2024
Presenters
Dr. A. Omar Abubaker
“Substance Use Disorders and Addiction: Myths and Facts and Why We Have Decipher them from Each Other”
Dr. A. Omar Abubaker, DMD, PhD, is a graduate of the School of Dental Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Pittsburgh. He also completed his residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery fellowship from Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been on the Faculty at VCU School of Dentistry and VCU Medical Center since 1991. He is certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dr. Abubaker currently serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, VCU School of Dentistry, Chief of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, VCU School of Medicine. He maintains a busy private practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery and is actively involved in teaching dental and medical students and oral and maxillofacial surgery residents.
In addition to the above responsibilities and duties, Dr. Abubaker is active in education in the areas of addiction, the opioid epidemic, and pain management in dentistry. In 2015, he earned a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies from the International Program in Addiction Studies jointly administered by Virginia Commonwealth University, The University of Adelaide, Australia, and Kings College London, England.
Dr. Abubaker co-authored two oral and maxillofacial surgery textbooks, over 100 chapters, 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles, and numerous abstracts and scientific presentations. He has often presented to local, regional, and national organizations. Over 100 of these personations are on the topics of the opioid epidemic, addiction, and postoperative pain management in dental, oral, and facial settings. He has appeared in many local and national media and has testified on this topic before the US Senate in Washington, DC.
He received numerous local and national awards for his service and education on the topics of the opioid epidemic and substance use disorder.
During the past few years, Dr. Abubaker has extended his service by becoming the NIH/NIDCR Member of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to study more effective and safe postoperative dental pain management methods. He also joined the Board of Directors of 2 End the Stigma, a non-profit organization, to provide education, guidance, and resources to end the stigma associated with substance use disorder. He also served on advisory panels for three Virginia governors and the Virginia Board of Dentistry. He provided education, guidance, and resources for various commonwealth policies on substance use disorders and addiction.
Marsha Banks-Harold, Director of PIES fitness holistic yoga therapy and yoga teacher training programs, owner of PIES fitness yoga studio, creator of my body don’t bend that way yoga, executive engineering leader, certified yoga therapist, trauma sensitive yoga facilitator is published in Yoga Therapy Today: 1) Building the Business of Yoga Therapy and 2) Reclaiming Humanity & Community: Healing the Trauma, Pain, & Suffering of Prejudice and Disparity and is a contributing author in Yoga Therapy Foundations, Tools, and Practice: a Comprehensive Textbook and in Yoga Therapy Across the Cancer Care Continuum and serves on IAYT and YA Board of Directors.
Kimberley Berlin, LCSW, CSAC
“Spiritual Healing for Addiction: Helping Clients Rise in their Recovery”
Kimberley L. Berlin, LCSW, is an IFS Level 3 integrated addiction psychotherapist. She uses traditional Western and Eastern mental health and wellness approaches for clients who struggle with addiction, trauma, depression, and anxiety.
While the 12-step tradition informs the foundation of her approach, the primary orientation is grounded in the neuroscience of spirituality. This philosophy has informed her personal journey in recovery, a path of over 29 years.
Kimberley is a nationally published author, speaker, podcast guest, and presenter. She lives in Leesburg, Virginia, with her husband and four rescue dogs.
Lendell W. Braud, Ph.D.
“Holistic Program Utilizing Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Create-an-Image Relaxation Trauma Therapy”
Dr. Lendell Braud is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia and a Licensed Psychologist in Texas. She is presently the Clinical Director for CAIRing Hearts Treatment Programs. She is the former Corporate Clinical Director of the Sobrius Treatment Center in Galax Virgina. Dr. Lendell Braud was a Psychology Professor at Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas) for 40 years. She worked at 10 Residential Treatment Facilities with abused children for 26 years. In 2004 she developed the Create-An-Image Relaxation (CAIR) Trauma Therapy. She was also in private practice during this time. In 2018 she developed the Mental Health Program, Create-An-Image Relaxation Trauma Program, and the Life Skills Program for clients with Substance Use Disorder. This program along with our Substance Use Disorder program has been used in three separate research studies over the last 4 years. She is also developing the Family Reunification Program which addresses trauma in family members, family dysfunction, domestic violence, parenting skills, and codependency.
