Meg Breeden is the Program Director for NCTR’s Independence House, a transitional living program for men and women who reside in Arlington County who have completed substance use disorder treatment and need additional support as they begin their new lives in recovery.

Meg joined NCTR in 2013 and has served as a residential specialist at NCTR’s Demeter House prior to taking on her current position. Before joining NCTR she was an eldercare advocate and care manager.

Meg is a licensed professional counselor and holds a Master of Education degree in counseling and development.

Kedest Gebreselassie is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC). She has devoted her career to improving the mental health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she brings deep expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a broad range of psychiatric conditions.

Kedest completed her undergraduate nursing studies at George Mason University, earned a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Family Practice at Marymount University, and later obtained a post-graduate certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health from Shenandoah University. Fluent in English, French, and Amharic, she began her mental health career in outpatient psychiatry, caring for diverse populations and coordinating closely with primary care to support whole-person health.

Over the years, Kedest has practiced primarily in outpatient behavioral health settings, providing individual and group interventions and comprehensive medication management for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Her work includes experience with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and collaborative care models that span intensive outpatient through community-based recovery supports