Paige Bottom recently joined Foundations Recovery Network as the Chief Executive Officer for La Paloma Treatment Center in Memphis, Tenn. Paige has been committed to the field of addiction and mental illness for over 18 years, beginning her career working with adolescents diagnosed with both psychiatric and chemical dependency problems.
Paige's path began in direct clinical work in Virginia after completing her undergraduate work in psychology, but soon branched into prevention and education as well through work as an Employee Assistance Professional for several Fortune 500 companies. Throughout this time, Paige remained dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people whose lives had been affected by addiction and mental illness, and so returned to graduate school with a dual focus of Counseling Psychology and Business Administration.
It was during her time in graduate school that Paige decided to move out of direct care and into program development, operations and administration. This move was driven by a desire to have a greater impact on how care is delivered and to reach a larger portion of an underserved population, with the ultimate goal of providing services that result in a powerful, life-changing experience and greater rates of success.
After receiving her Masters in Business Administration in 1996, Paige worked extensively in Wilmington, N.C. and then in Santa Cruz, Calif., creating and nurturing programs to be more responsive, efficient and effective.
As La Paloma's CEO, Paige brings a gentle, compassionate strength to her commitment and continues to stand for excellence in clinical care and customer service.
Leigh Van Duren, M.D.
Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine
Graduated from East Tennessee State University
Completed her psychiatric residency at Emory University
Kyrstan Anderson, M.S., CRC
Outpatient Therapist/ Family Weekend Facilitator
M.S. in Counseling and Personnel from the University of Memphis
B.A. in Psychology from the University of Memphis
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Level 2 EMDR clinician
As an Outpatient therapists and family weekend facilitator, Krystan Anderson brings empathy and a nonjudgmental attitude to work every day.
Before joining La Paloma, Anderson worked with children suffering from Autism and adolescents with other intellectual disabilities. It was through her work with these children that she began to recognize common factors in their environments, one being parents with substance use disorders and mental illness, factors of a dual diagnosis.
Anderson is a strong believer in dual diagnosis and works to incorporate all aspects of a client's environment and system when working with them.
When not at La Paloma, you can find Krystan riding tandem bikes with her husband, reading and taking care of her dog.
Advice:
Recognizing that you need help is the first step to making change possible.
Martha Anderson, MS
Clinical Therapist
B.S. Education from the University of Memphis
M.S. Counseling from the University of Memphis
In 2009, Martha Anderson joined La Paloma as a Clinical Therapist, leading individual, group, and family therapy sessions and handling treatment and discharge planning.
Anderson began her work with addictions through an internship during graduate school. It was her work with people who had mental health problems suffering from addiction that brought her to specialize in dual diagnosis.
From there, Anderson went to work at Community Mental Health Centers, Professional Care Services and Youth Villages working with people of all ages who dealt with issues ranging from depression and bipolar disorders to addictions and abuse.
As a firm believer that you can't treat addiction without treating the mental health issues that usually accompany, Anderson sees the importance of treating the whole person. Her strong background in family work helps her support clients as they cope with their past and present.
In her free time, Martha loves spending time with family, working out and reading.
Advice:
Reach out and be open to the process. Don't stop before the miracle happens.
Dawn L. Davidson, PHD
Research Site Director
B.A. Psychology from Thomas More College
A.A. Sociology from Thomas More College
A.A. Criminal Justice from Thomas More College
M.S. General Psychology from the University of Memphis
Ph.D. Experimental Psychology from the University of Memphis
As Research Site Director for La Paloma, Dawn Davidson keeps herself busy designing and implementing longitudinal research to determine the effectiveness of treatment.
Davidson brings a professionalism and attention to detail that is an essential factor to her job. She believes it is important that research findings not sit on dusty basement shelves, but should be used to help individuals going through treatment.
While still crunching numbers at La Paloma, Davidson also works with the Memphis Police Department assisting in the selection of police officers and offering feedback on ways to improve the process. She also teaches an online course in Physiological Psychology at The University of Memphis.
With her work in criminal justice, Davidson was selected as an FBI Honors Intern and appointed to work at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime in Quantico.
When not analyzing data, Davidson fills her time with friends, sports, Jazzercise and baking.
William A. Egner, LPC/MHSP, NCC
Detox Therapist
M.A. Counseling Licensure from Denver Seminary
B.A. Psychology from the University of Memphis
Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation
EMDR trained
Prepare/Enrich Certified
With compassion and a deep love of helping others, William Egner joined La Paloma as a therapist in the detox unit, handling group, individual and family therapy sessions.
In the past, Egner worked for Foundations Associates as a counselor, but it was while he spent time as a missionary in Nepal and Thailand that he learned how to hone his skills leading group discussions. This experience greatly prepared him to keep multiple people engaged with a common lesson during sessions at La Paloma.
Because he sees eternal value in every person, Egner truly invests in all those with which he comes in contact. Egner not only believes La Paloma's system works for clients, he tries to model the qualities that are imparted by the center in his daily life.
While not spending time with clients, you can find William spending time with his wife and family.
Advice:
Use everything as a learning experience. If you are able to gain something of worth from each situation you are faced with, then you are on the right track.
Jordan Emerson
Chef
College of Marin
As La Paloma's head chef, Jordan Emerson fills his days planning menus for a healthy and balanced diet, preparing those meals and managing the dining room and food service operations. He accomplishes this by meeting and exceeding the expectations of clients through thoughtful planning, working mindfully, creativity and a passion for vibrant, diverse and exciting food.
