Our Team
John Gonzalez - Founder
Blue Healing Journeys was founded by John Gonzalez who lives in Long Island, New York. John is an avid recreational sailor and a strong advocate for mental health awareness. John is a suicide loss survivor and after the loss of his sister, John was motivated to start Blue Healing Journeys, and its Sail to Heal and Paint to Heal programs.
John realizes the power of healing among loss survivors who share in a unique experience can transform lives. He is an advocate for suicide prevention and postvention and mental health. John is an AFSP-trained facilitator of support groups.
Blue Healing Journeys Counseling Workshop Co-Facilitators
Maryanne Brown
LMSW, Therapist
Maryanne is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and mental health advocate who is dedicated to providing quality care and resources to those in need. She began her work in community mental health and case management settings, serving and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She then took her direct care experience to the mental health technology space where she served as a clinical manager and leader, providing supervision to clinicians and frontline workers while also developing clinical protocols and standard operating procedures for the organization. At this time, she is happy to have returned to her roots, providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families in need of mental health support and treatment.
Matt Brown
LCSW, School Social Worker & Therapist
Matthew G. Brown, LCSW, received his degree in Psychology from SUNY StonyBrook and his Master’s in Social Work from Adelphi. After spending 15 years working with abused and neglected youth in the Foster Care and Runaway Youth systems, he joined the Oyster Bay E. Norwich School system as a School Social Worker. His early experience doing crisis intervention with adolescents and their families helped forge his trauma informed approach to intervention. With specialized experience in substance abuse, TBI, family counseling, spectrum disorder issues and ADHD, he emphasizes a compassionate, strength-based and eclectic approach to treatment.
Blue Healing Journeys - Executive Advisors
Blue Healing Journeys is honored to have Dr. Vanessa McGann as a special advisor for program development.
Dr. McGann specializes in the treatment of traumatic grief and loss in children, adolescents, and adults as well as couples, families and professional caregivers. She has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in CBT, DBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy for the treatment of mood, anxiety adjustment and personality disorders in children and adults. Dr. McGann has been treating patients for over twenty years.
Dr. McGann holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from NYU (cum laude) with a strong interest in the creative fields. After teaching art to special needs children, Dr.McGann obtained her doctoral degree from Adelphi University in 2000 with a specialization in children and adolescents. She went on to do a fellowship in the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital and obtained a post-doctoral certificate in child and adolescent psychotherapy from the William Alanson White Institute. A devoted mentor, teacher and supervisor, Dr. McGann is currently the Assistant director of Extern Training and a counselor at the New School as well as a faculty member of the Child Psychotherapy Program of the William Alanson White Institute.
In 2004, Dr. McGann lost her sister Nadine to suicide. Since that time, she has been passionate about helping those bereaved by suicide on both an individual and systems-wide basis. For the American Association for Suicidology, Dr. McGann currently chairs the Loss Division and is co-chair of their Clinician-Survivor Task Force. Dr. McGann was also involved in the development of the guidelines of the Survivors of Suicide Task Force for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. In addition, she presents and consults nationally on topics related to suicide assessment, treatment and aftercare to various schools, colleges and agencies.
Blue Healing Journeys is honored to have Elaine Anton-Lotruglio, MA, LMSW as an Executive Advisor for program development.
Elaine is a graduate student at the University at Albany pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Work. Her research focuses on adolescent, young adult, and student-athlete suicide. She holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Columbia University and a Master of Social Work from the University at Albany.
Most recently, Elaine has worked as a clinician in prison, crisis, hospital, and community settings. Before becoming a social worker, she enjoyed a diverse 30-year career in education, working at all levels, from early childhood education, high school and college athletics, and higher education administration.
Blue Healing Journeys is honored to have Dr. David Popple as an Executive Advisor for Operations and Development.
Dave Popple, PhD is a Corporate Psychologist and President of the Psynet Group. Dr. Popple built Psybil, an assessment platform that measures cognitive skills; drives and motivations; leadership skills; influencing skills and team fit.
His diverse background includes developing programs on strategic thinking, high potential leadership development, innovation, communication, and developing coaches. He has taught strategic thinking and currently facilitates strategic planning for some of Psynet’s clients. Dr. Popple has a background in group therapy and group dynamics where he taught psychology at the graduate school at Marist College.
Sail to Heal Staff
Martha Salavarrieta Mora
Martha is an advocate for mental health and suicide prevention. A suicide loss survivor, Martha is the embodiment of resilience and optimism. Martha is an accomplished writer who recently published her first book called Atrapada y en Silencio.
Prior to her writing career, she worked in the health care industry as a Certified Medical Translator for patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and as a pediatric medical office assistant in Queens, NY. She is John’s mother.
Lara Gonzalez
Lara is a longtime public school educator. She is a passionate advocate for young people and their families; she has worked as a teacher and school leader in a variety of educational settings for more than 25 years.
Lara earned her doctorate in Education Leadership from Hofstra University. She loves the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family.
Camille Gonzalez
Camille Gonzalez is s student at UC Berkeley studying Cognitive Science and Media Studies. She is inspired by the mission of Blue Healing Journeys and has always found purpose in volunteering and service to others.
She is utilizing her experience in Social Media Management as our Director of Communications and is excited to be a part of the team.
Skye
Our 4-year old Wheaten Terrier, Skye, is our official mascot. Her playful energy and love of the water are sure to bring a smile to your face. Skye won’t be sailing with us but you may see her from time to time on land, so if you’re not a dog lover, no worries.