Articles
- Screening For Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol-Related Problems in College Populations
- Young American Women Drinking Harder
- Broad Drug Testing Adopted in Kansas Town
- Monthly Illicit Drug Use Highest in S.F. Area
- Marijuana, Memory, and the Hippocampus
- Nicotine Withdrawal Starts Within Minutes of Smoking
- Study: IQ Scores Not Lower in Babies Exposed to Cocaine
- Class-Action Status Sought in 'Light' Cigarette Case
Life Healing Center of Santa Fe
Staff Biographies
The care team at Life Healing Center are licensed mental health and addiction treatment professionals selected for their ability to work with a wide range of clients, families, and problems. The facility is justifiably renowned for its small clinical caseloads – a Life Healing Center therapist often carries only three or four clients, and meets individually with them two or more times weekly.
Senior Managers
Cheryl Brown, Executive Director
With over 25 years of service in the behavioral healthcare industry, Cheryl brings a diverse skill set to share with the Life Healing Center team. Her background in clinical, administrative and marketing services, infused with her passion to serve those who remain challenged by behavioral and addictive disorders, provides decisive support and positive regard to individuals she works with. Cheryl supports maintaining and establishing collegial relationships with facilities and therapy professionals whose clients and patients we share. “Working together as a therapy community, both internally and externally, we can truly provide the best practice and care to those we serve”.
Karen Brownd, MA, LPCC, CSAT – Acting Clinical Director
Karen’s varied background includes four years as a primary therapist at Life Healing Center, as well as experience with persons having co-occurring disorders in an addiction treatment setting. She has additional training in sexual addictions under Patrick Carnes and working with grief and loss. Karen utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques to enhance the client’s internal resources as a spiritual basis for personal transformation – healing from within. Karen is a graduate of the University of Memphis and of Southwestern College.
Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT – Director of Clinical Program Development
A UCLA clinical social work graduate, Rob did his post-graduate training in sexual addiction and sexual offending under the direction of Dr. Patrick Carnes. He is an advisor to the board for the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health and has provided training for the National Association of Social Work, the National Institutes of Health, and the US Military among others. In a field with very few recognized experts, Rob is an experienced professional in the assessment and treatment of persons with addictive and offending sexual disorders.
Kristi Dew, Assistant Director of Milieu Services
Kristi brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the areas of addiction counseling, supervision and recovery. Prior to coming to Life Healing Center she served as Program Coordinator for a residential and transitional women’s trauma and addictions program. Kristi considers herself to be a “bridge builder” in terms of teaching, training, organization and utilizes “a pragmatic visionary.” management style. While working as a LADAC in Nebraska for over twenty years, she served on the Governor’s task force to develop a statewide screening tool used for comprehensive client assessment and appropriate care level recommendations. Kristi enjoys being a part of the treatment team and the continuing endeavor of providing an opportunity for safety, healing, and restoration to our clients.
Gayla Bacon, MA, LPC – Director of Admissions
(Texas Tech University and Rollins College) Gayla has over 10 years experience in the mental health field as a therapist and administrator. She has worked as a private practitioner as well as an inpatient therapist with chronically and terminally ill patients. She has trained in mind/body/spirit modalities, grief and loss counseling, and women’s issues.
Marshall Milliken – Director of Marketing
Having worked in the treatment field since 1995, Marshall has served in a variety of marketing, management and administrative roles. He was a co-owner and Marketing Director of Onsite Workshops through 2006, and most recently served as the Referral Relations Liaison for Cumberland Heights Treatment Center prior to joining Life Healing Center. Marshall is based in Nashville, TN and serves as the Clinical Outreach Coordinator in the Southeast region of the United States.
Our Care Team
George Greer, MD – Staff Psychiatrist
A Life Healing Center team member since 1996, Dr. Greer is a graduate of the University of Texas – Medical Branch, Galveston. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has presented to physician and professional groups on the challenges of trauma treatment and recovery. As a consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Greer’s goal is to support the psychotherapy process by choosing the least invasive medication intervention available.
