Effie Goldberg
Managing Director
Leadership
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Effie Goldberg
Managing Director
Effie Goldberg has over 13 years of experience as a business executive and as a community leader. His record of decisiveness, initiative, and perseverance has made him into a creative, innovative, and effective leader, facilitator, and team player. His 20+ year commitment to teens is well known in the Jewish and non-profit worlds, and his continued focus on the intersection of adolescence and wellbeing has created a unique, driven, and devoted program of recovery, healing, and mindfulness at Ascend Healthcare.
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Brittany Cohen
Interim Clinical Director
Director of Operations & Planning
Brittany holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and has over 10 years of experience working with adolescents in a variety of acute treatment settings including inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse facilities, schools, & regional centers. She has built and directed both intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs for teens struggling with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, substance use disorders, trauma, and executive functioning impairments. Brittany is also a skilled a licensed clinical social worker specializing in complex mental health issues and family systems.
Brittany Cohen, LCSW
Interim Clinical Director
Director of Operations & Planning
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Joseph Essas
CTO
Joseph Essas spent over 25 years in Technology industry, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at OpenTable, the role he holds since 2012. At OpenTable he is responsible for the development, operation, and growth of all products, driving data centric approach to engineering initiatives to ensure that OpenTable’s hardware and software solutions continue to exceed the expectations of diners and restaurants. Prior to joining OpenTable, Joseph was the CTO for eHarmony, the Vice President of Engineering at Yahoo!, and technologist at Overture, Idealab, and tickets.com. He currently serves as a Venture Partner at FirstMark Capital. Joseph studied at Jerusalem College of Technology.
Joseph is passionate about data driven decision making, and pattern recognition of human behavior within the framework of medical research.
Joseph Essas
CTO
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Séamus McKeon
Director of Admissions & Outreach
Séamus has been working in digital marketing in multiple industries for the past five years. He specializes in digital content strategy and organic, inbound marketing. He brings with him a wealth of previous non-profit youth experience and a background in behavioral health. He enjoys the social aspects of media and technology and is a huge fan of mindfulness, meditation, and holistic healing modalities.
Séamus McKeon
Director of Business Development
Clinical
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Melissa Argueta
Lead Clinician
Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Art, and a Master of Arts in psychology focusing on Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has over 12 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in outpatient and residential settings. She has extensive experience in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, schizophrenia, grief, suicide, self-injurious behavior, family conflict, parenting issues, and addiction. Her approach is grounded in the belief that the healing journey for individuals and families is individualized and not a step-by-step process, but one based on a continual growth, occasional set-backs, and learning from experience. She believes that the healing journey should focus on valuing and building on strengths and resilience, talents, coping abilities, and inherent worth in individuals and that the process moves forward through interaction with others in supportive, trust-based relationships. Most importantly she believes that hope is the catalyst of the mental health journey and hope provides the essential and motivating message of a positive and balanced future, something which peers, families, friends, providers and others can help foster. Additionally, Melissa enjoys incorporating art such as drawing, painting, collage, and coloring as a creative method to help individuals and families explore emotions, resolve issues, manage behaviors, reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem and improve inner awareness.
Melissa Argueta, LMFT
Lead Clinician
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David Hurwitz, MA, LMFT
Primary Therapist
David Hurwitz, MA, LMFT brings more than 25 years of experience working in mental health, including substance abuse and psychosocial rehabilitation. David joins us from prestigious treatment centers where he has established clinical programming and overseen all aspects of treatment from intake to discharge. David leads process, didactic and psychodynamic-oriented groups as well as individual, family and couples therapy. He understands that the impact of trauma or severe life stressors can be profound. His greatest passion is to bring healing to people, helping them find healthy perspective and strengthening their relationships with self and others. As a native Californian, David continues to support his local community. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and earned his master’s degree at Ryokan College.
David Hurwitz, LMFT
Primary Therapist
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Rebecca Stephens
Primary Therapist
Rebecca has always been interested in mental health and the healing power of psychotherapy. Rebecca obtained a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from CSUN and worked for many years as a Research Analyst at Hathaway-Sycamores, a mental health agency that serves low-income children and families. While the work was rewarding, she wanted to have a more direct impact on people so she returned to graduate school to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Since then, Rebecca has worked in high schools and private practice with teenagers and young adults struggling with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and trauma.
