The Recovery Village Editorial Team

With over 11 years experience in academic, hospital, and ambulatory pharmacy, Frances has a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry, assisting physicians with the development of pathways or protocols to improve clinical practice. She interprets evidence-based literature... Read More

Amy Armstrong is a licensed addiction counselor in the state of Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. Amy went on to complete her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. A National Certified Counselor (NCC) trained in... Read More

Nicole Arzt is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in Southern California. She has been privileged to provide therapeutic services for a wide variety of individuals, couples and families. Her clinical emphasis lies in working with females with substance use, eating disorders, and complex trauma. A passionate writer, she has authored... Read More

Born in North Texas and raised in North Eastern Pennsylvania, Robert Ashford devotes his time to behavioral health recovery and social justice advocacy. Robert most recently served as the National Program Director for Young People in Recovery.

Taylor Atwater manages content & daily digital communications across six websites. Taylor also manages freelance talent and the internship program including a team of freelancers with specializations in mental and behavioral health. Her efforts help The Recovery Village produce hundreds of pieces of content monthly for its audiences.

As an avid traveler, yogi & confessed self-help junkie, Carly writes about her adventures in life & sobriety on www.MiraclesAreBrewing.com where she offers inspirational concepts for enlightenment, spirituality, and embracing epicness.

Christina is a mud runner, dog lover, and amateur photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She also runs her own blog, My Life in Wonderland, where she writes about newlywed life, fitness, mental health, and her life as a whole. Christina is obsessed with Harry Potter, always has a collection of lip balm in her purse, and never passes up an... Read More

I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University in Seattle in 2003. The focus of my education and training was in marriage and family therapy. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with a license through the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. Prior to getting my Master’s... Read More

Bonnie Bullock received a bachelor’s in History from Tulane University with an additional major in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2012. She is currently a 5th year PhD student in the Cancer Biology program at the University of Colorado... Read More

Mike Candelaria is a 30-year veteran of the magazine industry in Central Florida, having served as a writer and editor for numerous publications. Those publications range from city/regional and business magazines to travel/leisure and sports magazines. Formerly, he was the editor of Orlando magazine and the 1996 president of the Florida Magazine... Read More

Christina Caplinger is a licensed pharmacist in both Colorado and Idaho and is also a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist. She completed a fellowship program in infectious disease pharmacy, in which her research interests included antimicrobial stewardship and appropriate antimicrobial prescribing, resulting in several publications in... Read More

With over a decade of editing experience, Tom is the editor for the Advanced Recovery Systems content team where he polishes the great research articles, news releases and blog posts that the content team produces every day. Working with such a passionate team of dedicated writers inspires Tom to ensure that the... Read More

Paula H. Cookson is a psychotherapist and freelance writer who lives and works in midcoast Maine. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new areas for camping and beachcombing during the summer months. With over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, she is always amazed at the strength, beauty, and resilience... Read More

Dr. Candace Crowley received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and her Ph.D. in Immunology from UC Davis, where her thesis focused on immune modulation in childhood asthma.  Candace has 12+ years in the life sciences sector, including experience writing and editing for both scientific and lay audiences. When she is not... Read More

Dr. Sarah Dash is a postdoctoral research fellow based in Toronto. Sarah completed her PhD in Nutritional Psychiatry at the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University in 2017 and her research interests include public health, lifestyle medicine, noncommunicable disease prevention, and mental health.

As the content manager at Advanced Recovery systems, Renée Deveney is passionate about helping people struggling with substance use disorder. She leads a team of dedicated writers who provide insightful material for individuals seeking treatment. With a family history of addiction and mental illness, Renée is committed to opening up a proactive... Read More

Artur graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2014 with a doctor of pharmacy degree. In addition to learning about various medications, Artur took pathophysiology and several different therapeutics courses, which helped him understand disease states and how to select the proper medications for a disease. Artur enjoys educating people about disease states and... Read More

Rob is a writer, producer, and content specialist based out of Austin, Texas who has been creating digital content in nearly every form imaginable for the past 9 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 2009.