M. Shakeel Ahmed, MD – Staff Psychiatrist
A Life Healing Center Psychiatrist and team member since 2007. Dr. Ahmed is a graduate of Dow Medical College, University of Karachi, Pakistan. He did his Psychiatry Residency at Creighton/Nebraska Universities Health Foundation in Omaha, Nebraska and is a fellow and diplomat of the American College of Hospital Physician and American College of Ethical Physicians. He is the Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute. He has also served as a President of the Medical Staff of NMBHI for two years. His areas of interest beside patient care are Bioethics, Performance Improvement and quality assurance. As a consulting psychiatrist at LHC, his goal is to use evidence based psycho pharmacologic interventions if necessary and support psychotherapy process by working closely with his patients, therapists and other staff members.
Sonja Frenz, LPC, MSW - Therapist
(University Kassel, Germany; Hakomi Institute of Boulder) Sonja has been with the Life Healing Center since 1998 as a Lead Counselor and she is now with us as a part-time weekend therapist. She is offering body-mind centered psychotherapy and integrates principles of mindfulness and non-violence in her sessions. Sonja has a special interest in sharing meditations-and relaxation techniques, helping to build inner resources through somatic experiencing.
John Herman, LISW – Therapist
John has 12 years experience working with children and adults. He uses EMDR, DBT, action oriented therapies and ego state work to help clients integrate mind, emotion and spirit into a healthy whole. He works to help clients find value and purpose to the difficulties they have using these experiences and the healing of them to develop an integrated, meaningful view of their lives.
Morgan Holford, MA, LMHC – Therapist
Morgan is a Certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer who has worked extensively with individuals and couples in private practice for more than 20 years. Her primary modality is Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy, a body-centered, mindfulness-based method. The focus of her work at Life Healing Center is somatic trauma resolution, helping clients build safety, resources and empowerment in their bodies.
Jason Holley, MA, LMHC - Therapist
(Princeton University, Southwestern College) Jason works with clients to restore internal wholeness and authority, as well as to recover the capacity to fully experience trust, love, and connectedness interpersonally. Jason’s work is foremost relational, aimed at addressing the splitting and isolation that is often the result of trauma. He supports clients in coming to terms with their natural interdependence through strengthening the relationship to disowned or dissociated parts of themselves, as well as strengthening the capacity to relate and bond healthily with other people. Jason has extensive training and experience in psychodrama and action methods. Jason also has a special interest and background in working with gay, lesbian and bisexual survivors of trauma, and facilitates LHC’s programming on Working with Sexual Identity.
Jeanne Juliet, MA, LPCC – Therapist
(University of New Mexico) Jeanne has 19 years of clinical experience, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, successfully treating grief, trauma, mood disorders, and eating disorders. She believes all people have the ability to heal through a process of awareness and choice. Jeanne’s therapeutic approaches are primarily reality-based, solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral. At LHC, she does deep trauma resolution work using the “inner child” in connection with EMDR, and brings a strong spiritual dimension to the process. Jeanne is a Level II-trained EMDR therapist with eight years of experience.
Darby Long, MA, LPCC – Therapist
(University of Wisconsin, Texas Women’s University) Darby has 27 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families in residential and private practice settings. Darby’s experiential approach to therapy involves mind/body/spirit integration with a special focus on the release of blocked emotions. She has created 24 guided imagery meditations for relaxation and wellness. Darby is level II trained in EMDR and DBT. Her work at LHC includes Breath/Energy sessions to release blocked emotions.
Jeanne N. Richards, MS Ed., MA, LPC – Therapist
(St. John Fisher, Southwestern College) Jeanne has a graduate degree in both Counseling and Education and is a Certified Grief and Loss Counselor. Her holistic approach is grounded in psychodynamic theory and utilizes the mind-body connection. Her therapeutic process integrates experiential methods with insight oriented techniques to assist clients in connecting with their authentic Self. She has trained in Gestalt, Jungian theory, trauma, and expressive arts.
