THE PANDEMIC WITHIN THE PANDEMIC

Jason Wahler

Jason Wahler is a Host, Actor, TV personality, and philanthropist who appeared on hit shows like MTV’S Laguna Beach, The Hills, and Celebrity Rap Superstar. After years of publicly battling with addiction, he appeared on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab. Since getting sober, Jason has dedicated his life to raising awareness towards addiction and hopes to one day change the public’s negative perception on this deadly disease.

Through his hard work and dedication, the E! Network produced a “True Hollywood Story” featuring Jason’s remarkable transformation. Moreover, in 2017, he received the esteemed Faces & Voice’s “Voice of Recovery Award” in Washington, D.C. Today Jason’s goal is to be a part of setting a standard in the Treatment Industry. His direct involvement with the recovery community has changed his life and allows him to be a resource for thousands of individuals who need help but don’t know where to turn.

Steadfast, Jason works closely with media outlets, celebrities, young adults, schools, law enforcement, churches and athletes to promote addiction education and prevention through sharing his own experiences and stories of hope. He leverages his personal story along with his seat in the public eye to inspire his fellows struggling with addiction.

Jason’s exposure within the recovery community nationwide has been primed by partnering with key advocates including renowned MD, Dr. Daniel Headrick, a distinguished fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine; “Dr. Drew” Pinskey; and, Tim Storey, acclaimed author, speaker and life coach. Jason also serves on the boards of the Los Angeles Mission, The Brent Shapiro Foundation and Cure Addiction Now.

Today, Jason has embraced his passion for giving back and has aligned with The Red Songbird Foundation, where he does his part in the day to day duties as the marketing director and co-chair on the board. His goal is to take his influence and empowerment to a broader audience for a greater effect on the community. Additionally, he has partnered with Tim Storey to launch Supernatural Support, a program for individuals to realize their greatest potential and purpose through the guidance and direction of life coaching through the lens of recovery.

“Looking back over the course of the past ten years, I never thought I would be where I am at today. If you told me I would find my passion and motivation working with and for other alcoholics and addicts, I would have thought you were delusional. Today, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Hilary Roberts

Hilary Roberts, is a singer and songwriter who uses the darkness of her past to inspire others. Her goal with her music and speaking is to be a beacon of hope and empowerment to all. In 2009, she founded The Red Songbird Foundation which was established to help the less fortunate obtain the care they need for recovering from trauma, mental health and alcoholism or substance abuse.

Hilary sings and speaks about many tough subjects including the ones she is most passionate about with her foundation. After suffering many years of trauma, torture and abuse herself, Hilary made the decision that she could no longer deal with those demons alone. On May 9, 1997 she reached out to a mentor who offered her solutions and a way of life to which she could recover one day at a time. She has been sober ever since.

Hilary is not only a trauma survivor, but at 14 years of sobriety she also survived open heart surgery after being diagnosed with a very rare congenital heart defect to which she was given a 50% chance of success. After the surgery, she lost her voice…. But eventually got it back after a year and a half. All of these situations launched her into focusing on a life of giving back and spreading the message of hope wherever she goes.

In 2018, she signed to her own record label, and through it released her single "There for You" which rose to Top 10 on the Billboard Dance Club Chart. Roberts returned for a second run, reaching the coveted Number 1 spot with "Back to Life", a cover of Soul II Soul's 30-year-old smash "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)!". Her third single, "Fight to the Other Side" was released in May 2019 in honor of her friend, who suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. This year she released her single, “Good Man”, which is all about celebrating men that make a positive difference in our lives.

Hilary’s desire is to move people’s hearts and help them grow through situations in order to achieve a new level of healing and spirituality.

Jaana Woodbury, CADC-I, CCAR

Jaana’s passion for helping others reach their potential transformed into working with others in their journey to recovery. Over the last 8 years, she has fostered her leadership skills and knowledge base to work effectively within the addiction treatment industry developing relationships built on trust, authenticity and transparency.

Using a collaborative and innovative approach, she has served as an integral part of many teams to build business and relationships with like-minded individuals to bring the best care to clients and their families. She brings charisma, quality and experience in her different roles which can be attributed to her different leadership roles, long-standing relationships and natural ability to connect with people.

Jaana can also be noted for her philanthropy and advocacy work in raising awareness towards addiction and mental health issues. Specifically, Jaana was part of an effort to shed light on family systems and addiction. Her family was featured in Sesame Street’s, “Parental Addiction” series featuring her family who recently was honored with a Daytime Emmy for the short film. Jaana has also been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan and other online publications for sharing her knowledge and work in the addiction treatment field.

