Recovery NOW, Inc.

          Mental Health Professional since 1992


Professional Experience:

• Saint John's Health Center Chemical Dependency Center
• Inpatient & Outpatient, Clinical Associate                                                         Assisting individuals with achieving sobriety and restoring family unity through the process of Alcohol/Drug Rehabilitation provides a foundation for continued sobriety and relapse prevention. 
• Bay Area Addictions Research and Treatment & Drug Addiction Services of Hawaii
• Methadone Maintenance/Detox Counselor                                                                                                        Heroin/opiate addiction can be a lifelong challenge and for some methadone maintenance may be the only way to begin to stabilize their life.  Methadone maintenance is essentially a Harm Reduction Approach to treatment.  Another Harm Reduction Approach which I often utilize in my practice is "Controlled Drinking."
•  La Ballona School, Healthy Start
• School-based Counselor                                                                                                                                               Assisted children and families to address psychological needs.
• Del Amo Hospital, Children's Unit
• Psychiatric Social Worker                                                                                                                                                Supported children and families in crisis to stabilize and then develop a plan for returning home. 
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
• Psychiatric Social Worker                                                                                                                                Assisted patients with schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder & anxiety disorders to manage their illness and empower them to have more influence over their situations. 
• San Pedro Mental Health Center
• Dual Diagnosis Committee Chairperson                                                                                                                         Developed policies and procedures for counseling individuals with a mental illness and drug/alcohol problem (dual diagnosis).
• Recovery NOW L.C.S.W., Inc.
• Founder/Clinical Director                                                                                                                                   Provide individual, group & family therapy and  psychotherapy housecalls for all mental health concerns and drug/alcohol problems.  Counsel family members struggling to understand the nature of a loved one's addiction, mental illness and/or the trauma of growing up in a home where alcohol/drugs were/are prevalent.  Too often, family members are caught between "Tough Love" and a desire to support. Assist with psychological services for residents residing at a board and care for the chronically mentally ill.

Education:

• Loyola Marymount University
  Bachelor of Arts Degree
  Major - Psychology
  Minor - Alcohol & Drug Studies

• California State University of Long Beach
  Master of Social Work Degree - Emphasis on Children, Youth & Families
  Masters Thesis:  The Levels of Alcohol Dependence Among Participants in a DUI Diversion Program

License and Certifications:

• Master Addictions Counselor (MAC)                                                                                                                                       Board of Addiction Examiners 
• Completed Internship for Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC)  
  California Association of Alcoholism And Drug Abuse Counselors
• Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LNR# 27203) 
  California Association of Alcoholism And Drug Abuse Counselors
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS# 21303)                                                                                                                        Board of Behavioral Science 

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Postpartum Support International (PSI)
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD)
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
• National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC)
• California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC)