BHG Newport News Treatment Center

BHG Newport News Treatment Center operates as a certified Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), a designation that reflects a structured, regulated level of care specifically designed for opioid use disorder. For people in Newport News who are building or maintaining long-term recovery, this outpatient program provides ongoing clinical support without requiring a residential stay — making it accessible to those balancing work, family, and community responsibilities alongside their recovery goals.

The outpatient format at BHG Newport News is not a step-down afterthought. It is the primary level of care at this location, structured to support individuals through the sustained work that recovery demands after the initial crisis has passed. The program's OTP certification distinguishes it from general outpatient counseling, signaling a dedicated clinical framework for opioid use disorder treatment specifically.

Recovery rarely travels alone. BHG Newport News recognizes this by treating trauma and PTSD as conditions addressed within its substance use program — alongside co-occurring mental health concerns. For many adults in long-term recovery, unresolved trauma or mental health conditions are central factors in relapse risk, and addressing them directly within an outpatient treatment setting can meaningfully strengthen recovery outcomes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) serves as the clinical backbone for this work. CBT is a structured, skills-based approach that helps clients examine the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — a practical framework for people working to sustain sobriety and rebuild their lives beyond the acute phase of addiction. This focus on behavioral skills is particularly relevant for outpatient recovery clients who are integrating new coping strategies into real-world daily routines.

BHG Newport News Treatment Center is built to serve a notably wide cross-section of the community. The program explicitly serves veterans, pregnant women, young adults between 18 and 25, seniors and older adults, men, women, and individuals who need HIV/AIDS support — a range that reflects a genuine commitment to reducing barriers to care for populations that often face additional challenges in accessing addiction treatment and recovery services.

For veterans specifically, TRICARE is accepted as a payment method alongside Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, self-pay, and financial assistance. This breadth of payment options means that financial circumstances are less likely to stand between someone and the outpatient substance abuse treatment they need. For families supporting a loved one in recovery, knowing that a center accommodates diverse backgrounds, life situations, and insurance types can make the difference in choosing a long-term recovery partner.

The clinical and operational leadership behind BHG Newport News reflects a high level of professional credentialing. Chief Medical Officer Benjamin Nordstrom holds both an MD and a PhD, bringing research-informed medical direction to the program. Chief Clinical Officer Kamala Greene Genece, PhD, leads the clinical framework, while operations are overseen by Amanda Karistai, who holds an MBA and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-BACS). Senior regulatory leadership is provided by Marlin Martin, whose credentials include CHC, MSW, LCSW, ICSW, and CHPSE.

For people evaluating an outpatient recovery center for themselves or a family member, leadership credentials matter. They signal that clinical decisions at BHG Newport News are made by professionals with substantive training in addiction medicine, clinical social work, and regulatory compliance — not a generic administrative structure.