Lara Frazier is a freelance writer and influencer living in the Tampa Bay area. She is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery and shares her own story of sobriety through her blog, A Story of Healing.

Jessie Gould lives in Phoenix, Arizona and writes regularly at various websites, news publications and blogs.

Denise-Marie Griswold is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling from East Carolina University in 2014. She has worked primarily in a residential, inpatient setting treating patients with substance use and co-occurring disorders. She lives in Wilmington, NC—recently... Read More

Ceta Gugliemotto is currently a Clinician at The Recovery Village Columbus and a contributor at The Recovery Village.

Dr. Nicolas Gutierrez has a PhD in Cellular Biology and Physiology. He is an experienced medical writer and is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

Stephanie Hairston received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from Pomona College and her Master of Social Work degree from New York University. She spent several years in the field of clinical social work before transitioning into professional writing and editing. As a social worker, she provided group and individual therapy,... Read More

Lindsey Hall is an author contributing to The Recovery Village with writing on topics related to eating disorders and mental, behavioral health issues.

Aleishia Harris-Arnold is a know-it-all who is happiest when she’s teaching others. She has been studying and teaching science since 1998.

Krisi Herron is an Adjunct Psychology Professor, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a Freelance and Ghost Writer who contributes to several mental health blogs. Krisi obtained her Master of Arts degree in Psychology through Texas A&M University in Commerce and has worked in the Mental Health industry for 11 years.  Her work with Texas... Read More

Bryan Hindin is a Florida State University alumni and current resident of Tallahassee, Florida. Bryan is law clerk with years of experience working in personal injury, criminal defense, and employment law firms. In his professional background, Bryan has worked intimately with addiction treatment centers like The Recovery Village, to assist clients... Read More

Dr. Timothy Huckaby is the medical director at Orlando Recovery Center. He is a clinical expert who is triple board certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine and addiction medicine. Since completing his residency at Louisiana State University, Dr. Huckaby has spent his career providing expert care and compassion to people and he specializes in... Read More

Megan Hull is Advanced Recovery System’s head copywriter. As a Florida born-and-raised writer with a family history of addiction, Megan is driven by her desire to connect people to treatment that works. Since she started writing for The Recovery Village in 2017, she has covered various aspects of addiction trends... Read More

Michael Hunter has been helping those struggling with addiction for over twenty years. In addition to providing direct client care, he has worked in executive roles across a variety of health care settings. He has helped integrate behavioral health care into primary medical care facilities, served as C.O.O. for an electronic health records company,... Read More

Sherice Jacob is a copywriter with over 20 years of experience working within the medical, marketing, financial and technology industries. She speaks three languages and enjoys being out in nature, playing the electric guitar and traveling. She’s also the author of Blog Prompts : 101 Creative Topics That Attract Customers, Invite... Read More

Jenni Jacobsen is a freelance writer living in Ohio. She has seven years of experience working in the social work field, including work with clients with both mental health and addiction-related diagnoses. She has a master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University and is in pursuit of a doctoral degree in psychology. She has... Read More

Nate is a practicing clinical pharmacist specializing in managed care and drug information. He has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Doctor of Pharmacy degree, both from the University of Wisconsin. He enjoys medical writing and education and has developed several accredited continuing education courses for pharmacists.

Deborah Kallick received her PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a post doc at UC Berkeley. She was granted indefinite tenure at the U of Minnesota in Medicinal Chemistry before moving on to Biotech, where she worked in such diverse areas as the Human Genome, biophysical approaches to infectious disease therapeutics, and... Read More

Dr. Katz graduated with her medical degree from the Kishinev Medical University in the Republic of Moldova, where she was recognized for academic excellence. She then completed a residency program at the University of Louisville in Psychiatry. Dr. Katz has earned numerous awards including San Diego Top Doc and Psychiatrist of the Year. She is board... Read More

Hi! I’m Shannon. I have worked in the marketing industry for 5+ years and am passionate about all things relating to content marketing, creativity, and making the world a more connected place. I am increasingly excited about the ways technology and communication are intersecting in the 21st century and hope to use my voice to educate, inform,... Read More

Erika Krull has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and has been a freelance writer since 2006. She is a healthcare writer specializing in mental health content for professional training modules, blogs, and websites. Her writing has been featured on Mindcology.com and PsychCentral.com.