With extensive work in the hospitality industry in the California bay area and Big Sur and providing corporate hospitality for racing companies like Players Racing and Forsythe Championship Racing in tow, Emerson came to La Paloma because of his desire to help others while doing what he loves- creating good food.
Emerson sees the importance of dual diagnosis treatment and seeks to provide a positive influence for others through healthy diet choices during their healing process.
To keep himself healthy, Emerson enjoys biking, hanging out with his dogs and would like to see more of the world.
Favorite part of working at La Paloma:
Every day I start fresh with the opportunity to do good things and I am thankful for all the opportunities I've been given.
Pat Friedman, LPC
Director of the Detox/Assessment Unit
Masters in Counseling from the University of Memphis
Licensed Professional Counselor
With seven years experience in the dual diagnosis field, Pat Friedman comes to La Paloma expertly prepared for her role as Director of the Detox and Assessment Unit.
Friedman first became familiar with La Paloma and its integrated treatment through training and seminars affiliated with the facility and began referring individuals to the center. Eventually, she was brought on as the Lead Residential Therapist and later transferred to the Outpatient services to implement the Partial Hospitalization Program for clients with Medicare.
It is the educational component of co-occurring disorders and the comparison of addiction treatment to the concept of treating co-occurring disorders that most interests Friedman. She believes that it is the knowledge of these facets that renders positive outcomes for both individuals and families.
Outside of work, Friedman never experiences a dull moment while keeping up with her sons, painting and enjoying her exercise regiment consisting of ballet, yoga, gymnastics and cardio.
Advice:
Strive to be open to new ideas and concepts, and approach recovery as an adventure. Through this process you will find the most interesting person ever- yourself.
Cecily Karakashian, LPC/MHSP
Residential Therapist
B.M. in Music Therapy from East Carolina University
M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling From Virginia Commonwealth Univesity
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
With a strong work ethic, Cecily Karakashian joins the La Paloma team as a Residential Therapist. Her daily responsibilities include carrying a caseload of eight to 10 patients, facilitating process groups and leading anger management and expressive therapies groups.
As a music therapy student, Karakashian completed a practicum in a substance abuse treatment center using music therapy as well as psychotherapy with clients. Here she became familiar with Motivational Interviewing and searched for a facility which utilized this and other such evidence-based treatments. After completing graduate school and moving to Memphis, Karakashian heard of La Paloma's association with Motivational Interviewing and knew this was an organization she wanted to be a part of.
Since working in this dual diagnosis center, Karakashian has seen the importance of holistic treatment and the blending of therapy with family stability, medication stabilization and education. Hearing how these integrated programs have changed the lives of clients is the most fulfilling aspect of her work.
Outside La Paloma, Karakashian plays the piano and also participates in the Germantown Symphony Orchestra as a violin player.
Advice: The hardest part is asking for help. Once you admit you need help and reach out, the rest will follow. It is not easy to go through this alone, but there is help.
Kathryn Myrick, M.S, CRC
Therapist
M.S. in Counseling from the University of Memphis
B.A. in Psychology from the University of Memphis
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Kathryn Myrick joins La Paloma Treatment Center as a therapist with a genuine desire to help people on the path to recovery.
She believes that addiction is a major mental health issue, as well as a public health issue, and came to La Paloma for the opportunity to work in a dual diagnosis environment.
Myrick works with the philosophy to treat each individual as a “whole,” taking into account the complexity of co-occurring disorders and sees the necessity to treat both the addiction and disorder simultaneously.
While not sharing her time with clients, Myrick enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends and parenting her dog.
Advice: If you think you may need help, don't talk yourself out of it. Seek support from every avenue that you can.
Angie Thomas, MS, NCC
Trauma Resolution Program Coordinator
Masters in Counseling from University of Memphis
Certified by National Board for Certified Counselors
Trained by EMDR Institute
As the Trauma Resolution Program Coordinator, Angie Thomas provides education, assessments and uses EMDR to address unresolved emotions and negative beliefs about one's self regarding past events.
Having previously worked in inpatient and outpatient dual disorder facilities, Thomas brings knowledge and experience to La Paloma. These jobs, along with working as a hospice provider, also have filled her with empathy and compassion for the struggles people encounter in healing.
Thomas believes in the healing power of a holistic approach and appreciates how La Paloma encourages their staff to explore alternative methods of healing. By doing so, each client truly has an individualized treatment approach that can offer the best opportunity to identify strengths and develop new skills.
Outside of work, Thomas is active in her children's schools and enjoys music, movies and reading psychological thrillers. She is also learning more about herbal medicine and other healing modalities.
Advice: Be honest and committed to stand in the fire and trust that you will come out of this experience with the tools you need.
Stephen Watts
Professionals Program Counselor
B.A. from the University of Memphis
M.A. from the University of Memphis
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Master Addictions Counselor (NAADAC)
With knowledge and experience working with field specialists suffering from co-occurring disorders, Stephen Watts heads up La Paloma's Professionals Program. As the program's counselor, Watts facilitates groups and provides counseling and therapy to clients.
While in college, Watts worked in an indigent treatment program and stayed in the field after graduation. He later came to La Paloma to specifically work in a professional's program.
Watts is drawn to holistic treatments like acudetox, nutrition and aromatherapy as they become a larger part of treatment. He believes these treatments, like those offered by La Paloma, help maximize a client's journey to recovery.
When not working with clients, Watts enjoys reading, movies and hanging out with his wife.
