Our Staff

Patti Bennett-DeGuzman, MSW, LCSW

CEO/Clinical Director

Patti has held clinical and leadership positions in residential care, hospital care and school settings for over 33 years. She began her career working with emotionally disturbed adolescents and for the last 16 years has been working with adult individuals challenged with mental illness. Patti strongly believes that milieu therapy is the most successful comprehensive approach to treating individuals with complex needs. The success of a residential program lies in an integrated approach relying on the members of the treatment team working collaboratively with the client and their families.

Patti completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at Michigan State University and has been licensed in the State of California as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1995. She maintains a private practice in San Diego.

Jaga Nath Glassman, M.D.

Physicaistrist

Dr. Glassman’s unique training, experience, and commitment to patients makes him an especially valued psychiatrist for the Changing Option’s program. With advanced training and experience in family and systems theory, psychoanalysis, psychopharmacology, and research, he brings a comprehensive and individualized biopsychosocial perspective to each patient, and to the treatment milieu. Dr. Glassman is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, medical school. He went to Brown University for his residency in Psychiatry, then to the University of California San Diego, which included a fellowship in psychopharmacology research. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Psychiatry Department at the UCSD School of Medicine, and is a faculty member at the San Diego Psychoanalytic Institute, and the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis in Los Angeles.

Kenneth Searcy, PhD

Psychologist

Dr. Kenneth Searcy is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has provided a range of psychotherapy and assessment services to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families through his private practice and at various treatment facilities in the Ramona and San Diego areas since 1988.
Following studies at Purdue University and the New School for Social Research in New York City, Dr. Searcy received his doctorate degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he maintained a practice for 8 years before moving to California.

Shelzea Zamora, M.S., APCC

Independent Living Program Social Worker

Shelzea is a dedicated mental health professional known for providing tailored therapeutic support to individuals facing diverse levels of psychiatric and co-occurring disorders. Shelzea completed her Master’s degree in Professional Clinical Counseling in 2020 from Grand Canyon University. Shelzea’s journey at Changing Options began in 2019 as an intern, where she quickly distinguished herself through her commitment and expertise. Her dedication led to her promotion as an ILS Program Social Worker in 2020, a role in which she specializes in empowering clients with psychotic disorders to achieve independence. Shelzea also has over 9 years of experience spanning crisis intervention, behavioral interventions, family support, substance abuse counseling, and as an advocate for children in the Foster Care system. Shelzea’s multifaceted expertise makes her a compassionate and impactful counselor and program coordinator at Changing Options SD, Inc..

Hannah Meyers, MSW, ASW

Program Social Worker

Hannah is a dedicated social worker who earned her master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University with a specialization in clinical practice. Over the course of 6 years, she has accumulated valuable experience in the non-profit sector, contributing her efforts to organizations like Truckers Against Trafficking and Habitat for Humanity, and in programs that serve those diagnosed with severe mental illness. Throughout her career, Hannah has worked extensively with individuals facing challenging circumstances such as domestic abuse and homelessness, as well as those struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. Hannah is dedicated to promoting social justice and advocating for the rights of vulnerable populations. In her role at Changing Options, Hannah intervenes in crisis situations, ensures clients’ identified needs are addressed by liaising with both internal and external resources, and collaborates closely with the client’s families and case managers to ensure a seamless coordination of care. Hannah facilitates a cohesive care plan that takes into account the broader context of the client’s life, promoting long-term success and sustainable change.

Paul Wheeler, M.A.

HR/Program Manager

Paul holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. His diverse experience encompasses various healthcare environments, including work in research and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. Paul has worked in administrative capacities, including as the Staffing Manager at Alpine Special Treatment Center. He worked as a case manager with the county funded Intensive Mobile Psychiatric Assertive Community Treatment team and as a Care Coordinator for the state-funded program Healthy Connect. He is committed to enhancing mental health support. Through his knowledge and hands-on experience, Paul remains dedicated to empowering individuals and fostering positive change within the mental health field.