Registered Emotional Support Animals
Clinical Therapist
I am Katie van Heerden, licensed marriage and family therapist, currently conducting individual and group therapy at ATR using CBT and EMDR modalities. My passion for working with those struggling with addiction and mental health is a personal one. I, myself, grew up in a family system of addiction and mental health issues with little knowledge of what to do or how to recover. This drove me to further my education of mental health disorders, first by obtaining my BA in psychology from Cal State University Fullerton, then my masters in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. While the knowledge I have obtained in school is extensive, my personal journey through life and all of its struggles have led me to the conclusion that anyone can recover if given 2 things: resources and support. When asked what keeps me going in this field, after 10+ years, I typically respond; “I am merely a farmer. I plant the seeds, nourish when necessary, and give space to allow growth.” Watching clients transform into better versions of themselves is not only rewarding, but inspiring. It is a “job” I never take for granted.
Admissions Coordinator
Being the first point of contact for women seeking aftercare for their recovery in alcohol and drug addiction; I am driven & passionate about helping them with their next steps. I have always been passionate about helping others & this position allows me to see those dreams come to life.
You can always find me in nature during my self care time, usually hiking, roller skating by the beach, or surfing the waves. I enjoy music to feed my soul & get grounded. I lead a healthy & holistic way of living that I enjoy sharing with others.
Clinical Director
Heather Black-Coyne holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and works as the Clinical Director for Anchored Tides Recovery. Heather is a woman in long-term recovery and an astute Addiction Counselor who has partnered with addicted individuals in residential and outpatient facilities for over a decade, creating a space of learning for both the clients and her peers. Heather participated on the CDPWS Board as Secretary, helped launch the annual NAADAC Conference in Seattle, and has participated in developing Continuing Education Courses for Clearly Clinical.
Heather has worked in various direct care and leadership capacities treating substance use, always with the foundational beliefs that everyone is worthy of a meaningful life, and individuals need help along the way. She works in treatment to help others be curious about themselves and their possibilities. She is passionate about creating a safe space where individuals can explore their growth experientially, and collaboratively.
Social Worker
I was born and raised in Orange County, California. I found myself needing substance abuse treatment in 2010. After learning tools of recovery and receiving treatment I was able to go back to school at age 41 and earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and a Masters in Social Work with an emphasis on Community Mental Health from California State University Fullerton. Getting clean and sober opened the door to a life full of opportunity and hope. I am currently pursuing licensure in the State of California to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
I have the unique opportunity to work as an Associate Clinical Social worker in a treatment setting. My role is to assist with helping each Client master Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills that allow them to emotionally regulate, tolerate distress, live a more meaningful life, and improve their ability to effectively communicate. I come alongside the Clients and help them address life issues that range from food assistance, legal matters, tax issues, creating resumes, budgeting, medical and dental appointments, organizing, studying skills, applying to schools, and finding employment. I assist them with integrating their recovery tool belt with the stressors of life in order to set them up for success once they leave treatment.
I wished that I had a social worker when I was in treatment. Some of my most difficult times were trying to take care of anxiety provoking adult tasks in early sobriety. I am passionate about my role in these human’s lives and I see it as my honor to be part of their bref journey here at Anchored Tides Recovery. I love my job and I love teaching individuals how to be sober, navigate life, and enjoy being themselves maybe for the first time.
Therapist
Hi! My name is Megan Twohig and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working with Anchored Tides Recovery as a Primary Therapist. I am currently being trained in EMDR trained and have worked in the field of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for 9 years. When I’m not working I love the beach, my dog, and my dog at the beach with me. I honor getting to fight alongside clients in the battle for their lives. I’ve witnessed miracles in recovery and believe we all have a chance at salvation.
Operations Manager
Michelle has been a part of the Anchored Tides family since 2018. Michelle is an empathetic individual who finds connection with each client. Her goal is to help women feel understood and see that long-term recovery is possible. Michelle obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brandman University and is working towards her masters in social work. Michelle is passionate about helping others and considers it an honor to be a part of a treatment team who believes the client’s care is the first priority. In her spare time Michelle loves going to concerts, camping, and road trips.
Program Manager
Jessica has been a part of the Anchored Tides Family since 2017. She is the Program Manager at ATR and has worked in treatment for 6 years. She specifically enjoys working with women in recovery as she is passionate about helping women begin their healing journey and find their truest most authentic selves. Jessica’s personal experience with recovery at a young age helps her identify with other young women seeking treatment and a new way of life.
Dietician
Dawn has been providing individual nutritional counseling and group counseling for more than 20 years. Her approach has been to work beyond education and training, focusing on real-life practical applications and tools. Through it all, Dawn creates an open and encouraging environment to help her clients process successes and overcome setbacks by helping them establish new habits of their own that don’t disrupt their regular lifestyle. Dawn enjoys working with her clients because “walking through a season of life with another is an honor and privilege.”
Director of Marketing & Admissions
Kelli Easley comes to Anchored Tides bringing with her over seventeen years of experience in the field of addiction. Her unwavering passion to help others stems from her commitment to give back after overcoming her own 17-year addiction. She holds certifications in both Chemical Dependency and Family Development.Kelli had the good fortune of training under a well-respected interventionist, and therapists this has only strengthened her expertise in working with both individuals and families. Kelli is
currently working towards a degree in Business Administration along with being a loving mother to her husband, and two sons. In her free time, Kelli is active in the recovery community and lends her support to nonprofit organizations to help those in underserved communities.