Jan Brown, MSc, RCP, CPRS
“When You Know Better, Do Better”
The Rev. Jan Brown is Founder/Executive Director of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul. An ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, she serves at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA. Jan is a graduate of the College of William and Mary with a BA in Psychology, is certified as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist, a Recovery Coach Professional and international scholar on Addiction Studies. She has a Master of Science Degree in Addiction Studies from the International Programme on Addiction Studies at King’s College in London, the University of Adelaide and Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a woman with addiction in long term recovery past Chair of the Board of Directors of Faces and Voices of Recovery, Recovery Consultant on SAMHSA States Targeted Response (STR) Technical Assistance Center Team, Consensus Panel member for the SAMHSA TIP – Peer Recovery Support Specialists, Opioid Response Network (ORN) Consultant and co-chair of the Addictions and Recovery Commission for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Jan directs Camp SpiritSong for children and youth with parental addiction, the Youth Rising Strong program for children of families at risk and the Moms on a Mission 2 Recover (MOMs) program Jan currently serves on the Boards of the Center for Motivation and Change Foundation for Change as well as the Williamsburg Community Foundation. In 2014 she was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse. In 2015 The Rev. Brown was appointed by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to serve on the Commission on Impairment and Leadership. She continues to hold appointed positions within The Episcopal Church as well as the international addiction and recovery community. Jan was inducted into the Hall of Fame, class of 2022, of the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery
Kathleen S. Caughell, LSATP, MCJ
“Ethics in Assessment, Diagnosis and Placement of Care”
Kathleen Caughell has worked in the field of Substance Use Disorder Treatment since October 1989 and is a Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Professional. During her career in SUD Treatment, she has worked in every conceivable capacity from a PRN Tech, Counselor, Clinical Supervisor to Program Director.
There are two common themes that have always been a part of her experiences: staff training and continuous quality improvement. Her years of administrative and clinical practice provide her with the knowledge and commitment to guide the next generation of SUD clinicians to deliver the highest quality of care to anyone seeking SUD Treatment.
Thomas Capshew, LCSW, Ph.D.
“Connecting: The Essence of Successful Substance Abuse Treatment”
Thomas Capshew is the Founder and Owner of Innerspark, LLC, a private psychotherapy and spirituality practice focusing on achieving human potential. Tom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His academic training includes a BA in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University as well as an MSW and Ph.D. in Social Work from Florida State University. He has extensive experience working with adolescents, families, parents and adults in substance abuse, crisis intervention and optimal family functioning. His spirituality training, experience and practice includes energy work and spiritual direction and he is an Ordained Interfaith Minister and an Ordained Interspiritual Minister. He brings to his work a profound respect for the value of every individual and believes when provided positive conditions, everyone can thrive. His daily practice is to bring to the world the mind of an attorney, the heart of a social worker, and the soul of a mystic.
Jennifer Fariss, LPC, LSATP, ADS & Amy Pierce, Resident in Counseling, CSAC, ADS
“DBT and Trauma Useful Skills”
Jenny Fariss is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor at True North. She obtained both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Radford University. She has approximately twenty years’ experience in counseling with a focus on addiction treatment. Jenny has worked with various populations, including but not limited to adolescents, corrections, residential treatment, psychiatric hospitalizations, and mental health skills building. She is trained in auricular acupuncture, as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Amy Pierce is registered with the Board of Counseling as a Resident in Counseling and CSAC. She completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 and is currently enrolled in the PhD Psychology and Counseling program at Regent University in 2022. She has 10 years of experience working with adults and adolescents in SUD and MH field and has provided services in outpatient and inpatient treatment centers, as well as at a correctional facility. Amy uses an integrative theoretical approach by using MI skills, psychoeducation, empathy, encouragement, art, and music to elicit lifelong changes.
