VANTAGE POINT RECOVERY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wellness Team
Cami helps her students connect with their divine heart so that they can enjoy the process of self-growth and self-discovery with more ease. She is a certified yoga, reiki, sound therapy, and meditation teacher.
Christopher "CJ" Johnson provides valuable daily support and extensive leadership qualities as client advocate to our Vantage Point team and clients. Christopher joined our team shortly after re-locating to California from Arizona. His personal journey of recovery and his commitment to give back to our community has given him passion for embracing those who seek to live healthier and more complete lives. Through building these relationships with the Vantage Point community Christopher feels he has found his home with us. In his personal journey to expand his horizons, he embraces all that Southern California has to offer - enjoying travel, cooking, surfing and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Team
- PRIMARY THERAPIST & CERTIFIED BRAINSPOTTING SPECIALIST
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Member of the Clinical Team
Dr. Gitty V. Rassouli is a bilingual English-Persian Psychological Assistant, MFTI/ATI, who has served children and youth population within several agencies with clinical and school-based settings. She has conducted numerous family therapy sessions as well as meetings with teachers and school personnel to assist hundreds of clients from diverse socioeconomic and psycho-social backgrounds.
Dr. Rassouli completed her undergraduate studies in economics and art history at the University of New Mexico and completed her graduate studies in marriage & family therapy and received her Masters of Psychology & Art Therapy degree from Phillips Graduate Institute in Los Angeles in 2003. She continued her studies at Ryokan College in Los Angeles, where she received her Doctor of Psychology Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2005.
Dr. Rassouli'seducation has focused on family dynamics, narrative, art and creative therapy. She has researched extensively in family therapy, general psychotherapy, and assessment and treatment of behavioral and deficit disorders and has developed and implemented treatment plans in educational arenas, and collaborated with school psychologists, principals and teachers.
As a psychologist, Dr. Rassouli worked at El Centro De Amistad in Los Angeles for three years, facilitating individual and group mental health counseling to children ages 5-18 as school based mental health therapist and collaborated with health-service professionals to develop treatment plans for emotionally disturbed adolescents. From 2005 until 2007 she held a position as Psychological Assistant/ MFTI/ATI at Advanced Psychological Services where she implemented art therapy and play therapy techniques within the Post Modern approach, Solution Focused, Narrative and Object Relations interventions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- PSYCHIATRIST
- Certified General Adult and Addiction Psychiatrist
Dr. Rob Feeley is a board-certified General Adult and Addiction Psychiatrist. Dr. Feeley grew up in Westchester county, New York, before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts. He subsequently earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed both his Psychiatry Residency and Addiction Fellowship at Yale. While at Yale, Dr. Feeley served as Chief Resident for the Psychiatric Emergency Room and was also Chief Resident for Quality Improvement. Dr. Feeley specializes in the treatment of depression, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and a range of addictive disorders. He is a meditation instructor and has found that meditation is an invaluable asset in maintaining presence and careful listening. He is friendly, compassionate, humorous, and diligent - and these qualities help him to accomplish mutually shared goals with his clients as quickly as possible.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wellness Team
Ellen Morano took Pranic Healing in the Philippines with the Founder-Grandmaster Choa Kok Sui in 1993. Since then she has moved to California where she has started multiple Pranic Healing Clinics throughout the San Fernando Valley and a Private Healing Practice.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Team
Heather Everett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who serves as a group facilitator at Vantage Point.
Heather obtained her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. She is certified as a Yoga Barre Instructor as well as a Life Coach. She implements solution-focused therapy, CBT, communication skills training, family systems, motivational interviewing, and various other modalities. Heather is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. She has received training in Group Therapy Facilitation and Family and Addiction.
When not at work, Heather spends her time practicing yoga, investigating how food and nutrition affect our mind and body, exploring nature, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wellness Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wellness Team
Born and raised in Southern California, Jonathan "J.R." Rackley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Southern University before moving on to earning his Master of Arts degree from the same university that inspired him so much. He has been actively involved in the field of Addiction and Mental Health for over 20 years, volunteering for organizations such as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), as well as several recovery based charities.
