOP when appropriate. Insurance benefits are verified before the first appointment, and the center uses encrypted, HIPAA-compliant systems for patient information.
“Speed here isn’t about convenience,” La Ponte adds. “It’s about preventing clinical deterioration while ensuring patient information is protected at the same level as their treatment plan.”
When inpatient care is required, staff members assist families in identifying available beds within New Jersey’s acute care system and coordinating insurance authorization.
Wellness Hills can be reached at 973-532-5139 or info@wellnesshillsmentalhealth.com for confidential assessments.