Dr. Amanda L. Graham & Jaime E. Quinteros, V.P. Marketing & Communications
“Self-Harm in Addiction Counseling”
Dr. Amanda L. Graham worked hard through college to obtain her doctorate in counseling psychology from Argosy University in 2011. She began her college education at MECC in 1998 and attributes her professors in inspiring her to continue with her education. She took her first psychology course at MECC and fell in love with the field. Since her graduation from MECC in 2001, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Masters in Rehab Counseling, and a doctorate degree from Argosy University.
Dr. Amanda L. Graham received a Bachelor of Science from Lincoln Memorial University in 2003, her Masters in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Kentucky in 2005 and her Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University in Sarasota, Fl.
Dr. Graham has worked with nonprofit agencies assisting individuals with substance abuse issues. When working in corrections, she not only served on the employee fund committee but also developed an incentive plan for inmates as well as new substance abuse programs. She has worked in the public-school setting providing psychological testing, behavioral management, & crisis intervention as needed. Recently, she has been adding to her resume the role of supervisor and Clinical Director at various start-up companies. She has worked in higher education teaching substance abuse, counseling, & psychology to online students from all over the country. Dr. Graham has also worked as a Clinical Supervisor for Vibrant Emotional Health on the 988-suicide hotline to prevent suicidal and homicidal crisis from happening across the country. She specializes in substance abuse, anxiety, and PTSD trauma. Currently, Dr. Graham is the founder/co-owner and Director of Clinical Operations of Ascension of the Phoenix Counseling (AP Counseling).
Dr Graham volunteers her time with the Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps in which she participates in drug take backs and crisis intervention as needed. She also donates her time as mentor for her daughter’s teenager youth group and is also active in youth baseball, and church.
She participates in 5K that benefit the community and mental health organizations. She uses her time to bring awareness to childhood cancer, military & first responders.
Jaime Quinteros, founder of The Quinteros Marketing Group since 2012, leads a dynamic marketing and advertising agency renowned for its innovative approaches in penetrating markets and promoting companies across diverse industries.
A George Mason University graduate, Jaime served as a marketing director in the mental health sector for two years.
In 2023, he joined forces with Dr. Amanda Graham to establish Ascension of the Phoenix Counseling, emphasizing the ever-evolving nature of marketing with a forward-thinking perspective: “Today’s marketing is not yesterday’s marketing, and tomorrow’s marketing will have evolved by the time we have our first sip of coffee.”
Paul Hardy
“Mastering Your Emotions: Strategies for Managing Anger and Stress”
Dr. Paul is a passionate leader in the field of substance abuse counseling, trauma recovery, and relapse prevention. He is an educator at heart, experienced keynote speaker, and conference presenter. He is a champion for those who struggle with addictions, compulsive behaviors, and traumatic experiences. He developed the PLACE method published as “Redeeming the Tears,” (Lifeway Publishers) for trauma recovery and is the coauthor of “Stop the Madness,” (Lifeway Publishers). He has self-published numerous books: “Better Choices” substance abuse issues, 2- hour seminar, Self-published,2022 “Get a Grip” anger management, 2-hour seminar, Self-published, 2022 “How to Get Along with Hard to Get Along with People” relationship issues,2-hour seminar, Self-published, 2020 “Getting It Right” Discipleship, 2-hour seminar, Self-published, 2018 “Letting Go, Living Free” Discipleship, 2-hour seminar, Self-published, 2018 “Waves of Grace/ Redeeming the Tears” Grief and Prolonged Grief, 2-hour seminar, Lifeway Publishing, 2005 He is best known for his teaching, leadership, and solution focused approaches to relationship and situations.
