Jana Wu, LCSW, LADC, CASAC-Advanced

Director of Clinical Integration

Jana Wu is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and CASAC-Advanced clinician with deep experience in treating substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. As Director of Clinical Integration at Mountainside, she helps ensure clients receive high-quality, individualized care by supporting staff development, training, and clinical excellence across the continuum of care.

Jana earned her Master’s degree in social work from Smith College and specializes in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders. With experience in therapeutic roles across Mountainside’s continuum of care, she is especially skilled at navigating complex family dynamics and supporting veterans, healthcare, and wellness professionals. Her work draws on acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR, and somatic and experiential therapies, and incorporates mindfulness and breathwork, informed by her experience as a yoga teacher.

Jana has become a nationally recognized voice in emerging substances education, with a particular focus on kratom, novel psychoactive substances, and the evolving intersection of public health, addiction, and policy.

She is the founder and co-facilitator of “Let’s Talk Kratom,” the first clinician-led kratom support group in the United States, providing education and support to individuals, families, clinicians, and communities navigating kratom dependence and withdrawal. Her work bridges clinical treatment, public education, media outreach, and harm reduction advocacy.

Jana has collaborated on kratom-related research initiatives, presented to universities, healthcare professionals, school systems, and recovery organizations, and contributed expert commentary to national and regional media outlets including Bloomberg, WBUR, and NBC Connecticut. Her work focuses on increasing awareness around the misconceptions of “plant-based” substances, product variability, emerging retail trends, and the clinical realities of kratom-related substance use disorders.

At Mountainside, Jana is committed to a holistic, evidence-based approach that helps clients build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and move toward lasting recovery. Outside of work, she enjoys practicing meditation and traveling with her family.