– “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” – C.S. Lewis
Interventionist / Relationships & Co-Dependency
Tracy Dunn is a National Interventionist and Addiction Coach who has received training at the Crossroads Recovery Coaching Academy of Seattle Washington and The Addiction Academy in Miami Florida. As the daughter of Roger Dunn of the Roger Dunn Golf Stores , Tracy knows all too well the dramatic impact that fame and addiction can have on the family system. Her professional training partnered with over 32 years of sobriety has led Tracy to being deeply committed to both saving and changing the lives of those struggling with addiction and alcoholism and their families.
As a group facilitator, she works collaboratively with her clients to help them focus on the action they will need to take to recognize the vision they will have for themselves. As an interventionist she has helped many families to overcome the paralyzing grip of addiction by teaching accountability, compassion and the other tools needed to break the cycle of addiction and maintain sobriety. Tracy works with the media, treatment facilities, interventionists,therapists, addiction psychiatrists and consults with treatment facilities.Her dedication to saving lives has given a dynamic voice of recovery to those who had previously given up hope,and the belief that they are able to create their own successes.
ReNu Fit
My name is Garrett Bracken, Owner and Operator of ReNu Fit (Recovery Nutrition and Fitness). I am a personal trainer, sports nutritionist and man in recovery from drugs and alcohol.
ReNu Fit’s Mission is to bring fitness and nutrition into clients’ everyday recovery.
ReNu Fit fitness groups are one hour long full body workouts aimed specifically at teaching our clients the proper technique, form and fitness routines to keep them safe & help them achieve their fitness goals. All groups include stretching, abdominal work, light resistance band training and safe leg exercises. Our goal is to be effective and useful to your clients in the safest and most fun way possible.
Above Water
Above Water Adventures was created to provide a fun, healthy, and constructive outlet for young adults, corporate employees, and those in early recovery. We strive to facilitate a safe and (often) exhilarating setting to push through boundaries and break down barriers. Recovery is not for the faint of heart, it requires courage, willingness, and an innate desire to change. We’re here to offset some of the inherent weight carried during the initial steps of that journey. Our mission is bolster support and fellowship — and above all, help clients recognize that adventure, fun, and zest for life starts in recovery — not the other way around.
Reiki Master & Group Healing
Jona Genova is an intuitive healer and teacher of Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT) bringing more than 25 years of devoted study and practice to her work.
In 2015, Jona was invited to work with a preeminent residential treatment facility for adolescents. Overtime she developed the Samadhi for Peace Healing Method, a trauma informed and individualized approach to energy healing designed to allow space for clients in residential and outpatient levels of care to explore what is beyond words.
Today, she is the founder of Reiki Collective, an alternative healing service provider bridging the gap between energy medicine and western healthcare systems. Jona is committed to providing compassionate care that is safe for clients and for her team so she developed a rigorous internship modeled after that of other clinical professions. Healers receive ongoing learning centered around seeing others in their deepest dignity as well as licensed support for managing triggers that arise during sessions. Reiki Collective healers use the Samadhi for Peace Healing Method and are the only energy healers trained specifically to work with clients in treatment for mental health challenges and co-occurring disorders.
Jona is grateful to provide a gentle and nurturing space for clients to explore and restore their intuitive nature while restoring relational trust.
Rock To Recovery
William Nephew has been a singer/songwriter for over 20 years. He achieved some notable success early in his career with emo/rock band Jack’s Broken Heart, which won a San Diego Music Award in 2001, toured the continental United States, and shared the stage with acts like The Mars Volta and Jimmy Eat World. Having a strong passion for the arts, William earned a B.A in Cinema production. Following completion of his degree at San Francisco State University, William worked on film/tv projects for major Hollywood production companies including Sony and Universal Pictures.
Williams addiction began at an early age and followed a slow and steady progression. Eventually, William knew he had to make a change. With the help of drug and alcohol treatment, William got sober on May 26th, 2014. He has been sober ever since. William’s talent as a singer/songwriter, passion for the healing power of music, and the struggles of his past make him an outstanding program administrator for Rock to Recovery. He believes in the strength of creative expression as an extremely effective tool to cope with overwhelming emotions in early sobriety because William was actually in Rock to Recovery groups as a CLIENT before he became a program facilitator. William is also a certified CADC-I drug and alcohol counselor by the state of California.
Co-Founder
Client Service Coordinator
Alisa brings a high level of dedication and compassion to her work as the Client Service Coordinator. A certified addiction treatment counselor (CADC-II), Alisa has seven years of experience working in the substance abuse field. Alisa has a passion for both helping others in recovery and guiding women through the process of rebuilding a valued life and increasing their self-worth. She embraces her strengths of empathy and patience to help others develop upon their inherent set of skills and seek purpose based on their own abilities. Currently, Alisa is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with hopes of becoming a therapist. When not at work or school, Alisa enjoys fitness, watching the Boston Red Sox, and spending quality time with family and friends.
President / Co-Founder
Becca Edge is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. No stranger to mental health and substance abuse issues in her family, she herself also struggled with addiction and moved to California to commit herself to treatment. She has been in long term recovery since 2010. After much success in the corporate world, she started a sober-living as a “passion project” to provide women a safe place as they re-enter the world as sober members of society. She noticed that there weren’t many aftercare programs dedicated to women’s sobriety or supporting them with the various co-occurring disorders that pop up once women are free from drugs and alcohol. So in 2016 she partnered with Amy to create a safe, therapy-focused place where women can heal from their addictions, trauma, and other issues while growing into who they were always meant to be. Becca is passionate about helping women realize their worth and supporting/helping them navigate the next steps of their lives, all while helping them feel secure on their road to long-term recovery.