Kimberly Langdon M.D. is a retired University-trained obstetrician/gynecologist with 19-years of clinical experience. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and then completed her OB/GYN residency program at The Ohio State University Medical Center. She was awarded first-place for her senior research project and placed in... Read More

Megan is a writer in Recovery with a passion for healing others through the power of word. She believes in speaking her truth, being loud and proud about her story, and she hopes to inspire others to share theirs through her website, Healing Hopefuls. She is based out of Jacksonville, FL, but enjoys connecting with people from all over the... Read More

Liz Lazzara is a freelance writer and editor living and working in Boston, MA. She is working on three large projects:

Beth is a contributing author for The Recovery Village, a newspaper reporter and a graphic designer from Minnesota. Beth regularly writes about the realities of getting sober young. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and like her blog for updates.

Dr. Heidi Lightfoot, MD is an anesthesiologist in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Alongside her clinical work, she has an interest in medical writing and clinical research.

Kathleen is a licensed pharmacist in New Jersey. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Rutgers University. She currently works in the retail setting as a pharmacist and also has experience as an independent consultant pharmacist for skilled nursing facilities. She is passionate about ensuring that her patients are empowered with knowledge and information regarding the... Read More

Hunter Mefford is the Chief Marketing Officer of Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC, parent company to The Recovery Village. Since joining The Recovery Village in 2015, he’s overseen marketing efforts that’ve helped Advanced Recovery Systems educate millions across the globe impacted by behavioral health issues. His efforts have led to the... Read More

A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Abby Morris is a board-certified psychiatrist with diverse experience in community mental health, substance abuse, inpatient and private practice settings. She is responsible for all inpatient care, training and future operations planning. She develops the individualized plan of care that... Read More

Patrick is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner who primarily works with adult patients with mental health conditions or problems with addiction. With a background in primary care, he has expertise in both acute and chronic medical conditions. Outside of mental health, he has extensive experience with cardiovascular disease and diabetes... Read More

Dr. Ochsner completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating Magna Cum Laude in EPO biology with a minor in biochemistry. He received a health professions scholarship through the United States Air Force and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Ochsner completed his family... Read More

Dr Helen Okoye is a highly accomplished and sought after American Public Health Physician with a Medical Degree (MD), an MBA in Healthcare Management, and a Masters in Epidemiology/Public Health. She has been featured on NBC News, Yahoo News, The Huffington Post, The Reader’s Digest Tonic by VICE, She Knows, Massage Magazine, Carol Roth, among... Read More

Eric Patterson is a licensed professional counselor in the Pittsburgh area who is dedicated to helping children, adults, and families meet their treatment goals. As contributor for the American Psychiatric Association, he helped shape the content in the DSM-5. For the last five years as a freelance writer, Eric has worked to spread reliable,... Read More

Writer and wellness advocate, Olivia Pennelle (Liv), is in long-term recovery. She passionately believes in a fluid and holistic approach to recovery. Her popular site—Liv’s Recovery Kitchen—is a resource for those on their journey toward health and wellness in recovery. You will find Liv featured amongst top recovery bloggers and fellow... Read More

David Petersen is an independent consultant, trained & licensed in clinical social work and addictions counseling. He assists individuals, families, agencies, and organizations through training, counseling and consultation. David’s vocation is to help restore lives in the worst of circumstances, with family wellness as a peak priority. He is... Read More

Dr. Anna Pickering has a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology. Anna works as a medical writer. She grew up in Oregon, where she developed a love for science, nature, and writing.

