About Serenity
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Compassionate Care
for Lasting Change
Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. offers two holistic outpatient facilities dedicated to helping adult men and women overcome alcohol and substance use disorders. Our approach blends innovative and traditional therapies to provide the Frederick and Washington County communities a personalized, flexible, and effective recovery program.
Our Mission: At Serenity Treatment Center, Inc., our mission is to support individuals and families in their journey to overcome alcohol and substance use disorders. We strive to empower them to achieve sobriety and lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. Through our commitment to clinical excellence and cost-effective programs, we aim to make treatment accessible to all who seek a new and healthy way of life.
Years Of Service
NEW At Serenity: Women's 3.1 Residential Treatment Program
We’re excited to introduce our new halfway house, a level 3.1 low-intensity residential treatment program offering a supportive and structured environment for women on their journey to long-term recovery. This program combines clinical services with life skills training, case management, and holistic care to help residents transition into the community successfully and thrive in recovery. Learn how our comprehensive approach can make a difference in your recovery or the recovery of a loved one. Explore our halfway house program today!
What Sets Us Apart
What distinguishes Serenity is our commitment to providing a small, client-centered, and high-quality clinical environment. We prioritize confidentiality, community, and safety, creating an intimate and friendly space where the journey to recovery can begin.
Our facilities are designed to be clean and peaceful, allowing our clients to relax and open up. Here, they can safely explore ways to find meaning in their lives again, with personalized programs focusing on mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
We strive to create a compassionate and non-judgmental atmosphere that fosters positive, sustainable change for our clients, their families, and the world around them.
Our Treatment Philosophy
We believe that a desire to recover and live a healthy life exists, in varying degrees, within everyone we treat at Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. The role of our staff is to help nurture that desire by cultivating an emotionally safe environment for discovery and growth. Within a container of safety and connection, our clients can learn about their illness and explore how they want to establish an enjoyable, fulfilling, substance-free life.
In addition to delivering quality services, we promote our mission through leadership in the behavioral health field. Our skilled and trained clinical team stays current with various treatment modalities and evidence-based practices shown to foster recovery. We continue to develop programs that meet higher standards of care and create the best outcome for our clients, with services tailored to the needs and choices of each unique person in our care.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Serenity’s leadership team brings together extensive knowledge, lived experience, and a shared commitment to supporting your journey toward recovery. Get to know the people guiding our mission and ensuring the highest standards of treatment and support.
Kathleen Lehnert-Scott
Director of Compliance
Learn More About Kat
Kat serves as Director of Compliance at Serenity Treatment Center, bringing nearly a decade of experience in behavioral health and addiction treatment. Since beginning her career in 2016, she has advanced through a range of roles across nonprofit and private treatment settings, with experience spanning operations, continuing care, and outreach.
In her role, Kat oversees compliance, quality improvement, and regulatory adherence across programs, ensuring services are delivered with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to excellence. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and is a certified Six Sigma Lean Black Belt, equipping her with a strong foundation in process improvement and organizational effectiveness.
As someone in long-term recovery, Kat brings a deeply personal understanding of the work, driving her passion for ethical care, access to services, and continuous quality improvement. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, compassion, and a dedication to strengthening both clinical outcomes and organizational standards.
Melissa Sheppard, LCSW-C
Clinical Director of Outpatient Services
Learn More About Melissa
Melissa Sheppard, LCSW-C, is a behavioral health leader with extensive experience in substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, and program development. She currently serves as Clinical Director of Outpatient Services at Serenity Treatment Center, where she provides clinical oversight, supports staff development, and ensures the delivery of high-quality, accessible care across multiple levels of treatment.
Melissa’s career spans direct clinical work, program leadership, and executive leadership roles. She has worked across diverse populations, including individuals with substance use and mental health diagnosis, trauma survivors, at-risk and transitional-aged youth in the foster care system, gang involved youth, Native American communities, aging adults and adults with developmental disabilities. This breadth of experience informs her commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Melissa has a background in holistic health, bringing a whole-person perspective to treatment that integrates physical, emotional, and behavioral health. Her work is grounded in a commitment to accessible, ethical care and long-term recovery outcomes.
Thomas Dasch
Clinical Supervisor
Learn More About Thomas
Thomas Dasch is the Clinical Supervisor at Serenity Treatment Center, where he provides leadership, guidance, and clinical oversight to behavioral health professionals. With a strong commitment to integrity, accountability, and quality care, he works closely with clinicians to support professional growth while ensuring clients receive effective, evidence-based treatment.
Thomas brings a passion for helping individuals navigate challenges related to mental health and substance use, and he is dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative treatment environment. Through his leadership, he emphasizes the importance of ethical practice, continuous improvement, and meaningful client outcomes.