Rebecca works from a person-centered approach, collaborating with clients and families to come up with meaningful goals. She works from several theoretical models including Family Systems, Psychodynamic, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Above all, she strives to be a stable and compassionate partner on your path to mental health.
Rebecca Stephens, AMFT
Primary Therapist
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Nathalie May, LMFT
Primary Therapist
Nathalie grew up in Paris, France and moved to New York City to pursue her love of dance. She made her way to the west coast where she continued her education and graduated with a Master of Science (MS) degree in Counseling with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University Northridge. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 11 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, and their families. Nathalie has worked in outpatient, educational, and in-home settings. She has extensive experience in treating children on the autism spectrum, crisis intervention, behavioral issues, trauma, family issues, and addiction.
Her therapeutic approach is solution-focused, using cognitive behavioral therapy, and she is trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
Nathalie is biracial and culturally competent. She can easily relate to clients from diverse backgrounds. She is also bilingual speaking English along with her native French.
Nathalie believes that by strengthening clients’ ability to take ownership of their own behaviors, they can improve their level of functioning, interpersonal relationships, and emotional wellbeing.
Nathalie is highly trained in Structural Family Therapy and works to improve family functioning by increasing positive communication, building on family strengths, and defining and setting healthy boundaries.
She enjoys supporting both, parents and adolescents, in creating a healthy environment for everyone to thrive.
Nathalie May, LMFT
Primary Therapist
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Madison Dennis, AMFT
Primary Therapist
Madison Dennis attended Furman University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and she then went on to earn her Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Southern California. She has extensive experience working as a therapist in outpatient clinic and inpatient residential settings where she has treated adults, adolescents, and families who were struggling with issues ranging from trauma to depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and disordered eating. Madison’s therapeutic approach is based in psychodynamic therapy and deep insight-oriented work.
She also utilizes behavioral therapies including DBT, CBT, ACT, FBT, and Seeking Safety to support this work and her interventions are aimed at promoting safety, distress tolerance, and self-management. All of Madison’s work is based in empathy and authenticity. She provides her clients with a safe space in which to explore life experiences, and how they impact current behaviors. Madison has a passion for helping her clients focus on integration, growth, and insight while establishing healing and recovery through empowerment.
Madison Dennis, AMFT
Primary Therapist
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Ritsa Tsangarides, LMFT
Primary Therapist
Ritsa is a licensed Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She has 20 years of extensive experience in various settings with a variety of mental health disorders. Her passion has always been helping clients to obtain the best mental health experience and to begin a new journey in their life though meaningful change. In addition to being a therapist, Ritsa is also a full-time mom to two teenage boys. Her passion for working with teenagers has strongly inspired her own experiences as a mother. She has a natural ability to connect with teenagers, helping them start to trust and believe in the therapeutic relationship. She also has a strong connection to working with the family unit and providing support the parents. It is critical that the family and parents are part of the treatment and engage with their child in their healing process. Ritsa believes that parents need support and encouragement to help them understand what is happening to their teenager.
Ritsa Tsangarides, LMFT
Primary Therapist
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Cynthia Kelvin, PsyD
Therapist
Cynthia received her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2014 and her registration in drama therapy in 2016. She is also currently in training to become a certified poetry therapist from the International Association for Biblio/Poetry Therapy.
Cynthia has worked in community mental health settings as well as in private rehabilitation with people in various stages of recovery. In her role as a drama therapist, she focuses on accessing deeper emotions by utilizing a safe distanced and playful approach. Her work is based on the belief that by exploring parts of self through creative activity, clients can heal trauma, cultivate mindfulness, and uncover & develop personal strengths. She facilitates groups with the overall goal of helping clients lead an inspired and healthy life.
Cynthia Kelvin, PsyD
Therapist
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Erika Ober
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
As a Los Angeles native, I’ve had the privilege of being exposed to a multitude of cultures that exist in this vibrant city. This opportunity has been highly beneficial to my experience as a clinician; enhancing my cultural competence and increasing my ability to be compassionate towards others whose traditions and values differ from my own.