Job Titles:
- CLINICAL DIRECTOR
- Member of the Leadership Team
Kate has been working as a psychotherapist in the mental health field for over a decade, and has been actively involved in the Southern California recovery community for more than 20 years. Kate received her Master's Degree in Psychology from Phillips Graduate University in 2013, specializing in addiction and co-occurring disorders. To further her professional development and meet the needs of clients with trauma and emotional dysregulation, Kate has earned certifications in EMDR and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, as well as extensive training in Brainspotting. She has worked in a wide variety of clinical settings, including residential treatment centers for substance abuse and mental health, IOP and PHP programs, family counseling centers, juvenile facilities, and private practice.
Before becoming a therapist, Kate worked as a journalist for 20 years, specializing in marketing and business strategy. Kate brings warmth, compassion, and leadership experience to the role of Clinical Director at Vantage Point Treatment, and she looks forward to welcoming and supporting clients on their recovery journey.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Team
- Professional Clinical Counselor
Maggie Lavey is a licensed professional clinical counselor specializing in trauma-informed therapy. Specialty areas include anxiety, depression, relational trauma, PTSD, and complex trauma. Maggie is a certified EMDR therapist, certified clinical trauma professional, and certified in trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness meditation.
Maggie takes a humanistic, client-centered, holistic eclectic approach to healing, self-exploration, and growth. Working collaboratively with each individual to customize the best treatment plan for achieving personal goals and gaining self-awareness, Maggie provides a safe compassionate environment to process and explore. Maggie also specializes in trauma-informed CBT and DBT, cognitive mindfulness therapy, mindfulness self-compassion, somatic approaches, transpersonal psychology, healing from toxic relationships, and building relationship with self to reach one's greatest potential for living a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Maggie is in the final phase of her Psy.D. in Health and Wellness, with research on teletherapy for delivering effective trauma treatment. Maggie has appeared as a guest on well-being podcasts and is honored to be a presence in the therapeutic journey. In her free time, Maggie enjoys being in nature, travel, music/dance, reading, listening to podcasts.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
- Member of the Leadership Team
Mark provides a uniquely-situated perspective to the Vantage Point management team as its Chief Operations Officer, combining his legal and counseling backgrounds together to better understand and serve the needs of each individual at Vantage Point, both client and staff alike.
After graduating from UCSB with degrees in Psychology and Chemistry, Mark worked for nearly eight years as an academic counselor at UCLA. Eager to apply his counseling skills in another field, Mark pursued a degree in law at Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. While there, he gained invaluable experience in the areas of litigation, business associations, and employment practices. These experiences have provided Mark with a distinctive viewpoint on the American legal system and how the law and legal concepts weave themselves into all of our daily lives.
As Vantage Point seeks to fulfill its mission and vision, Mark utilizes his skills and experiences to ensure that we meet and exceed the highest standards set forth by the State of California and our industry. He is a regular practitioner of fitness and relishes the opportunity to be active outdoors. A native Californian, Mark loves traveling beyond the state's borders and aims to visit each continent in his voyages (even Antarctica).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Team
- PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Michelle Vörös, a Ventura County native, holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. Prior to being named Program Director, Michelle served as Case Manager at Vantage Point for more than six years.
Before joining the Vantage Point team, Michelle worked as a Personal Service Coordinator and Assistant Director at an inpatient facility. Here she supported individuals with severe mental illness, domestic violence victims, sexual assault victims and dual-diagnosis clients. Michelle's undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and an Associate of Arts degree in American Sign Language Interpreting. She has provided interpreting services for the Deaf throughout Ventura County. She has interpreted in various settings over the years including mental health, medical settings and higher education.
Michelle has always had a passion for health and fitness. She strongly believes that your physical health affects your mental health. She enjoys discussing and analyzing the connection between exercise, nutrition and the brain. Michelle also teaches fitness classes and is a certified Instructor for Cycle, Turbo Kickboxing, Les Mills Bodypump and Bodycombat.
Michelle's background enables her to help people at every place in life. She is skilled at keeping individuals organized and accountable, while at the same time providing support and resources to accomplish their goals.