Cierra Spigler
Senior Office Manager
Learn More About Cierra
Senior Office Manager at Serenity Treatment Center’s Hagerstown office, Cierra plays a key leadership role in fostering a supportive and well-organized environment for both staff and clients.
With a background rooted in customer service, she brings a people-first approach to daily operations, ensuring everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed and cared for. Known for her strong attention to detail, organization, and dependability, Cierra helps keep the office running smoothly while supporting her team in delivering high-quality care. Her commitment to reliability and compassion makes her an integral part of the organization
Angel Mangum
Executive Director
Angel Mangum
Sean Nicholson
After battling addiction for much of his life, Sean found his path to recovery in 2015. Since then, he has committed himself to serving and uplifting the recovery community.
Drawing from his prior experiences with non-profit organizations in Frederick and its surrounding areas, Sean began his service by spearheading a strategic partnership with Frederick County Public Schools. Together, they aimed to raise awareness and educate middle and high school students about addiction and recovery. He played a pivotal role in founding The Phoenix Foundation of Md, where he currently serves on the board of directors. This non-profit organization birthed The Phoenix Recovery Academy, Maryland’s only recovery high school. Sean also lent his expertise to the Frederick County Homeless Coalition as a member of its board of directors.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Sean received the 2018 All Star Do-Gooder award and was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary of Caroll Creek of Frederick in 2019. That same year marked the release of Heroin’s Grip, a documentary on the opioid crisis in Frederick County Sean executive produced to amplify awareness and inspire action.
Also in 2019, Sean began a four-year term co-chairing the Frederick County Overdose Awareness Vigil in collaboration with the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office. He continues to champion the cause of overdose awareness, assisting Frederick County Goes Purple in taking over the vigil in 2023.
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Currently, Sean serves as the Co-Founder and Housing Director of Solid Ground Recovery, an organization providing structured Recovery Residences for over 180 individuals in early recovery. His dedication to fostering supportive environments extends to his role as the Co-Owner and CEO of Serenity Treatment Center, Inc.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Sean actively engages with local high school students through Montgomery County’s State’s Attorney’s Office “Speak up, Save a Life” program. He collaborates with community leaders at the county and state levels to enhance access to substance use and mental health services.
Despite his many commitments, Sean remains grounded in his role as husband to his beautiful wife Jessica and father to their two children. His life is a testament to his belief that recovery is possible and that people can transform their lives for the better.
Sean Nicholson
Chief Executive Officer
Sean Nicholson
Chief Executive Officer
Sean Nicholson
After battling addiction for much of his life, Sean found his path to recovery in 2015. Since then, he has committed himself to serving and uplifting the recovery community.
Drawing from his prior experiences with non-profit organizations in Frederick and its surrounding areas, Sean began his service by spearheading a strategic partnership with Frederick County Public Schools. Together, they aimed to raise awareness and educate middle and high school students about addiction and recovery. He played a pivotal role in founding The Phoenix Foundation of Md, where he currently serves on the board of directors. This non-profit organization birthed The Phoenix Recovery Academy, Maryland’s only recovery high school. Sean also lent his expertise to the Frederick County Homeless Coalition as a member of its board of directors.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Sean received the 2018 All Star Do-Gooder award and was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary of Caroll Creek of Frederick in 2019. That same year marked the release of Heroin’s Grip, a documentary on the opioid crisis in Frederick County Sean executive produced to amplify awareness and inspire action.
Also in 2019, Sean began a four-year term co-chairing the Frederick County Overdose Awareness Vigil in collaboration with the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office. He continues to champion the cause of overdose awareness, assisting Frederick County Goes Purple in taking over the vigil in 2023.
Currently, Sean serves as the Co-Founder and Housing Director of Solid Ground Recovery, an organization providing structured Recovery Residences for over 180 individuals in early recovery. His dedication to fostering supportive environments extends to his role as the Co-Owner and CEO of Serenity Treatment Center, Inc.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Sean actively engages with local high school students through Montgomery County’s State’s Attorney’s Office “Speak up, Save a Life” program. He collaborates with community leaders at the county and state levels to enhance access to substance use and mental health services.
Despite his many commitments, Sean remains grounded in his role as husband to his beautiful wife Jessica and father to their two children. His life is a testament to his belief that recovery is possible and that people can transform their lives for the better.
Accredited by CARF
Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. has been awarded the highest level of accreditation by CARF International for Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/ Addictions (Adults) and Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults).
CARF accreditation is a public seal of trust and commitment to quality based on internationally accepted standards. Achieving this accreditation demonstrates Serenity Treatment Center’s commitment to exceptional, personalized care. An organization receiving the highest level of CARF accreditation has undergone a detailed peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors, during an on-site visit, its commitment to providing programs and services of the highest quality. For more information on CARF, visit www.carf.org.