I received my bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from UCLA, and I enjoy incorporating my science background into my practice using current research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology to educate my clients and normalize their experiences. I received my master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
My Approach
I specialize in helping clients establish a stronger sense of self and improve interpersonal relationships. Having a background in family systems and psychodynamic principles, my goal is to empower clients to break away from negative patterns in relationships by shifting toward a more actualized self.
Using mindfulness principles and sensorimotor psychotherapy techniques, I aim to provide clients with tools to increase their mind-body awareness, developing resources to better regulate overwhelming emotions.
I have found these practices to be incredibly helpful in reducing anxiety and depression due to childhood trauma and insecure parent-child attachment. When we experience ongoing stress and trauma in childhood we often develop defenses to protect our psyche from harm. However, these tools that helped us in the past often become barriers to human connection and deep intimacy, as we grow older.
I am passionate about helping my clients empower themselves to respond to stressful life events from a place of strength and security rather than defensiveness.
Erika Ober, LMFT
Somatic Therapist
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Ann Holm, CADC
Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor
Ann Holm has a degree (CDAC) in Drug and Alcohol Counseling from Antioch University and a degree in holistic health coaching from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Ann is from Sweden originally, by way of New York City.
Ann has a gentle yet direct approach. She realized that she likes working with adolescents while she was a health coach. She has done a significant amount of family work, especially in the realm of eating. She likes to work with adolescents as part of a family unit and teaching families how to empower themselves. Ann tries to work from a strength-based perspective, helping teens to find their voice based on their strengths, and empowering them to advocate for themselves. She meets clients where they are at and has a gentle, collaborative approach to empower teens to be able to help themselves.
One of her favorite things to see is when teens are finding a way to advocate for themselves within their family. She helps kids find their voice and become a full partner in family structures, and helps families to take ownership of their own part in family dynamics.
Ann Holm, CADC
Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor
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Lauryn Hunter
Art Therapist
Lauryn Hunter LMFT, ATR is an award winning art therapist with 15 years experience working with children in therapeutic and school-based environments. She is a specialist in child development related to broken attachments with primary caregivers such as grief, adoption, divorce, addiction, eating disorders, and trauma. As a collaborative therapist, her goal with clients is to integrate art therapy with dialogue to offer powerful ways to provide insight and improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Lauryn Hunter, LMFT
Art Therapist
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Allison Welsh, LCSW
Parenting Specialist
Allison has experience providing individual, group, and family therapy to adolescents and adults suffering from a variety of challenges. Furthermore, she has extensive experience treating mood disorders, trauma, depression, substance abuse, personality disorders, and dual diagnoses in various acute treatment settings. As a former Director of the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs with the adolescent population, she developed expertise in co-occurring disorders in the field of addiction and mental health utilizing a variety of evidence-based practices.
Allison is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University Channel Islands. She furthered her education and earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Allison Welsh, LCSW
Parenting Specialist
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Megan Zuzevich, LMFT
EMDR Therapist
Megan obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology.
Megan has over five years of experience providing direct services and has worked in a variety of settings including correctional facilities, outpatient, and private practice. She is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is currently working to become a certified EMDR consultant and trainer.
Megan has extensive experience in treating depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She works from a holistic perspective and believes that true healing comes from balancing mind, body, and spirit. She believes that integrating eastern and western evidence-based practices allows for individualized treatment, allowing clients the space to be themselves unconditionally and move through their healing journey in a way that feels authentic for them.
Megan Zuzevich, LMFT
EMDR Therapist
Experiential
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Andrea Restivo
Yoga Teacher
Andrea Restivo is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance, having completed yoga teacher training with a Registered Yoga School (RYS). She is a self-avowed spiritual warrior on a mission to recharge the universe through a mind-body connection. She teaches Yoga, Pilates, Barre, TRX, Barefoot Bootcamp, and Cannonball Yoga Sculpt.
Andrea Restivo
Yoga Teacher
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LB Gilbert
Recovery Fit Instructor
LB Gilbert is the fitness instructor at a myriad of treatments centers throughout Los Angeles. She leads Recoveryfit groups for adolescents to adults, but specializes in working with adolescents on the road to recovery. The program offers instructions on how to use the 12 spiritual principles of recovery to improve the quality of overall health (mind, body, and spirit) and help others have a physical experience of those principals and gain the benefits of health and wellness in all areas of their life. Fitness can be a tool to overcoming obstacles and dealing with life on life’s terms, and LB helps to bridge that gap for those in treatment regardless of where each client is on their physical fitness journey. LB has a vast understanding of physical fitness from her years as a professional athlete as well as a circus performer and she has a deep and meaningful connection with recovery as she is sober 10 years.
