Meet the Team

Sepideh Yashar, PsyD

Director of Outpatient Services

Dr. Sepideh (Sepi) Yashar is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of California. She received her Doctoral and Master’s degrees from Alliant International University (formerly known as The California School of Professional Psychology). She has extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families struggling with addiction and mental health, utilizing a variety of counseling approaches. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. Her approach is relationship-focused and strength-based with a healthy dose of humor. She is dedicated to creating a supportive environment for her clients and developing an individualized curriculum to optimize their success in treatment.

Joel Morris, MD

Medical Director

Though he hails from New England, Dr. Joel Morris completed his schooling in the Midwest, which included extended training in geriatrics and forensic psychiatry. Additionally, Dr. Morris studied acupuncture in New Zealand and China, which he continues to practice. His work with a diverse group of cultures has deepened his understanding and empathy for others. Throughout his psychiatric career, he has worked with people struggling with addiction within inpatient, residential and outpatient settings. In addition to psychopharmacologically, he supports the individual to co-create his/her own life with a strength focus. He believes that to create a ground where addiction no longer has deep roots, one needs to bring in elements of creativity, transcendence and the possibility of rewriting one’s own narrative. The Chinese symbol for crisis is the same for opportunity. In the same way, each addiction crisis brings about the possibility to deepen and change one’s life in a more meaningful and self -directed way. Additionally, Dr. Morris believes that it is the responsibility of the practitioner to be a model and vehicle for change, meeting the client in dialogue, compassion and patience.

Antonio Tutor

Director of Business Development

Antonio is a US Army Veteran and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management. Through his own personal struggles with Addiction and Mental Health, Antonio has devoted his life to giving back and making a difference in the lives of others. He has served as a volunteer at several local nonprofit organizations where he has been able to share his positive message, sense of humor, and knowledge to help others on their journey to lasting sobriety.

Sarah McGuire, RADT-I

Clinical Coordinator

Sarah is a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician and has been working in the field of Mental Health and Addiction for the past three years. She is completing her bachelor’s in Psychology at Antioch University with plans to pursue a career as a therapist by gaining her Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She has experience working in several levels of care including detox and residential, IOP treatment and sober living. Her work in case management provides successful transitions between levels of care. Sarah collaborates with clients to break down restrictive barriers and assist them in meeting their treatment and personal goals through individualized resources.

Lee Konecke, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Lee is a psychotherapist and performance coach in Los Angeles, who has also worked in the recovery community for over 15 years.

Grounded in both western and eastern psychologies, Lee sees his primary work to help people see who they really are beyond their conditioned thought, and to use that power and loving nature to create something great in the world.

Some of the modalities that Lee uses are:
EMDR, Brainspotting, Breathwork, Meditation, “The Work” by Byron Katie, and ACT therapy.

Grant Overmire, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Grant grew up in Los Angeles and feels at peace when he’s by the beach. He has worked in various mental health settings for over 9 years, with a specialty focus on substance abuse in the early part of his career. Grant feels the increase of mainstream exposure to mental wellness and substance abuse issues have helped improve the stigma surrounding treatment and hopes his work will contribute to that momentum. Grant utilizes techniques from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and identifies strongly with the fundamental tenants of Gestalt Therapy, which focus on the here and now. Grant structures his treatment with these principles in mind and believes that everyone is capable of changing the plot in their “story” at any given time.

Lara Lisbe, LCSW

Primary Therapist

Lara Lisbe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her master’s degree in social work from the University of South Florida in 2009. She has been practicing as a clinician for more than a decade and has worked with both children and adults as an individual and group psychotherapist at every level of care, including private practice, intensive outpatient, residential, and inpatient psychiatric settings.

As a clinical social worker, Lara treats each individual from a “person in environment” perspective, considering a range of individual and contextual factors that contribute to well-being, while empowering her clients to hone their innate strengths and improve resilience. Her therapeutic style is action-oriented and honest, while leaving space for self-exploration and growth in a warm and nurturing environment.

Lara is passionate about addressing and treating the intersection of trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use, and has specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, the Trauma Resiliency Model, The Meadows’ Post Induction Therapy, and Attachment-Focused EMDR.

Kim Gibson, LPCC

Primary Therapist

Kim Gibson is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and a registered Art Therapist (ATR) & have been working with clients since 2001. Kim’s clients have described her as creative, kind, resourceful and effective. She is a strengths based therapist and has training in art therapy, trauma, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) skills and mindfulness. Using her training and experience, Kim enjoys helping clients overcome challenges, build healthier relationships, and learn coping tools for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, chronic pain and/or everyday stress.

