4 WINDS INDIGENOUS HEALERS - Key Persons
David Clark is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology who has worked in the addiction and mental health fields for over 35 years. He has an extensive knowledge and experience of biological, psychological and sociological aspects of addiction and mental health recovery. His work is based on the core values of authenticity, compassion, connection, courage, creativity, empathy and forgiveness.
David was initially a neuroscientist for 25 years, having trained with a Nobel Laureate (Prof Arvid Carlsson) and been the recipient of a number of awards for his research. His research on brain dopamine systems was widely cited and his laboratory, which he ran for 15 years, was a world leader in studying the role of dopamine in addiction.
In 2000, David decided that focusing on brain chemistry and using drug treatment was not the answer to helping people overcome addiction and mental health problems. He developed the grassroots initiative Wired In, which was hailed as visionary in its approach to empowering individuals, families and communities to overcome substance use problems. Since that time, David has been a writer, educator, researcher, website developer, film producer, recovery advocate and recovery coach.
As part of this initiative, David developed the web community Wired In To Recovery, which had 4,000 members and generated over 7,500 blogs before closing due to lack of funding. He also launched Recovery Stories (www.recoverystories.info), an environment where role models and their personal narratives can play an important role in helping people find recovery.
David moved from the UK to Perth at the end of 2008 and developed Sharing Culture (www.sharingculture.info) in late 2013. His primary aim over the coming years is to use a multi-platform approach (including documentary film and storytelling initiatives) to educate people about the healing of historical, or generational, trauma. He will work closely with filmmaker Michael Liu of Shocktreatmint Films.
David Mee-Lee, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist, and is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). Based in Davis, California, he trains and consults both nationally and internationally. Dr. Mee-Lee has led the development of the ASAM Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders since the late 1980's. He has been the Chief Editor all editions of ASAM's criteria (American Society of Addiction Medicine), including a new edition, The ASAM Criteria - Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions, Third Edition (2013).
He is also Senior Vice President of The Change Companies and has over thirty years experience in person centered treatment and program development for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
David is currently serving the Addiction Treatment market and in addition to the range of global roles in medical diagnostics and health management that David has held during the past six years, his personal mission has been to help those still afflicted or affected by the disease of addiction through a number of volunteer efforts including those with C4 Recovery Solutions. In 2011, David Curtis was nominated to the Board of Directors of C4 Recovery Solutions.
Dee K. McGraw has a BS in psychology from Vanderbilt University, an MSW from Grand Valley State University and over 20 years of experience in the substance abuse treatment & prevention field. Currently Ms. McGraw is the Director of Education & Event Services for C4 Recovery Solutions, a non-profit organization with world-wide projects. Her primary responsibility is the Conferencing Division, which encompasses the Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders, the West Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders and the C.O.R.E conference. The C4 Recovery Solutions conferences are widely regarded as among the best educational events in the industry.
Ms. McGraw began her career in substance abuse as a therapist. She then coordinated prevention efforts in a six-county area for the State of Michigan, subsequently, coordinating substance abuse training state wide. She has additional experience as a trainer/consultant for CSAP's Managed Care Section and as a reviewer of local, state and federal grant applications.
Dr. Lynn is an internationally recognized lecturer, researcher, and clinician in the field of Counseling Psychology and Drug Dependency. During the past 40 years he has held leading positions in many clinical settings, levels of addiction treatment, Employee Assistance Programs, State Government, and as a professor in several universities. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Senior Fellow in Biofeedback Practice. He is also a recognized expert in Family Therapy and Behavioral Therapy.
Dr. Lynn completed his doctoral studies at Rutgers University School of Graduate Education. His major research focuses on issues related to treatment outcomes.
Dr. Lynn has been recognized by NJ Assembly Resolution for his efforts in the fight against Drug Dependence. He is a Clinical Consultant to Origins Recovery Centers, Adjunct Instructor for Rutgers Institute of Addiction Studies, International Consultant in treatment delivery systems, Clinical Director of The Counseling Group and Family Institute, Director of Special Projects for C4 Recovery Solutions as well as Clinical Director for the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence NJ Juvenile Justice System Adolescent Evaluation and Treatment Project.
Dr. Lynn, although known for his many contributions to the Treatment Community, may be best known for his development of methods for the assessment and placement of clients and developing client centered care coordinated treatment systems focused on outcome data in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. His major focus being the development of systemic community based systems that promote wellness.
Dr. Lynn's most significant accomplishment may be his ability to help restore hope in communities overwhelmed with despair, finding strength when resources have been depleted and empowering local people to better utilize finite resources and create programs for growth and empowerment that promote family and community sustainability.
Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM is a Board Certified Family Practitioner. He is the Medical Director of Las Vegas Recovery Center (LVRC). Dr. Pohl was a major force in developing LVRC's Chronic Pain Recovery Program. He is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), and a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Dr. Pohl is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
He is a nationally known public speaker and co-author of Pain Recovery: How to Find Balance and Reduce Suffering from Chronic Pain (Central Recovery Press, 2009); Pain Recovery for Families: How to Find Balance When Someone Else's Chronic Pain Becomes Your Problem Too (Central Recovery Press, 2010). Dr. Pohl is the author of A Day without Pain (Central Recovery Press, 2008), which won a silver medal from Independent Publisher Book Award in May 2009. He has recently written a revised version of A Day Without Pain (Central Recovery Press, 2011).
Eduardo Duran, PhD has been working as a clinical psychologist for over two decades. Much of his clinical and research work has concentrated on working with the legacy of historical trauma. Historical trauma is the trauma that occurs in families and is then passed on to the following generation unless the trauma or soul wounding is dealt with.
Through that process he has learned that wounding of the spirit has been endured by most people in the world and the lessons learned from this work is relevant to most people presenting with therapeutic issues.
Dr. Duran has extensive experience in all aspects of psychotherapy. His practice over the years has been based on working with clients from their needs and gives them choices as to the methods that they may feel most comfortable with.
Dr. Duran has served as a professor of psychology in several graduate settings and continues to teach, and lecture in community settings all over the world.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Judith Landau, MD, DPM, LMFT, CAI, BRI II, is a child, family and community neuropsychiatrist, specializing in resilience and overcoming adversity. Dr. Landau is also an isangoma or traditional African healer. Co-developer of the Evidence-Based, Best Practice ARISE Continuum of Care, Dr. Landau draws 30+ years of research and experience aimed at facilitating long-term healing for addicted individuals and their families.
Author of numerous peer-reviewed publications, she has taught in 100+ countries, trained more than 1000 Certified ARISE Interventionists, and consulted to UN, WHO, NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, SAMHSA, and several international governments. She is the recipient of awards for AAMFT's Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy and AFTA's Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy
Currently recognized as a global addiction and trauma pioneer, Dr. Landau continues to change the future of addiction by identifying trauma that spans generations. Her recent TEDX talk, Family Stories, Secrets and Survival, has become legendary and is one of the most sought after presentations on the subjects of family resilience, trauma and addiction.
Steadily working on her long awaited personal memoir, Dr. Landau continues to be used by the national media as an expert on all stories relating to human behavior.
Lee FitzGerald has an extensive knowledge of treatment, marketing and management. Lee started her career in 1990 as Director of Ford Modeling Agency. In 1994, she moved to Los Angeles from Boston, where she took on the role of Special Events Manager at the world famous House of Blues in West Hollywood. Four years later, Lee utilized her skills, experience and talent to start her own company, Coast to Coast Marketing and Promotions. While beginning her company, Lee embarked on her own personal journey into recovery. After developing her company for 7 yrs, Lee decided to sell and move into the field of her new found passion, recovery. In 2005, Lee took on her current role as Executive Director of Aftercare and Outreach at Promises Treatment Centers. During this time, Lee has also grown outside of the workplace by earning her CADAC from UCLA and becoming a Certified Interventionist Professional, as well as a Board member of Association of Interventions Specialists.
Ric has a long-term personal knowledge of recovery. His interest in the field started more than 20 years ago when his family purchased The Friary treatment facility located in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Mr. Ohrstrom actively participated in the management of The Friary until it was sold in 1990. Following the sale of The Friary, Mr. Ohrstrom established the Committee on Treatment Benefits (COB) in partnership with the nation's oldest addictions advocacy movement, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Hubert Humphrey Fellow
- Member of the Cape Cod Symposium
Sonita Morin Abrahams is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow who attended The Johns Hopkins University and spent a year focusing on policy development and management of health services, particularly in the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment. She went on to complete a Master of Health Science degree, and as a member of the Hopkins Alumni, coordinated the establishment of a network of Fellows worldwide in substance abuse treatment and prevention. Sonita also wrote a chapter on Drug Prevention & Rehabilitation in the Caribbean published in a book entitled "The Political Economy of Drugs in the Caribbean" in 2000.
Sonita served as regional consultant to United Nations Commission on Narcotic drugs "Beyond 2008"; as Deputy Chairman for the National Council on Drug Abuse in Jamaica; as board member for The Drug Prevention Network of the Americas (DPNA) and Member of the planning team for global conferences.
Sonita is a faculty member of the Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders, a member of the Advisory Committee for the University of Technology in Jamaica for their Masters degree program in Complimentary & Alternative Medicine, and a member of the International Task Force on Strategic Drug Policy. Sonita has been awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD) "for leadership in the areas of community development, youth empowerment, and the development of comprehensive services for those afflicted with addictive disorders".
She is the Executive Director for RISE Life Management Services, a NGO in inner city Kingston, and teacher/owner of Afya Yoga, Pilates & Dance Studio.