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Addiction Treatment Specialists

We employ a large staff of committed medical and clinical addiction specialists at our California drug rehab. We have found that having a robust rehabilitation staff helps prevent therapist burnout and compassion fatigue. Our impressive staff-to-client ratio helps us provide individualized and progressive addiction treatment.

CLINICIANS

Tamara LaFontaine

Clinical Director

Lindsey Norman

APCC

Melvin Segura

AMFT

Breanna Curiel

AMFT

Mika Heinonen

AMFT

Julie Hunter

AMFT

COUNSELORS

Ruby Martinez

Counselor CADC II

James Tomas

Counselor CADC I

Vicki Harr

Counselor CADC II

Raychel Tyre

Counselor CADC II

Christopher Walters

Counselor CADC II

Andre Avant

Counselor CADC II

Joseph Mook

Counselor CADC II

Amber Manriquez

Counselor CADC II

Vera Martinez

Counselor CADC_CAS

Michelle Reidhead

Counselor CADC II

Christina Young

UR Manager CADC II

Rodney Dupree

Counselor CADC II

CLIENT CARE

Tami Burgard

Client Care Manager

Lise Peterson

Client Care Coordinator

Morinda Early

Client Care Coordinator

Mohamed Elhajj

Client Care Coordinator

MEDICAL TEAM

Olga Jackson

Nurse Practitioner

Justin Gatfield

Medical Supervisor

Andrea Abarca

Medical Assistant

Jordyn Campbell

Medical Assistant

Jesse Herrera

Medical Assistant

LaToyla Fulton

Medical Assistant

Schuyler Johnson

Medical Assistant

Sofia Soto-Chavarria

Medical Assistant

Ryan Cheraz

Medical Assistant

OPERATIONS TEAM

Melaine Wells

Program Director

Shauna Young

Program Supervisor

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Scott Brown

CEO

Erich Portigal

Vice President

Jeffrey Jenkins

Controller

Aaron Earnest

Director of Operations

Josh Hathaway

Director of Placement Specialists

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Rise Above Treatment

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Tamara LaFontaine

LMFT

Clinical Director

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Clinical oversight of counselors, therapist, and overall client care. Responsible to implement and maintain appropriate clinical guidelines to assure individualized care for all clients.  

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

Growing up a sibling of an addict, I knew that substance use is merely a symptom of a bigger mental health problem. In order to eliminate the addition, one will need to identify, and properly treat their mental health condition. I am able to assist clients in increasing insight, understand, and accept of their mental health condition and help guide them to being productive member of their society.  

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the river/boating. I also enjoy attending sporting events and watching sports on TV. I try to also find time to work out/exercise as part of my self-care. 

Lindsey Norman

APCC (Associate Professional Clinical Counselor)

Therapist

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

I have the opportunity to engage with clients in individual, family and group settings. My passion is to empower and equip clients to create a life they love.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

Passionate about encouraging people to discover their gifts and talents. Passionate about destigmatizing mental health and normalizing therapy as a regular part of selfcare. Passionate at health and wellbeing.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

When I am not at work, I love adventuring and making memories with my husband and three kids, Hiking, going to the beach, traveling, reading, being outside and eating delicious food all bring me joy.

Melvin Segura

AMFT#118306

AMFT

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

I started with SBT on 07/2020

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

My average day consists of visiting a treatment home and enjoying providing individual therapy to our patients. One of the great things about working here is the experience of enjoying working with a wonderful group of caring and loving staff. Whether you finish your day at the corporate office or at a treatment home your day will be filled with rewards as you see patients make their path into health and wellness.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

I continuously share that I do not come to work since my job has become a passion to assist those in need. I am passionate about people seeking change and finding their true selves to maximize and improve their way of life. My job stopped being work a long time ago. I have come to the conclusion that I live to help others and therapy is my passion. It is self-fulfilling to see people from all walks of life in the United States be able to find a root of change in their lives here at solution based.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

When I am not at work you will find me playing music with my band or enjoying afternoons with my wife and kids. I help in my church and love to be part of community events. I help those in need and attend events to assist the less fortunate. I love to travel, eat at different places and meet new people.

Breanna Curiel

AMFT

AMFT

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

December, 2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

My average day involves providing psychotherapeutic techniques and family system theories to individuals and families for the purpose of treating mental disorders. In addition, I also maintain case files and progress notes. I develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing addiction, relapse prevention planning, destructive patterns of behavior, mental health, and personal issues. I collect information on clients using interviewing, discussion, observation, and assessment tools. Furthermore, I facilitate group therapy and encourage clients share their struggles and concerns for the opportunity to receive multiple perspectives, encouragement, support, and feedback from other individuals in a confidential and safe environment.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

People who struggle with addiction face discrimination and barriers to getting help. Addiction removes the individual from him/herself. I enjoy reconnecting the individual with him/herself.