LB Gilbert
Recovery Fit Instructor
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Brandon Jordan
Rock to Recovery
Brandon Jordan has been a professional musician all of his adult life. Brandon brings the power of music to those in need through Rock to Recovery. He works nationally with the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) program and in the Los Angeles area with veterans, at-risk teens, and individuals in treatment for addiction or mental illness.
Brandon Jordan
Rock to Recovery
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Daniel Ahearn
Meditation Coach
Daniel Ahearn has been a student of meditation for over 15 years. Since 2015 through his organization (PTHWRK.com) he has brought meditation strategies to Treatment centers, schools, corporations, prisons, jails and transitional housing centers for the homeless.
Daniel applies the latest developments in neuroscience and psychology with traditional Buddhist practices to help clients improve their lives immediately. Scientifically-based the strategies are stabilizing and expansive.
Daniel Ahearn
Meditation Coach
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Max Venison
Rock to Recovery Facilitator
Max Venison was born in Liverpool, England, a town famous for producing a certain four-piece music group. He moved to Los Angeles at 19 years old and quickly secured a solo multi-album recording contract under the name Max Morgan (Chime/ Universal). While having had over a dozen placements in television (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, NFL) and momentum building at radio across the U.S, Max left the deal in a state of disillusionment shortly after the release of his debut album. Although Max went on to write music for numerous commercials, musicals, and other artists internationally, he was on the losing end of a battle with alcohol and drugs. By 2012, alcohol had well and truly drowned out Max’s love of music. He hit bottom.
With the help of recovery communities, Max has been sober since 2012 and has realized an entirely new foundation for life. Max is immensely grateful that the love of music/creativity has returned to him. Max’s creative life has bloomed exponentially and he’s collaborated on a number of projects internationally.
“Music and creativity had always been my saving grace and my primary source of joy. I would never have thought that anything could change that, including alcohol and other drugs. I was wrong. When I got sober, I thought the price that I had to pay was a life without music and creativity. Thankfully it all came flooding back! Recovery has made new space inside of me to experience the wonders of art and music like I never have before. Rock to Recovery provides me with a unique opportunity to be there with others who want to experience the joy of music in recovery.”
Max Venison
Rock to Recovery Facilitator
Medical
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Lisa Acosta
Psychiatrist
Dr. Acosta is a Ventura County native and graduated cum laude with a BA in Psychology from Harvard University. She attended medical school at Rush University and then returned to California where she completed her Psychiatry residency at Harbor-UCLA and her Child & Adolescent Fellowship at Cedars Sinai. She has filled different positions in other residential settings and has spent the last 8 years serving the moderate to severe mentally ill population with Ventura County Behavioral Health. Dr. Acosta is double-boarded in Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She enjoys collaborating with a team of professionals to develop a treatment plan that includes a whole person approach.
Lisa Acosta, MD
Psychiatrist
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Sam H. Ross, M.D.
Internal Medicine Doctor
Dr. Sam Ross is a native of Los Angeles and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Biology from Yeshiva University. He earned his medical doctorate from Temple University and returned to Los Angeles to complete his training in Internal Medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Ross has a special interest in lifestyle, nutrition and weight loss. He enjoys teaching residents and medical students at Cedars Sinai. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Cedars Sinai Health Associates.
Sam H. Ross, MD
Internal Medicine Doctor
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Tara Bordonaro, LVN
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Hi my name is Tara and I am a Los Angeles native and a world-traveler. I graduated from Casa Loma School of Nursing. Helping humanity by being of service has always been dear to my heart. Nursing has been a calling of mine and a blessing I am honored to be a part of. I also love to travel and experience the world. Kids are the future! They are bright and thriving! It’s a blessing to get to be apart of their journey.