Honey Dubrovsky, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Honey Dubrovsky is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in the treatment of individuals and couples struggling with challenges related to attachment, relationships, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, lgbtq issues and substance abuse. Honey combines all aspects of Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt, Psychodynamic and Client-Centered Therapy. She also uses a variety of techniques in therapy to identify exactly what will work best for her clients.

Andrew Wasser, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Andrew Wasser is a Mindfully based Marriage Family Therapist, where his approach to Psychotherapy is helping his clients to discover and process their unhealthy patterns and finding new ways to change or alter them. Andrew has several years of diversified experience and specializes in families, couples and individuals with addiction, divorce, parenting and family crisis issues. He has worked at several psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities throughout California. Andrew’s “out of the box” approach to therapy has led to many unique and helpful projects. Combining surfing, and meditation, Andrew developed a life changing program for numerous clients.

Gary Berghoudian, PsyD

Primary Therapist

Dr. Gary Berghoudian earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from University of California, Irvine. He then went on to earn his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology. His internship and post-doctorate experiences include serving as individual, family, and group therapist, psychological assistant, intake specialist, case manager, and clinical coordinator of outpatient services. His experience spans across multiple settings, including middle and high school, community college, inpatient hospital, intensive outpatient programs, and private practice. Dr. Gary is a clinical professional who has a genuine passion for improving the lives of individuals in need of mental health and substance abuse services. He truly enjoys helping his clients learn to be comfortable with who they are. During his spare time, he enjoys going to the beach, watching movies, playing basketball, caring for his saltwater aquarium, and spending quality time with his family.

Hyim Ross, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Hyim J Ross, LMFT, is a licensed therapist. Hyim has traveled the world and spent a lot of time abroad engaging in learning music (he is a musician with many albums and works to his credit) as well as studying healing from different perspectives. Hyim focuses a lot of attention on the biology of emotional regulation and trauma by helping clients understand how neuroscience plays a role in both sustaining trauma-informed behavior (like addiction) as well as holds many keys to healing. Hyim grew up in Oakland, Ca and attended public schools and credits this experience as well as traveling with his greatest of educations. “I believe in social justice and helping heal a world that is quickly changing and evolving. That requires that people are well versed in skills for emotional regulation so they can focus on doing the good work in the world and not allow their own maladaptive behavior to get in the way of that larger healing.”

Casey Strenski, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Casey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families thrive with a holistic psychological approach specializing in trauma, anxiety, relationships, depression, and mood disorders. Utilizing psychodynamic, cognitive/brain-based, somatic, and client-focused therapeutic modalities combined with Eastern-based practices such as mindfulness and yoga, Casey helps her clients create change. Casey has worked in diverse settings with individuals struggling with chronic mental illness in inpatient hospital facilities, underserved families through non-profit programs, and in private practice. Through compassion, empathy, and a warm therapeutic connection, Casey empowers her clients to reach their highest potential.

Michelle King, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Michelle is passionate about working with individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders and has had experience in the field since 2009. She practices EMDR therapy and uses a humanistic therapeutic approach that integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. She has a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and a Masters in Education from USC. With warmth, kindness, and compassion, Michelle works closely with her clients to support them through all the steps of healing and learning to cope with addiction, helping them maintain sobriety and achieve the goal of creating lasting change in their lives.

Megan Winberg

Yoga/Soundbath Meditation

Megan is a yoga and meditation teacher and is passionate about sharing these practices with newly sober individuals. Yoga was instrumental in her ability to find longevity in her own sobriety and happiness in life. Very little brings her more joy then seeing the light turn on in clients as a result of these transformational practices.

Matt Bradford, RADT

Rock to Recovery

Matt Bradford quit playing piano in the fourth grade because he wanted to play guitar. At 16, he bought himself a guitar; playing it became his life’s passion. After high school, Matt attended the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles. He has worked in studios and been a studio musician for major label artists with Sony and Universal. He toured nationally with artists like Grizfolk and Sam Morrow. His last band, Adorable Addicts, broke up in 2010. That’s when he hit the road as a singer/songwriter in support of his four solo albums. He was on the road until late 2018, when he realized that touring was no longer the dream. A friend suggested Rock to Recovery.

Though he had tried to get sober on his own, Matt was unable to stay clean until he went to a 12-step meeting. After two years of self-will, he heard in the meeting that he had a problem. Finally, he had the missing piece. He hasn’t taken a drink or drug since that day in 2013. Matt now loves his work because he gets to play music without taking himself too seriously. He also enjoys watching people who are struggling, open up and embrace their recovery. The feeling of connection he has in those moments is what the work is all about.

Ira Lane, CADC

Recovery Coach

Ira earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree from San Diego State University. He is a California State Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. In his sixteenth year of personal recovery, Ira has been dedicated to his work in the recovery and mental health community. Ira has also worked as a recovery coach and sober companion over the past thirteen years.