Ashley Harrell & Jason Lowe
“Understanding Medicaid and Impact for Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery in Virginia”
Ashley Harrell is a Senior Program Advisor in the Behavioral Health Division at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. Ashley’s role in the Virginia Medicaid agency in most recent years was leading the implementation of the transformation of the Medicaid Substance Use Disorder treatment services benefit – “Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services or ARTS”. ARTS has been recognized nationally as the model for States implementing substance use disorder demonstration waivers. Prior to this, Ashley managed the Maternal and Child Health Division at the Medicaid agency to improve access to and enhance services for pregnant and parenting individuals as well as children eligible for Medicaid. Ashley is licensed in Clinical Social Work in Virginia since 2002, with degrees both in Master’s and Bachelor’s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jason Lowe is the Behavioral Health Integration Advisor in the Division Behavioral Health at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, where he is responsible for helping to integrate Medicaid services for individuals with cooccurring behavioral health disorders by providing support and subject matter expertise for the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services and the Behavioral Health Redesign for Access, Values, and Outcomes benefits. He earned his Masters of Social Work degree with a focus on administration and policy from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has more than 17 years of behavioral health experience in the public sector having worked for four state agencies – the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Health, and Medical Assistance Services, as well as the Office of the State Inspector General. His primary subject matter expertise is in substance use disorders, harm reduction, and grants writing and management; he also has experience in program development, implementation, management and evaluation, state hospital compliance reviews, performance improvement, and stakeholder engagement. He created and developed REVIVE! Virginia’s naloxone distribution program, one of the first state-level Opioid Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) programs in the country.
Karen Ingersoll, Ph.D. & Chris Wagner, Ph.D.
“New Ideas for MI Groups for Addiction: An Experiential Workshop”
Karen Ingersoll Ph.D. is a Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Substance Abuse Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. She studies interventions to reduce substance use and improve HIV care outcomes. She won national awards for the CHOICES counseling intervention and the PositiveLinks mobile health intervention. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 2 books, including Women and Drinking: Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies (2015) and Motivational Interviewing in Groups (2013). She trains medical, mental health, and peer professionals in evidence-based practices.
Christopher C. Wagner Ph.D. is an associate professor, licensed clinical psychologist, and certified rehabilitation counselor. His scholarship focuses on motivational interviewing (MI) and interpersonal processes in mental health/substance abuse treatment. He has focused on expanding MI theory and practice to a broader focus than originally conceived as well as developing MI group psychotherapy. He is the lead author on the MI in Groups book that is part of the official Guilford Press series on MI. His practice and training have included outpatient, inpatient and residential treatment of individuals and groups with a variety of health, mental health and addiction problems.
Nancy Johnston, MS, LPC, LSATP, MAC, NCC
“Morning Mindfulness: Practices for Calming, Centering, and Grounding” “From Codependency to Self-Recovery: A Treatment Guide for Clinicians” “Morning Mindfulness: Mindfulness as a Treatment Foundation”
Nancy L. Johnston, MS, LPC, LSATP, MAC, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner in private practice in Lexington, VA. With 47 years of clinical experience, Nancy is a Master Addiction Counselor and a Diplomate in Substance Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders through the American Mental Health Counselors’ Association.
She has authored two books on codependency published by Central Recovery Press – Disentangle: When You’ve Lost Your Self in Someone Else 2nd Edition (2020) and My Life as a Border Collie: Freedom from Codependency (2012).
Nancy has two digital seminars for clinicians on treating codependency produced with PESI, and she has written a workbook for PESI – The Clinician’s Codependency Treatment Workbook – to be released in 2024.
Mindfulness practices have been a part of Nancy’s personal and professional life since 1995. Learning how to connect with self and be in the present moment is an essential skill for the Self-Recovery work Nancy offers to others.
Nancy has presented at numerous conferences over the past 20 years. Information about her presentations, workshops, books, and downloads are available at nancyljohnston.com.
Sheriff Karl Leonard
“Unconventional Responses to an Unconventional Crisis – A Look Inside the Chesterfield County Jail HARP Program”
Sheriff Leonard oversees one of the largest Sheriff Offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia for a region of 430 square miles with a population of over 380,000. The Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office is compiled of a force of over 340 employees with an annual budget in excess of $35M.