Deborah Schroder, MS, ATR-BC, LPAT – Family Therapist
(Mount Mary College) In addition to her work at Life Healing Center, Deborah is a supervisor for teams of practitioners in the growing field of in-home family therapy. She is also a family therapist in private practice. Deborah is the Program Chair for Art Therapy at Southwestern College, where she teaches numerous courses. We highly recommend Deborah’s book, Little Windows into Art Therapy.
Alisha Shelbourn, MA, LPAT – Therapist
(Southwestern College) Alisha has been an art therapist for four years, and also has a diverse background working with children, families, and individuals at varying stages of treatment and recovery. She has many years experience in the trauma recovery and addictions fields, as well as working with inmates in the corrections system. Alisha employs art and process therapy to empower her clients and facilitate their connection with the inner self and spiritual growth.
Tisha Sjostrand, M.A., LMHC, LPN – Family Therapist
(College of Santa Fe). Tisha has over 10 years of experience in the mental health and health care communities. As an educator, nurse, and psychotherapist, she is able to apply a holistic approach to wellness. Her philosophical approach is to bridge the great divide of mind, body, and spirit. She is currently an adjunct faculty member of the Education Department at the College of Santa Fe and a weekend family therapist at the Life Healing Center.
Deborah Payne, CCN - Nutritionist
(University of Guelph) Deborah is a Board-certified Clinical Nutritionist who helps clients who specializes in Nutritherapy for clients with eating disorders, disordered eating, and related issues. She has over 20 years experience in the health and nutrition field with an expertise in balancing body chemistry for better health and recovery. Using comprehensive blood chemistries, Deborah’s main goal is to identify and correct the imbalances that are contributing to a client’s mood, energy, weight, and eating problems. Her special interest is in raising consciousness around the nutritional and biochemical root causes of addictions and eating disorders.
Dr. Blair Sylvan Grey, M.A., D.O.M. – Acupuncturist
Dr. Sylvan Grey has been practicing oriental medicine for 10 years. She has studied with the 88th Generational Daoist Master of the Jade Purity School for 6 years, focusing on psychological and emotional disharmonies. Blair integrates other vibrational modalities, such as tuning forks and essential oils, to assist each client attune to their spiritual core as they release any trauma within. Acupuncture balances the body's energy, facilitating a body-mind integration of the daily therapeutic process.
Cheryl Cambay, BA – Clinical Outreach Coordinator
Cheryl comes with ten years of experience in the mental and behavioral health field in a variety of different capacities. With five years of marketing in the addictions field, Cheryl is experienced in the areas of trauma, eating disorders, chemical dependency, and sexual addictions.
Pandora D. Kiss, MEd, MA – Care Coordinator
(Duquesne University and University of Santa Monica) Pandora has a broad and varied background working with families in crisis. She also has extensive experience in the field of chemical dependence and dual diagnosis. She brings a spiritual and holistic approach to her work in the mental health field.
Requa Tolbert, RN, MSN – Medical Records Coordinator
(Duke University) Having completed her Masters in Science in Nursing, with a clinical specialty in psychiatry, Requa has had a variety of practice experience in inpatient, residential, home healthcare and corrections settings. A dedicated team member who remains focused on maintaining the clients’ confidentiality and privacy, in concert with Life Healing Center’s compliance HIPPA standards.
Kenneth H. Farr – Director of Food Services
(Southern University of New York) As our Executive Chef, Ken is responsible for all food preparation, menu development, dietary staff, and kitchen maintenance. Working closely with the Dietician and Clinical Staff, he has created low-fat, delicious, and appealing menus that accommodate upwards of 60 clients, family members and staff daily. He invites clients to participate in meal preparation through cooking demonstration and monthly seminars.