Ira is a compassionate person, and is dedicated to his work. His personal experiences in recovery led him to help others in addressing the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. Feeling very fortunate to work in the recovery community, Ira is grateful for the opportunity to assist and guide individuals in developing the necessary tools and life skills of empowerment, self-confidence, and the ability to change the trajectory of their lives to achieve long term recovery.

In his free time, Ira likes golfing, skiing, hiking, and enjoying time with his family and friends.

Rick Hagaman

Recovery Fitness

Recoveryfit is an expertly crafted group fitness program presented in alignment with the 12 principles of recovery. This innovative program elevates the emotional well being of clients through activity, movement, & exercise; consequently, increasing the chances of long-term recovery. Recoveryfit centers on the often-neglected & underrepresented PHYSICAL COMPONENT of recovery providing the valuable tool of fitness for people struggling through the early months of the recovery process.

Safe & effective exercise is universally beneficial for all who do it; however, Recoveryfit’s comprehensive program is especially beneficial to those individuals seeking a life in recovery.

Rick Hagaman and his team have provided fitness & wellness services to individuals & corporate groups since 2006. He has utilized this success & experience along with over 24 yrs. of active recovery to create the Recoveryfit program. “Physical activity should be a part of any recovery program & provides benefits such as stress relief, mood elevation and self-esteem to name a few.”

Nathaniel Hodder-Shipp

Breathwork for Recovery

Nathaniel Hodder-Shipp, B.Msc, CADC-II, is President and Founder of Breathwork for Recovery and has worked as a professional healer for almost a decade. Using an arsenal of techniques with a special focus on breathwork, Nathaniel has helped thousands of people process trauma, disarm negative thought patterns, and maintain healthy and happy relationships with themselves and loved ones. Nathaniel’s client base ranges from those seeking relief from everyday anxiety to people suffering from severe emotional and physical trauma and desperate for help, and his specialty includes working in addiction treatment facilities to help accelerate clients’ journey to recovery. Nathaniel was trained to facilitate breathwork professionally and has completed the David Elliott Healer Training series multiple times. He also is the founder of The Recovery Circle, a weekly support group led by trained breathwork professionals to offer an effective alternative to traditional 12-step programs.

Wendy Adamson, CADC-II

Recovery Coach

Wendy Adamson is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and a Recovery Coach. With over twenty-two years of personal recovery, Wendy has been working in the field more than seventeen years.  Also a dedicated philanthropist, Wendy has used her creative marketing and strategic planning to assist in the development of Hav A Sole, a charitable organization that delivers shoes to the homeless and less advantaged.  She continues to serve as a founding board member for the charity. With a passion for writing, Wendy is a published author of many articles and is currently working on a book, which chronicles her own extraordinary journey; from despair to a life of recovery and hope.

BrainKanix

Neurofeedback

BrainKanix was founded based on the experience they received from the benefits of Neurofeedback. After seeing the positive outcomes in their own lives with just a few sessions, they knew this was a powerful tool to share with the world. By developing mindset mastery, clients are able to unlock their best performance because they are not worried about the mechanics of what they are doing. Instead, clients are able to be present and confident in their ability to deliver results and perform at their best. From finding joy in the moment to winning championships, it is an honor to for their team to witness the life altering effects and positive outcomes with their clients.

Marco Vizioli, STB/MDiv, CRC, CIP, RADT

Spiritual Advisor

Marco “Blitch” Vizioli is an interfaith substance abuse counselor, interventionist, lay chaplain, and graduate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas/ Angelicum in Rome, Italy. For the last 25 years, Blitch has worked with addicts and alcoholics in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Vienna, Zurich and Rome and his clients have included monks, diplomats, sports and entertainment figures and CEOs. He claims that an experience of the Divine is available to any person who desires one, regardless of background.

Daniel Marra

Mind Body Spirit Integration

As a result of imbalances caused by stressful lifestyle, limiting belief systems and negative thought and behavior patterns we tend to prevent ourselves from tapping into our own innate Joy. As a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, Daniel facilitates clients in reconnecting them to their own innate Clarity, Wisdom and Balance. Daniel utilizes various hands on healing techniques to open, balance, re-align and reconnect the clients entire chakra system. Daniel also addresses a full spectrum of conditions from common afflictions such as sadness, depression, feelings of powerlessness, fear and low self esteem to more acute physical conditions such as PTSD, eating disorders and addictions.

Sadie Hopkins

Operations Manager

Sadie has an extensive history of customer service and administrative roles. She earned a BFA at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and brings creative problem solving to The Canyon at Santa Monica. She works closely with each client to ensure a smooth admission process and experience during their programming. Some of her hobbies include cooking, going on hikes and watching the newest movie release.