Lynne Pedersen, CADC-II, ICADC, CEO/Founder

Lynne Pedersen is known for her unbridled passion and fierce commitment to any person in need of care. She has over 35 years of progressive experience in the addiction and mental health field. Her expertise in program development is evidenced by her contribution in the build of two of the finest residential treatment programs in the nation.

She made a decision five years ago to shift her focus from treatment to early intervention and prevention. It is from the depth of her vast knowledge that the nonprofit ONE Recovery was born. A free support program where no struggle was necessary to attend or a desire to be inspired. Lynne launched The ONE Exchange shortly thereafter; the first campus-based restorative justice model of its kind. The program allows students who commit an infraction punishable by suspension to exchange it for attendance at ONE support groups. There are currently over 75 students on one campus alone who graduated without having that moment of bad judgment derail or define their future.

Lynne possesses an innate ability to create spaces where healing and integrity are paramount.

Acknowledgments & Training

She received her certifications from UCLA in Chemical Dependency Counseling and Studies & Program Management. She holds a CADC-II, ICADC and received her Intervention Training from the prestigious Johnson Institute.

Lynne has been recognized by a multitude of organizations including; The NBA, National Basketball Association for her role in their intervention training; the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for her work with Paramount Studios on the D.A.R.E. program; MTV’s for the Rock Against Drugs commercial campaign; and her volunteer work with incarcerated youth at Camp Kilpatrick. The Newport Mesa Unified School District Honorary Service Award. The A&A Foundation, Candy Finnigan Award and The Keys to Recovery Contribution to Recovery Award.

Rev Arlene Hylton Campbell

Rev. Arlene Hylton Campbell is the Spiritual Director for Safe Harbor Treatment Center for women. She is a licensed non-denominational Minister in the State of California. Rev. Arlene supports individuals in realizing their highest potential. Her support of individuals in recovery is based on each individual realizing a higher power that is active and fully available in their life.

Through prayer and spiritual counsel women are given tools to remember the connection they have with their higher power. Women are also given spiritual principles to support them in living a life of recovery and fulfillment.

Rev. Arlene sees the potential in each client and identifies the God given potential within them. She sees the pain of the past in each client yet encourages each one to start creating a future with their higher power as their support. Rev. Arlene believes “Our higher power is greater than any past miss-takes and healing is available to everyone”.

Dr. Daniel Headrick

Daniel Headrick, MD, is the medical director and owner of Tres Vistas Recovery in San Juan Capistrano, California. Before opening Tres Vistas Recovery, Dr. Headrick served for eight years as the medical director at Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, California, and eleven years as the Medical Director of Hoag Hospital’s Chemical Dependency Center in Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Headrick — known by his patients as Dr. Dan — received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles Medical School. He received his postgraduate certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 1988 and became an associate professor at the University of California, Irvine Medical School. Dr. Dan continues his training and research in chemical dependency to stay abreast of current techniques and apply them in his work.

Dr. Dan dedicates much of his time to the care and treatment of his clients, overseesoverseeing their stabilization to make sure that they have a sound transition into treatment and recovery. He cares for each of his clients individually as they go through withdrawal from alcohol and other substances. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dan and his team, call Tres Vistas Recovery or book online today.

Rupa Ward, MA, AMFT, EMDR

Rupa Ward has an M. A. in Psychology with Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis. Rupa has been a practicing Certified EMDR therapist for nearly a decade and has completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Gottman Couple Counseling Training and Gottman Couple and Addiction Recovery. She also has extensive training and experience in Individual, Family and Couples Therapy, Addiction Recovery, Loss and Grief, Trauma Resolution, Group Counseling, and Somatic Method. In addition, she has a great deal of experience in treating Dissociative Identity Disorders. Rupa is also bilingual.

Rupa came to Safe Harbor in 2009 and truly thrives in our loving and caring environment. Having lived in several very distinct cultures, she has experienced first hand the struggles and aspirations that arise in diverse cultural backgrounds. She has made it her mission to use her personal experiences to help those feeling lost begin to feel connected and whole. She has also maintained a committed spiritual practice, and she knows that the power of the mind and the spirit to overcome various life problems is very real. Her practice combines different therapeutic techniques with strategies derived from mindfulness practice and body-mind integration practices. She has been offering mindfulness workshops in both treatment centers and universities for the last ten years and has been leading Safe Harbor’s Mindfulness groups.