Harmony Place strongly believes that highly trained and motivated staff is the key to providing excellent service with a quality clinical program.
Harmony Place has carefully selected its staff members and all consultants who provide services to the facility and to the clients. It is one of the founding principles of our facility that the quality of relationships and interaction between clients and staff can have lasting effects upon those individuals we serve. The people who work at Harmony Place bring together a variety of skills and expertise so as to provide the most comprehensive treatment possible.
All of the treatment staff is thoroughly dedicated to the sincere belief that freedom from active addiction can be achieved and that long term sobriety is obtainable.
M. David Lewis, M.D.
Psychiatrist / Addictionologist
Founder and Director for the highly successful NBA, NHL and MLS drug treatment programs, "Dr. Dave" is a nationally respected medical professional and public figure dedicated to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. As a Presidential appointee and a member of the White House Conference on a Drug Free America, he has made recommendations to the White House and Congress for anti-drug legislation. He is Co-Founder and Board Member for the Make A Difference Foundation, representing the joint efforts of musicians, athletes and entertainers to educate adolescents on the hazards of drugs. Dr. Lewis has served as a consultant to corporate clients including: General Motors, ITT, 7-Up, LAPD, Disney and the L.A. Unified School District. He also works as an expert with entertainment media, informing the public about substance abuse.
He was technical advisor for the film "Clean and Sober," and for the anti-drug prime-time special, "All Stars to the Rescue," sponsored and aired by NBC, ABC and CBS simultaneously. Dr. Lewis has appeared nationally on a myriad of television programs, including "Nightline," "NBC Nightly News" and "Oprah Winfrey." He is a published author in the fields of Medicine, Psychiatry, Substance Abuse and Sports Medicine as well as the recipient of numerous community service awards.
Dr. Lewis received his B.A. from the University of Missouri in 1969, and his M.D. from the University of Colorado in 1973. In 1976, he served as Chief Resident, Psychiatry at the Wilford Hall WSAF Medical Center. Dr. Lewis served as Clinical Professor in the department of Psychology at UCLA. He has also acted as part of the medical staff for the Denver Broncos football team and as the Chief of the Department of Mental Health and the Medical Supervisor of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Robert Waldman, M.D.
Internist
Dr. Robert Waldman is Board certified as Diplomat, American Board of Internal Medicine and by the National Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Waldman has held faculty appointments in internal medicine at Temple University Hospital and served as Co-Medical Director for the Chemical Dependency Treatment Center at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital. He belongs to the American Society of Nephrology and has hospital privileges at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Daniel Freeman Marina Hospitals and Centinela Hospital. Dr. Waldman is a distinguished author in the field of Nephrology.
Mary Lou Devlin, M.S., MFT
Executive Director
Mary Lou is a licensed MFT who has worked with and within the recovery community for almost two decades. In addition to her successful private practice, Mary Lou provided clinical services for Anacapa S.T.E.P.S. from 1996-1999, where she worked with both residential and outpatient clients. A specialist in relapse prevention, Mary Lou was providing a curriculum she developed for this work to an outpatient population when she was invited to join the Harmony Place team in 2003.
As our Primary Therapist, Mary Lou provided individual and family therapy, facilitated process groups and built the individualized client treatment plans which have become the hallmark of our reputation. In 2004, Mary Lou accepted the position of Clinical Director, which expanded her responsibilities to include case management, supervision of all clinical services and program curriculum development. In 2006, Mary Lou's expertise and positive reflection on both our program and clients led to her being asked to accept the position of Executive Director.
Laure Weber, Psy.D.
Psychologist / Primary Therapist
Laure received her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and her Doctorate in Psychology from Ryokan College. Dr. Weber specializes in working with clients suffering from co-occurring disorders, especially substance abuse and addiction. She has extensive experience working with individuals in her private practice as well as with couples and families. In addition to working as the Primary Therapist at Harmony Place, Dr. Weber also serves in a Clinical Supervisor capacity at a specialized residential treatment facility in Los Angeles. Her areas of expertise include issues of addiction, depression, anger management and anxiety. Laure is also a seasoned group facilitator and utilizes a variety of techniques in her work with both clients and their families.
Angela M. Rukule, M.S.E.D., MFT
Primary Therapist
Angela is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who received her Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of Southern California. She specializes in psychological rehabilitation of addictive and co-occuring disorders, including stress, separation, PTSD, depression, grief and bereavement and also in working with individuals struggling with emotional and trauma issues. Angela served for more than a decade as Clinical Director of Integrated Awareness Programs, working with clients suffering from stress, addiction, trauma, abuse, grief, separation, divorce and blended family issues and also as a Psychological Consultant/Evaluator for the State of California Alternative Sentencing Program. Her work with trauma patients also included experience as a psychological counselor for both patients and their families at La Mirada Medical Center.
Laurie B. Fox, Ph.D.
Psychologist / Psychological Assessments
Laurie B. Fox is a clinical psychologist who specializes in diagnosis and assessment. She has extensive experience working with clients in recovery. Her expertise includes providing dual diagnosis assessments and creating comprehensive treatment plans for families, with a special emphasis on aftercare support and recovery. Dr. Fox received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Southern California and her Bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley. While at USC she published research on implicit cognition and substance use. She has served as a visiting professor at USC and taught courses for the Department of Psychology on adolescent development.
Sherry Gaba, LCSW
Therapist
Sherry earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California and has worked extensively with individuals and couples both through her private practice as well as in residential and outpatient treatment settings. Her therapeutic specializations include: addiction, grief, loss and bereavement, eating disorders, relationship issues, women's issues, and divorce, detached and/or blended family work. She is a member of the Women's Association of Addiction Treatment and holds a certification as a resident in training from The Betty Ford Center.