His responsibilities primarily include the Security Division providing 24/7 security of 400 inmates at the Chesterfield County Jail (additional 500 inmates at Riverside Regional Jail), the Court Services Division which operates 17 courtrooms in Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and sees over 600,000 people pass through every year, and Civil Process which handles nearly 90,000 papers annually.
Sheriff Leonard began his law enforcement career with the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office where he was a deputy in the Jail, Juvenile Courts and Transportation before moving over to the Chesterfield Police Department in 1982 when he became a patrolman. He rose through the ranks within the police department to the position of Major in command of all uniformed operations before his retirement in 2012 with 30 years of service. During his police career, Sheriff Leonard served as Commander of the Uniform Operations Bureau, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, and Captain of Uniform Operations. He also served as a Patrol Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, and Patrolman. Sheriff Leonard is qualified as an expert witness in the Use of Force, Accident Reconstruction and Polygraph.
In 2013, Sheriff Leonard began his career with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and on February 1, 2014, was appointed Sheriff by the Chief Circuit Court Judge of Chesterfield County. The citizens of Chesterfield County later elected Sheriff Karl S. Leonard during a special election and afterwards during a general election.
Sheriff Leonard received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State University and his master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Suffolk (MA) University.
Sheriff Leonard serves as Immediate Past President of the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute, on the Legislative Committee for the Virginias Sheriff’s Association, as the Region V Director for Virginia Special Olympics (greater Central VA Region), on the State Drug Court Executive Advisory Committee, on the State Offender Population Forecasting Policy Committee, the Virginia Public Safety and Behavioral Health Committee, the Opioid Abatement Civil Fine Disbursement Team, as group leader for the U.S. Attorney’s Office Central Virginia Overdose Working Group, on the Recovery Virginia Opioid Working Group, on the Central Virginia Law Enforcement Chief Executive Association, on the Chesterfield Colonial Heights Criminal Justice Board (Past Chair), on the Chesterfield Substance Abuse Steering Committee, and on the Riverside Regional Jail Authority Board. In 2021 Sheriff Leonard was awarded the international Leadership and Innovation Award by The Academy of Criminal Justice Services (ACJS).
Sheriff Leonard and his wife Karen live in Chesterfield, Virginia. He has five daughters, Ashley and Andrew Knoell and their son Hunter and daughter Maddyn from NY, Megan and Joseph Henderson and their sons Jayden, Kyler, Rexton and daughter Macie from NY, Alexandra and Eddie Coglio of Midlothian and son Pat, daughter Conor of Chesterfield and her son Gabe, and daughter Lauren of Colonial Heights.
Anthony ‘Tony’ McDowell, OAA Executive Director & Cindy Newman, CHES
“How Virginia Cities and Counties are Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Fight the Opioid Epidemic”
Tony McDowell was appointed executive director of the Opioid Abatement Authority on August 1, 2022. His duties include overall implementation of the Authority’s goals and objectives as determined by the Board of Directors, and distributing opioid abatement funds in accordance with the Code of Virginia. He previously served as Deputy County Manager for Public Safety in Henrico County from 2018-2022, where he played a leadership role in developing Henrico County’s comprehensive strategy to prevent, treat, and support recovery from substance use disorders. He began his career with Henrico as a firefighter/paramedic in 1997 and rose through the ranks to Fire Chief in 2012. Mr. McDowell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Virginia Tech (1991) and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas (1995).
Cindy Newman graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor’s degree in human services counseling and a master’s degree in education. Graduated from Liberty University with a master’s degree in public health. I have a national certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist.
Twenty-three years of experience working with local CSBs, local health districts, and teaching in the public school system. I am a member of the Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition, which serves the 13 counties and three cities in southwest Virginia.
Nathan Mitchell, CPRS, Katie Thompson, CPRS & Jordan Fisher, CPRS, RPRS
“Identifying the Peer Role in Traditional and Non-Traditional Settings”
Nathan Mitchell (he/him) is a CPRS working as a Program Coach for Virginia Recovery Corps. He is a 2022 graduate of the VCU/DBHDS Recovery Leadership Academy and a 2022 recipient of the Wayne Hamilton Blanks Service in Recovery Award. In 2019, Nathan served on a National Peer Council that guided a significant research project by Community Catalyst, partnering with Faces & Voices of Recovery and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Nathan continues to advocate for a public health-centered approach to the addiction epidemic on the federal, state, and local level that values peer recovery support.