Tara Bordonaro, LVN
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Admissions
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Alicia Brown
Director of Admissions
Alicia has always felt called to be the conduit between people and their goals. She comes to Ascend from higher education, which is where she first realized her passion for working with young people and helping them to find their path. As the department head for a music/entertainment business bachelor’s degree at the Australian College of the Arts, she spent 5 years working as both a teacher and a bridge-builder for young adults seeking a career where they could do what they love for a living. Through this work she found that as she placed students in internships and jobs, their mental health and emotional wellbeing were often a large indicator for their success and fulfilment. Somewhere along the way, helping the students who were struggling in that arena became her passion and her mission. She started to sense that her calling was shifting, and soon found herself working to help these students and their families as her main priority, which led her to Ascend. Prior to becoming a college educator, Alicia spent over a decade as a music and entertainment industry talent manager in Hollywood, where she enjoyed helping creative individuals share their art with the world. Alicia is a Certified Health Coach, with a deep passion for health and wellness. She holds a BS in Communications from Miami University in Ohio, and also studied psychology at the University of Colorado. She is completing her master’s degree in Writing and Literature from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Alicia Brown
Director of Admissions
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George Carberry
Admissions Coordinator
George has over 5 years of experience working in residential treatment settings. Previously, George has worked in a detox settings as House Manager and as Operations Manager in an adult treatment setting, and is currently the Lead Mentor at Ascend’s Empress house. George models professional and personal relationships for our clients with empathy and compassion. Through positive reinforcement and meeting the clients where they are at, George is able to recognize and see to their needs. George encourages and works with clients to help them discover and engage in personal passions and goals. With extensive knowledge about the process and disease of addiction, George is able to work with teens on individualized basis and offer the proper support to each. George is currently fulfilling requirements to become a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor in the state of California.
George Carberry
Admissions Coordinator
Operations
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Jaq Marshall
Operations and Facilities Manager
Jaq is the spirit of Ascend Healthcare. She serves as the Operations Manager, modeling professional excellence for Ascend’s residential technicians and ensuring that our clients are kept safe. Her unique ability to meet kids where they’re at is a constant reassurance for them along their journey. Jaq has served as a clinical associate and sober technician in a number of treatment centers prior to coming to Ascend. She has also serves as a teaching assistant and is present with our clients in the classroom as well.
Jaq has extensive knowledge of recovery and 12 Steps programming. She helps connect our substance use clients with the large and vibrant recovery community here in Southern California and adheres our program to the highest ethical standards within the treatment world.
Jaq Marshall
Operations and Facilities Manager
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Noah Mann
Facilities Manager
Noah is a Certified Professional Life Coach who has been with Ascend Healthcare from the very start. He was previously the administrator of a 210-bed facility for the elderly, but found his passion in mentoring adolescents who struggle with substance abuse and mental health.
Noah brings his personal experience in 12-step recovery to work with him on a daily basis and brings a kind and loving approach to treatment with our teens. Noah takes pride in his work and has become a valuable resource to the clients and alumni of our program. Nothing makes him happier then the regular phone calls he receives from former clients and their parents raving about the lives that they are creating after Ascend Healthcare.
Noah Mann, CLC
Facilities Manager
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Zackary Hale
Activities Director and Weekend Lead Mentor
Zackary is the Activities Director and the Weekend Lead Mentor at Ascend Healthcare. He is a highly motivated mentor who is always willing to go the extra mile. Zackary utilizes and applies his life experiences while modeling professional behavior and engaging with our clients. In addition to his own recovery and years of sobriety, he also has years of experience working in recovery and helping to foster healthy living in others. He easily connects with the kids, and allows them to open themselves up. Zack believes that it is important to guide clients to recovery through both work and fun. He knows just how these kids think and feel, and uses his experiences to help them navigate the ups and downs of healthy living. He is passionate and positive about his work.
Zackary Hale
Activities Director and Weekend Lead Mentor
Academics
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Hayden Harrower
Director of Education
Previously an Academic Coach at Sober College, Hayden Harrower has been coaching and teaching students for the past five years, particularly those with mental health and substance use issues. He specializes in passion development and habit formation among students. During his graduate studies, Hayden was mentored by educators implementing mindfulness strategies in the classroom and he has developed effective methods to do just that. He is a big fan of behavioral science and productivity research, and this informs his teaching techniques. Hayden is exceptional at finding what teens are passionate about and helping transform that into something they can do, giving them the confidence and drive to follow through with tasks and goals.
Hayden Harrower, MA
Director of Education