Working to help individuals who suffer with mental illness, trauma, or other dynamics and knowing that I made a profound difference in their live and seeing them grow into their potential, is the most rewarding aspect of being an AMFT.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family; playing video games with my son, camping, going to the beach, swimming, going to amusement parks, dancing, listening to music, doing makeup, going to music festivals and concerts, and hanging out with my friends

Olga Jackson

APRN, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

July 2021 

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Traveling to different houses, working at the corporate office. Psychiatric evaluations and medication management related to detox and mental health. Following clients from admission to discharge. 

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

I get to know clients on a very personal level of their life and it is a humbling experience. Witnessing transformations is rewarding and proves what we do is crucial in supporting clients’ progression in life. 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Eating. Love to eat. Highly enjoy traveling to see new places, cultures, but not a fan of visiting places more than once. Fun fact – I’m fluent in Russian. 

Justin Gatfield

LVN III

Medical Supervisor

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

On average my day consists of reviewing assessments, coordinating care for our clients, providing education to clients on various topics, oversight of all medical staff at residential detox facilities providing direction to ensure delivery of care meets the expectations of clients, and act as the liaison for our medical provider.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

My passion for addiction treatment and recovery stems from my own personal history. I’ve worked with countless individuals in the many years of working in substance abuse treatment that my passion has only grown, watching the change occur for so many on a daily basis is both humbling and inspiring.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

My free time is spent mostly with my two young sons Dax and Samuel, we enjoy camping and the outdoors, traveling and seeing new places. We really enjoy trying new stuff, so it is often that we are out and about seeking adventure.

Andrea Abarca

Certified Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2019

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Observe medications pass to the clients, check control medications and count, check with the clients and assist any medical issues or concerns, observe rounds, refill medications if needed, call new orders in when needed. Obtained daily UDS.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

I like to see the difference in the client’s health and attitude from when they first come in to when they move to PHP.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Spend time with my family, go to the movies

Jordyn Campbell

Medical assistant certification

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Looking after our client’s medical health by vitals, medications, assessments, and advocating for anything else they may need while in our care.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

Being a child of an addict, this job gave e healing as well as a better understanding of the disease. Watching the progress made here is very rewarding/exciting.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Enjoying time with friends, family and my two dogs, Jet-skiing in the summer, binge watching new shows, drawing and finding new music to listen to.

Jesse Herrera

Certified Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Administering medications, taking vitals, care and comfort of clients and medical assessments.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

I entered the medical field to help people, it is fulfilling to watch client’s complete treatment and transform into the people they want to be.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I enjoy spending time with my wife and two boys. Going to concerts, movies and riding roller coasters.

LaToyla Fulton

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

Putting clients first, team player, rounds, passing meds, checking emails.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

Being able to help someone overcome their addictions, one of the hardest things in life, it’s very rewarding to be part of their recovery.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Spending time with family.

Schuyler Johnson

Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

November 7, 2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

I start my morning meeting with each client. I observe the clients take their medications, I record vitals observe and document their physical conditions, attitudes and appetites and report any changes to the provider. I do crave assessments, medication refills, l order labs, I do client intakes and anything else that needs to be done to take care of our clients.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

Why am I am passionate about addiction treatment and recovery because I see that it is a real disease and just like all the other areas of the medical field this is very important and I love coming to work every morning to help others who want and need help. We are not just helping a person we are helping a family.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

What I enjoy doing when I’m not working, I enjoy Traveling, Shopping, spending time with my 3 Heartbeats (my kids) and entertaining.

Sofia Soto-Chavarria

Certified Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2022

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

To provide a welcoming atmosphere to all clients and staff.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

To help clients on their recovery and live simplified and to provide a safe environment to all clients.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Play with my dog, go for hikes and salsa dancing.

Ryan Cheraz

Associates in Medical Science

Medical Assistant

What year did you begin with Rise Above Treatment?

2021

What does your average day look like as a member of the team?

An average day consists of working on a team to provide quality and comfort to our clients in their time of need.

Why are you passionate about addiction treatment and recovery?

I myself had a drug problem and feel passionate about helping others going through the same struggle.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

When I’m not at work I enjoy playing video games and traveling with my partner.