Katie Thompson is a CPRS, currently working as a Program Coach for Virginia Recovery Corps. She is a 2023 DBHDS Recovery Leadership Academy graduate and a mentor for the class of 2024. Growing up in the DMV, Katie earned a B.A. in Theatre from George Mason University and a Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking from George Washington University. She went on to co-found a performing arts nonprofit in Uganda and spent nearly ten years overseas working and solo traveling around the world. Now, Harrisonburg, Virginia, is home, where Katie lives with her daughter and cat, Rocky.
In November 2023, Jordan Fisher (CPRS, RPRS) joined Virginia Recovery Corps as a Program Coach. He brought five years of experience in peer work and supervision across many diverse settings. During his 14-year recovery journey, he graduated from Eastern Mennonite University, was married, became a foster father, and was inducted into the Harrisonburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Making the Shenandoah Valley his home, Jordan enjoys exploring the area with his family and two dogs, Butters and Toast, during his leisure time.
Jesalyn Moore, MSW, LSATP, LCAS, CAADC & Justine Evirs, CPRS, CSAC-A, CSAC Supervisee
“Tactical Leadership; How to Engage Veterans in Treatment”
Jesalyn Moore, LSATP, LCAS, CAADC, MSW is the Chief Executive Officer of The Farley Center, where she oversees all operations, including program development, staff management, and community outreach. With over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health, Jesalyn is dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome substance use disorders and achieve long-term recovery. In addition to her role as CEO, Jesalyn also serves as an Executive Board Member of the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals, where she works with other leaders in the field to promote education, advocacy, and quality training for addiction professionals. Jesalyn is also a committee member of NAADAC’s Military and Veteran Advisory Committee, where she utilizes her expertise to develop resources and support for service members and veterans who are pursuing or are currently members of the addiction professional community.
U.S. Navy Veteran Justine Evirs, MA, CPRS, CSAC-A, CSAC Supervisee is a published author, counselor, and entrepreneur. She has held multiple roles over the last 20 years within the military community ranging from an admissions counselor within the higher education system to the Founder and CEO of The Paradigm Switch that merged with Columbia University in 2021. Justine is currently working as a Substance Abuse Counselor for The Farley Center in Williamsburg, Virginia- a residential treatment center specializing in substance abuse treatment. She is also currently enrolled in graduate school at Walden University working toward her second master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her long-term goals are to be licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) specializing in trauma and co-occurring disorders.
Justin Savoy, MBA, M.Ed., MS & Melissa Mariner, LPC, ATR-BC
“Breaking Ground: Virginia’s First Recovery High“
Justin Savoy, the Program Coordinator of the Chesterfield Recovery Academy, comes to Chesterfield with over 13 years of experience between education and mental health. He has gained his experience as a Program Manager of a substance abuse program in North Carolina managing a six-county catchment area. He then transitioned to education where he was a CTE teacher, Instructional Management Coordinator and Special Populations Coordinator. In 2016, he came to Virginia to be a Director of Career and Technical Education with Westmoreland County Schools. On July 25th, Mr. Savoy began his tenure with CCPS and looks forward to creating a positive impact on the community, building awareness for adolescent substance abuse and treatment, and creating a support network for Region One schools.
Melissa Mariner, Clinician Coordinator, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and a master’s in Art Therapy and Counseling from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She brings twelve years of mental health experience to Chesterfield Recovery Academy with expertise in substance use treatment, school-based therapy, community mental health, grief counseling, and case management services. Melissa obtained certification as a Pet Partners therapy animal team with her dog, Lettie. Together they work with the students at school and volunteer in the community. Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist.