Monique obtained her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Northridge (CSUN). Monique comes to Vantage Point from Community Counseling Services; a mental health training facility where she served as an Administrative Assistant for the School of Graduate Psychology at California Lutheran University (CLU) for almost 5 years. Prior to this, Monique was a private Piano Teacher, a Music and Classroom Teacher for 20 years. She has also served in the retail industry in sales and customer service for Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Monique enjoys reading, running, the theater, movies, going to the spa, dogs, traveling, playing piano and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
- Member of the Wellness Team
Nicolle is a Ventura County local and a recent CSUN graduate, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. During her time at CSUN, she was the Managing Editor for The Northridge Review literary magazine, which granted her the opportunity to develop her writing and communication skills.
Nicolle is excited to bring clients the best possible experience at Vantage Point, as she combines her love for communications and customer service. Nicolle is an avid reader and writer, who enjoys roller skating, spending time with her dogs, and sometimes even roller skating with her dogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Team
- PRIMARY THERAPIST & CERTIFIED EMDR SPECIALIST
Rhonda J. David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Vantage Point. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) specializing in Personality and Psychopathology. She earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California Lutheran University (CLU) and achieved her California Licensure in 1996.
She is a professional member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists with extensive training in Diagnostic Assessment, Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Therapy, Group Therapy, Addiction Treatment, Crisis Intervention and Systematic Desensitization. She considers it a great privilege to help those who are suffering in emotional pain to find a pathway to peace, self-acceptance, satisfying relationships and a new way of positive living.
Complimenting her professional identity, she is an outspoken advocate for the needs of Orphans and an active volunteer at the Ventura County Animal Shelter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wellness Team
- MINDFUL LIVING SPECIALIST
Specializing in Gentle Yoga, Guided Meditation, and Restorative Yoga, Robbi La Londe is certified at the RYT-500 and E-RYT-200 levels with the Yoga Alliance and is a member of Namasta. Robbi leads guided meditations employing the technique of Yoga Nidra, and teaches Mindfulness Meditation based on the instruction of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Center for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Robbi is also a professional artist painting in watercolors, oils, and acrylics, as well as designing and fabricating jewelry incorporating various metals and glass. She shares her love of creativity with VP clients by designing and facilitating artistic projects to encourage self-expression through engaging, pleasurable activities that calm the mind and lift the spirit. Her Master's Degree in education and over 29 years of teaching experience inform her approach to whatever modalities she is instructing. Robbi's teaching style is warm, supportive, and very nurturing.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Clinical Team
Sandra Shahrokh is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She holds a Master's degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University with an emphasis in spiritual and depth psychology.
Sandra has experience working with children, teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem, substance use, cultural issues, trauma, and relational challenges. She received her training in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic theory at Valley Community Counseling Clinic in North Hollywood. Sandra is passionate about offering a space where clients can bring all parts of themselves and their stories into the therapeutic space to be heard, validated and explored. From a psychodynamic approach Sandra believes that often our childhood experiences and attachments impact our present day feelings, thoughts, behaviors and relationships. Sandra believes in a collaborative space tailoring her approach to the unique needs of each client incorporating psychodynamic, CBT, parts work, and mindfulness based interventions.
Drawing from her own multi ethnic background Sandra is passionate about identities as it relates to multicultural issues and bringing cultural and familial roles into the therapeutic space. When not working, enjoys salsa dancing, traveling and hiking.
Born and raised in Los Angeles at a young age Talia began to pursue a career in competitive figure skating. Struggling with her own addiction she was led on a different path, ultimately one of recovery. Through her journey in maintaining a solid sobriety and dabbling in accounting she realized her joy came from helping others that struggle with addiction. As Client Advocate Talia uses her own experience, strength and hope to connect with clients and create a safe environment for all who come to Vantage Point. When not at Vantage Point Talia enjoys spending time at the beach, hiking, Greek mythology, studying ancient history and expanding her spiritual growth through meditation. Her goal in the future is to go back to school to become a Drug and Alcohol counselor.