David A. Porter has a Master’s degree in Psychology from Sage Graduate School, 18 years clinical experience in a variety of settings including private practice, community mental health clinics, a MAT (Medication-Assisted treatment) Program and a program for the severely/chronically mentally ill. He also has 21 concurrent years of teaching... Read More

Andrew is a full-time freelance writer from Canada. His passion is making the wonder and elegance of science accessible for all readers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, an MD from Queen’s University, and has completed post-graduate studies in medicine. He practiced as a primary care physician from 2001 to 2016 in general... Read More

Dr. Pyhtila is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland with practice sites in inpatient palliative care and outpatient primary care. She is a double board certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and a Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). She completed both a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and a PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy... Read More

Dr. Navin Ramchandani is a Medical Doctor/ Diagnostician and Owner of R&R Medical Centre in Barbados. He is also an Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) International instructor with the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG), and a Paediatric BASIC (Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care) international... Read More

Cami Renzoni is a creative writer, copywriting mentor and the content coach for Advanced Recovery Systems. Through topical research articles, engaging email campaigns and insightful interviews with rehab graduates, Cami aims to end the stigma that surrounds addiction and mental illness. As an advocate for behavioral... Read More

Yulia is a cell and molecular biologist with expertise using embryonic stem cell models, 3D human tissue models, and animal models to investigate different human disease phenotypes including impaired wound healing, cardiovascular disease, and cancer metastasis. She is interested in translational stem cell research and therapeutic applications of... Read More

Vishwani is a residency and fellowship trained adult and child psychiatrist. She attended medical school in India, and then went on to train at Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. She is passionate about writing, specifically on psychiatric topics.

Patrick Santilli is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio who works in private practice as well as online therapy. Patrick obtained his Master of Education degree in Counseling through Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and has worked in the mental health industry for 6 years. He has experience working in various mental... Read More

Carey Sabera is, above all, an advocate. As the executive director of The Recovery Village Ridgefield, she oversees the clinical, nursing and medical operations at one of the leading behavioral health care centers in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Since graduation, He has enjoyed varied experience in the areas of psychiatric pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and has worked as a provider with 1-on-1 patient appointments to... Read More

Dawn Sheets is a registered pharmacist who works with Advanced Recovery Systems to review web pages for medical/pharmaceutical accuracy. She has been a pharmacist for over 15 years and has worked in both retail and hospital settings. She has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Toledo and doctor of pharmacy degree from the Ohio... Read More

Deep graduated with a PhD in neuroscience from Georgia State University in December 2018. He has a diverse background in biology, having transitioned from a background in cellular and molecular biology to neuroscience and integrative biology. He enjoys reading, writing and conceptualising information. He is interested in political philosophy and the impact of science on... Read More

Dr. Sippel is a diversely trained scientist with expertise in cancer biology and immunology. She received her PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus and has completed two postdocs, one at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and one at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Her... Read More

Tracy Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, and a mental health freelance and ghostwriter.  Tracy received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling from Monmouth University.  Tracy has been in the mental... Read More

Jonathan is a writer and loves every second of it. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2017 and has been writing professionally ever since. When he’s not writing, he likes to make music, draw, and read.

Davis has a bachelor of science in neuroscience, a bachelor of arts in psychology and a medical degree. His education has allowed him to gain a deep understanding of the vast complexities of the human condition, and he enjoys sharing that knowledge with others, which is why he works as a freelance writer. Davis’ next academic adventure is pursuing a masters in business... Read More

Ashley Sutphin Watkins is a professional writer and blogger. A native of North Carolina, she received her degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in psychology and journalism. For the past eight years, she has worked with clients throughout the country on writing projects. Now based in Knoxville, Tennessee, when she isn’t... Read More

Ashley has a history of working in public relations, communications, and digital publishing industries. She possesses a Bachelor’s in Human Communications and a minor in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida. Ashley has worked for The Recovery Village and Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC in a variety of roles and now... Read More

Dr. Karen Vieira has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. Her passion is finding existing research on dietary and lifestyle changes that prevent, cure or improve various health conditions.