Jessica Swan, MCJ, MAC
“Family Treatment & Recovery: The Path to Better Outcomes”
Jessica Swan, MCJ, MAC* has extensive experience in clinical addiction counseling, research, development, training, evaluation, and reporting for legal professionals, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and communities across the nation. She writes addiction recovery curriculum for treatment programs, offers counseling for individuals and families with substance use disorders, and provides addiction recovery consulting for organizations. Jessica specializes in helping high-level professionals and their families, including professional athletes, doctors, judges, lawyers, and pilots. She has extensive experience working within the Justice System and its intersection with mental health and substance use. Jessica is a national leader and educator in the addiction recovery field, teaching on the neurobiological disease of addiction, SUD treatment, and recovery. She has trained multiple disciplines on the neuroscience of substance use disorders, family recovery from substance use disorders, and integrating families in treatment and recovery. She currently contracts with The Farley Center, providing Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program (HPMP) evaluations, family assessments, and recommendations for treating professionals, and she provides a family treatment program for The Farley Center. She currently offers training and facilitation for law firms and judges across the US, and she is Executive Director of Recovery Consulting. Jessica is the President-Elect for the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals.
Suzan Thompson, Ph.D. & Tina Curran-Taylor, LPC, ICADC, BC-TMH, NCC
“Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Enhancing Mindfulness & Meditation”
Suzan K. Thompson, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice in Virginia Beach, VA. She has a strong interest in integrating complementary and alternative approaches into the counseling process. She has been a practitioner of EFT since 2001 and uses a variety of healing modalities and specializes in helping people who are struggling with distressing events and trauma. Suzan also collaborates regularly with Tina and others to deliver training programs to professional counselors and other mental health providers.
Tina Curran-Taylor, LPC, ICADC, BC-TMH, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor is a board-certified Substance Abuse Counselor through The International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium. She is the owner of Reviving Wellness Counseling in Virginia Beach, VA, providing individual and group counseling services to adults and clinical supervision to interns and LPC residents. She uses an integrative approach to psychotherapy that includes EMDR, mindfulness and Energy Psychology approaches. Tina has worked extensively with individuals navigating through addiction and trauma related concerns in both the civilian and military community since 1994.
Abie Tremblay, PhD, LPC – VA, LPCC – ME, NBCC, CCMHC, CAADC & Dr. Mary Darden-Robinson
“Finding Solutions Within the System”
Abie Tremblay is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and Maine, with a background in working with mental health and substance use challenges in Virginia Department of Corrections, private practice, and the Veterans Administration. Abie’s professional history also includes 21 years of active service in the US Navy, a decade as office manager for Chesapeake Montessori School, and a lifetime of exploring our world. Abie’s research includes trauma recovery, substance use and recovery, efficacy of various group modalities, and personality disorders. Abie currently lives on 16 acres in New Hampshire with her spouse and two standard poodles.
Dr. Mary Darden-Robinson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.), holds a certificate as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (C.S.A.C.) along with a Master Addiction Counselor certificate (M.A.C.). Dr. Darden-Robinson is a Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (L.S.A.T.P.). Additionally, she is SAMHSA GAINS Center-trained as a facilitator for the “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” seminar. She is also a Master Trainer for the A.C.E. Interface Program and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Lastly, Dr. Darden-Robinson is a Virginia Board of Counseling approved clinical supervisor for Residents in Counseling as well as L.S.A.T.P., L.M.F.T., C.S.A.C., and CSAC-A trainees.
Jennifer Walden, LPC, LSATP
“Intentional Supervision: Promoting Developmental Growth with Substance Abuse Counselors”
Jennifer Walden, LPC, LSATP is the Director of Outpatient Services at National Capital Treatment and Recovery in Arlington, Virginia, where she oversees admissions, utilization management, and outpatient programs. She has worked in the counseling field since 2002, providing clinical leadership in residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs. Jennifer has also worked in a private practice setting, where she specialized in the treatment of anxiety and trauma and became a Certified Therapist in EMDR. Before she became a counselor, Jennifer was a high school educator. She enjoys designing and presenting trainings on a wide range of topics.