Don Grant, M.A., CCDC, CAADE
Director of Admissions
Don received his B.A. with honors from the University of Michigan and his Masters degree from the University of Southern California. In addition to his certification as a chemical dependency counselor, Don is also a Board-certified California teacher and a nationally Board-certified group facilitator. In 2002, Don created and implemented the Literacy in Treatment program, which offers adult clients in recovery the opportunity to earn their high school diploma. Currently Don is pursuing his doctorate degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in chemical dependency.
Jamie
Zepp, C.A.S.
Admissions Coordinator
A certified addictions specialist, Jamie has had extensive experience
in all aspects of the treatment process. Prior to joining the Harmony
Place family, as a department case manager, Jamie supervised a
caseload of up to six clients, worked with the clients individually
on their treatment plans and objectives, monitored daily progress
and developed comprehensive discharge plans. Jamie is also an experienced
group facilitator, with expertise in family education and relapse
prevention. In 2005, while working in another treatment center,
Jamie chaired their "peer support" program, with the goal of encouraging
alumni to volunteer at the center and offer those currently in
treatment recovery support. Jamie was also actively involved in
administrative responsibilities, including supervision of staff
and volunteers. Subsequently, Jamie was invited to join the admissions
department at that center as an intake specialist, where she helped
guide both clients and their families to the path of recovery.
Jamie brings her dedication to helping clients and their loved
ones successfully join the journey of recovery and wellness to
Harmony Place.
Shelley Stevens, CADCA
Relapse Prevention Counselor
Shelley has 8 years of experience in the field of Addiction and Recovery. She earned her Certificate from UCLA's Drug and Alcohol Counseling Program. She is currently a Certified CAADAC Associate. She has a real passion for Relapse Prevention and a dynamic teaching style that infuses people with hope. Her unique and empathetic approach to the material creates an environment of safety for the clients, which allows them to embrace the notion that profound and lasting change is possible!
Carrie Gibson, M.A., CCDC, NDAI
Group Facilitator
Carrie received her Masters degree in Psychology from Antioch University, and is also a certified chemical dependency counselor. She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings for individuals in recovery from substance abuse. She cofounded the intensive outpatient program at the Central Area Community Alcohol Center in Seattle. As lead therapist and one of the co-founders of the Northwest Center for Adult Children, Carrie provided individual counseling and group therapy for dual-diagnosis clients. Carrie utilizes theatre games, Gestalt work, drama therapy and role-playing, among other techniques to help our clients discover and develop new communication, relationship and life skills.
Caroline Keating
Yoga Siromani
Caroline has been practicing yoga for more than a decade and directing yoga therapy programs for recovery and special needs clients for over three years. Her training is as diverse as the needs of her clients. She is currently under the tutelage of Sri Krishnamacharya's living trust in Chennai, India, where she is receiving advanced teachings in Yoga Therapy for mental health special needs and addiction recovery. Caroline's practice is deeply steeped in a personal understanding that the only way out of the labyrinth of mental and health issues is through it. She offers holistic VinYoga classes that equally emphasize yoga postures, breath work and meditation as a way of moving into the peace of the present moment. Caroline's other group work includes guided visualization and meditation classes as well as rites of passage for recovery. It is Caroline's life work to share the healing tools of yoga therapy as well as cultivate a culture of wellness and prevention for future generations.
Lorie Beaupre
Artist
Lorie holds a B.A. degree in Journalism with her related field of studies in psychology. She has worked for many years in the field of medicine with patients identified in critical care. Lorie is a self-taught artist who comes from a long line of artisans. Having traveled to museums throughout the world, Lorie has an appreciation and sensitivity for all art forms. Her approach is soft and gentle. With added experience in the field of substance abuse and recovery, Lorie beautifully creates the pathway for clients to explore their individual creativity.
Gillian McGinty
Certified Somatic Movement Therapist
Gillian is a dancer, teacher and certified somatic movement therapist whose movement studies over the past twenty years have encompassed classical and contemporary dance forms, the Feldenkrais Method, Chi Gong, Yoga and Continuum. She has performed with Bay Area Repertory Dance Theatre, Turning the Wheel Dance Company and Kairos. Gillian is a practitioner of the Pilates Method of movement reeducation and Body- Mind Centering. Gillian is also the Creative Director for Turning The Wheel Los Angeles, an intergenerational dance-theater project, dedicated to bringing dance and self-expression to diverse communities. Turning The Wheel L.A. is taught in middle and high school, private facilities and senior centers. In her private practice, Gillian integrates movement, bodywork, dialogue and self-expression to support an integrated approach to healing the whole being.
Shelly Bobbins, RN, L.Ac.
Acupuncturist
Shelly has worked in behavioral health for more than twenty years. She is a Licensed Acupuncturist and is Board Certified in Chinese medicine, with a specialization in addiction and pain management. Sherry is also a Diplomat of Acupuncture as well as a Diplomat in Chinese Herbology. A registered nurse since 1984, Shelly has specialized in mental health, dual diagnosis and addiction, and is a published author and lecturer.
Kimberly Wyman, MPH, RD
Registered Dietician / Nutritionist
Kimberly specializes in integrative nutrition therapy and helps facilitate the restructuring of client's relationship to self-care in order to break free from food obsession and punishment that is predominant in the collective culture of dieting and eating disorders.