Allison Walsh is the Vice President in charge of Business Development and Branding for Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC. the parent company of The Recovery Village. Allison is responsible for all community outreach, partnership development, continuing education, and events. In her role as VP, Business Development & Branding for The Recovery... Read More

Dr. Kevin Wandler is the Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Recovery Systems. In addition, he serves as the medical director at The Recovery Village Ridgefield and at The Recovery Village Palmer Lake. With more than 30 years of experience in addiction medicine, Dr. Wandler ensures the latest research-based techniques in addiction treatment are being... Read More

Wendy J. Weber is a pharmacist with almost 20 years of experience in acute care clinical practice, hospital pharmacy leadership, medication safety, and clinical research. Her professional background also includes community pharmacy, government contracting, and association leadership.

Dr. Hillary Webster is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and a self-proclaimed Hormone Advocate. She helps high achievers uncover and repair their hidden hormonal and nutrient deficiencies to get their world-conquering energy back. She loves dogs, writing articles, and grey sweaters and sees patients in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Lauren Weinand is an M.D. medical writer and poet. She enjoys translating medical literature into digestible content, and perspective into poetry. The aim of her work is to advance health literacy and health advocacy.

After graduating from the University of Denver, Kelsey began her career at an L.A.-based boutique PR agency where she worked with clients in the consumer goods, healthcare and live entertainment industries. In 2008, she joined the global Paul Mitchell marketing team and contributed to product launches, created copy for promotional campaigns and was... Read More

Benjamin “Caleb” Williams is a registered nurse who grew up in New Zealand and moved to the United States in 2008.

Sendra is a pharmacist with a specialty in drug information. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Wingate University School of Pharmacy and completed a one-year postgraduate residency in acute care pharmacy and a second postgraduate pharmacy residency in drug information. Her experience includes hospital pharmacy, drug/medical information,... Read More

Joy Youell is a writer and content developer with a background in educational research. Using sound pedagogical approaches and expert-backed methods, Joy has designed and delivered adult learning content, professional development, and company training materials for organizations.

Dr. Tiffany L. Bell is a Central Ohio trained physician in Psychiatry. She is currently practicing Addiction and General Psychiatry in Columbus, OH. She has a background in working with a multitude of mental illnesses and substance dependencies.  Dr. Bell has worked and trained in broad and diverse settings that include Community Mental... Read More

After spending the first 12 years of his career in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman, Steven Hart dedicated his life to helping those in need of long-term healing from addiction. Steven has worked in recovery services for more than 30 years, managing inpatient and outpatient programs, maintaining community relations, and inspiring... Read More

Director of Operations
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Michael R. Griggs is the senior house manager at Next Step Village. Mr. Griggs assists the program manager and is responsible for overseeing daily operations at Next Step Village Maitland and support of Next Step Village Eustis. He is a graduate of The Recovery Village in Umatilla and Next Step Village Eustis. Mr. Griggs offers comprehensive knowledge of 12-Step programs and... Read More

Dr. Drury has been involved in the care and treatment of children, adolescents and adults with mental health and substance abuse issues for over 30 years as a psychiatric attendant, registered nurse, and psychiatrist. He is actively involved in the care and treatment of his patients and utilizes evidence-based practices and treatments that... Read More

“There is no greater honor on earth than to have the opportunity to positively influence the life of someone less fortunate.” A transformational servant leader, Michael has decades of experience at every level of the residential continuum, working with disadvantaged, disabled and disenfranchised youth. Prior to joining the Next Generation... Read More

Director of Nursing

Dana Giblock, LCSW, has led an energetic and impactful career in social work for nearly 20 years. A University of Tampa (BS) graduate, Dana’s devotion to helping people strengthened as she completed her master’s degree in social work (MSW) at Barry University, achieving LCSW status.

For over a decade, Dr. Jeffrey Weinheimer has forged an impactful career in the public health field. A University of Alabama graduate, Dr. Weinheimer served in a diverse range of roles including chief resident during his hospital-based residency and lead investigator while obtaining a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology, before... Read More

Jodi is a graduate of Allegheny County College and the University of Phoenix, with degrees in psychology, human service management and phlebotomy. With nearly 20 years of experience in direct patient care and operational management within the behavioral healthcare field, Jodi’s true passion lies in the treatment of addiction. She knew early... Read More