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Finding Meaning – What Makes San Diego an Ideal Place to Develop a Purposeful Life in Recovery

At The Grounds, we believe that there is more to recovery than abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Recovery is also a matter of discovering one’s purpose.

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The Grounds is a transitional living program for young adult men ready to create a sober life. The Grounds offers the 360-degree support and services necessary to create a life of health, balance and passion!

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Greg Dolente

House Manager

Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Greg is a House Manager at The Grounds and is also in recovery after spending much of his 20s struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. After several stints in rehab, Greg found success through a primary treatment program and as a member of The Grounds community. His time at The Grounds shaped him into a well-rounded man and changed his life for the better. The program allowed him to discover things that he loved doing, like surfing, golfing, being active, and spending time outdoors. He now uses what he has learned to help guide other young men on their road to recovery.

Ian Zeiler

Case Manager

Originally from Bellingham, Washington, Ian Zeiler is a Grounds’ Case Manager and program alum. After years spent struggling to maintain his sobriety and moving through numerous treatment programs, Ian found his pathway to lasting recovery, first through a wilderness program in Utah and then with a six-month period of transitional living here at The Grounds. Ian now lives the life he always dreamed of. He enjoys skateboarding, surfing, going to meetings, staying connected to the sober community, and providing mentorship to Grounds residents.

Mike Nunez

Mentor

As a part-time mentor at The Grounds, Mike helps our residents by sharing wisdom and insights gained from his own story, which is truly inspirational and proof that recovery and the 12 steps can work for anyone, as long as they are willing to put in the effort.

Mike struggled with substance use for many years. When he got sober in 2017, he immediately started making up for lost time. After establishing a solid foundation through working the 12 steps, he began volunteering at a men’s residential treatment facility. While volunteering, he took classes at San Diego City College, where he earned his certification in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. He then parlayed that certification into a full-time job as a counselor at the treatment facility where he volunteered. His work there and at The Grounds is helping him to build his resume in addiction treatment as he continues his education and training.

Alana Hecker, LCSW

Therapist

Alana Hecker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR therapist with over 30 years of experience and specialized training in treating addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, and codependent relationships. Her formal education includes degrees with Honors in Psychology and Social Work. Alana’s healing approach is founded in the marriage of compassion and evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. She is committed to finding effective strategies that are empowering and promote self-compassion. Alana is passionate about challenging limiting beliefs while nurturing the client’s unique strengths and competencies. An important measure of success in the therapeutic alliance will be how value and meaning drive each individual, coupled with the ability to embrace the expression of your authentic self.

Alana currently manages a full-time private practice and also has diverse experience, including residential and outpatient treatment for complex co-occurring disorders, hospital social work experience supporting medical-surgical, psychiatric, and PTSD units, the development and implementation of strategies for preventing Workplace Violence within a Fortune 500 corporation, and Integrative Yoga Therapy aimed at reducing anxiety and other symptoms of trauma. Alana is dedicated to her own continued personal growth and development and believes this is essential in being able to meet clients with the openness and clarity needed for healing.

Jenny Insixiengmay

Business Manager

Jenny has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University and has worked in varying accounting and office administration roles for many years. She further received her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling at Point Loma Nazarene University and received extensive clinical training at Sharp Mesa Vista Trauma IOP program for her practicum experience. She is working towards her licensure as a future marriage and family therapist. As a volunteer advocate for domestic violence victims, Jenny has seen first-hand the consequences that often accompany addiction and trauma. She combines mindfulness, recovery experience and meditation practices with her work at The Grounds making sure that our systems are organized, efficient and aligned with the industry’s highest best practices.

Jacob Alatriste

Mentor

Jacob’s life experiences perfectly coincide with The Grounds’ mission of building accountability and balance through hard work, solid relationships and persistence. He has endured foster care, served honorably for four years in the US Army, has fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, overcome homelessness, graduated from an accredited university with a bachelor of science in film, worked in sales and managed a sober living home. Jacob is living proof that “it’s not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Currently, Jacob works nights at The Grounds where he manages to juggle his nighttime duties while working on his screenplay.

Grant Duguid

Case Manager

Grant grew up near the beach in San Diego and has always enjoyed activities like skating, surfing, camping, spearfishing, and scuba diving. He got sober at a young age by putting his recovery before everything else. He believes in the importance of having fun in recovery and pushing for dreams that are only possible with sobriety. Grant is a Registered Alcohol Drug Technician I (RADT1) by CCAPP and continuing his education through UCSD Extension. Grant is also the father of two sons Keghan and Callum who he loves very much!

Alex Zemeckis, MA

Owner/Founder

For over a decade, Alex has worked in the addiction treatment & mental health communities helping young adults find new ways to live. Alex earned a bachelor of arts degree from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Throughout his career, Alex has worked in various direct care and administrative roles including sober coaching and companion work, admissions, business development and outreach and as a residential mentor for a prominent treatment program in Colorado. As a featured speaker, Alex maintains a presence within the recovery world, sharing his experience, strength and hope with those still struggling with addictions. In 2013, Alex launched The Grounds Recovery in San Diego putting into action the skills and lessons he learned throughout his own personal and professional journey. After nearly 8 years of successfully working with men at The Grounds, Alex soon learned that there was a strong need for women’s aftercare programs. Thus, Alex launched Mare’s House as the female component to The Grounds Recovery. As president & owner of The Grounds & Mare’s House, Alex personally oversees the admissions and business development departments of both programs.

Cannon Kristofferson, CADC II

Program Director

Raised in San Diego, Cannon has more than a decade’s experience working within the recovery community. His extensive experience includes direct work with at-risk young adults through the city of San Diego, supporting veterans suffering with co-occurring substance abuse, PTSD and other mental health issues and individual client work within the LGBT community, where he received important trauma, ethics and tolerance training. He graduated with honors from the University of California at San Diego’s Drug and Alcohol Certification Program. Cannon has been a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic by offering his knowledge and expertise to the FBI and San Diego’s Opioid Addiction Task Force. Cannon’s personal journey of recovery as a young adult offers him a unique perspective and understanding that provides hope and encouragement to The Grounds members. In his free time, Cannon enjoys sharing his lifelong love of surfing and the ocean with his family. He also plays guitar and enjoys performing locally with his band

Beck Jolly

Counselor

Beck is a certified substance use disorder counselor. He has several years of experience working at a men’s residential treatment facility with men who have severe substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Throughout his own journey of recovery, Beck has found that the 12-Steps, social connections, discipline, humility, and physical fitness are essential to sobriety. Beck facilitates the “Intro to Boxing and Jiu-Jitsu” groups at The Grounds. The boxing and jiu-jitsu groups are a great way for these young men to build personal connections and challenge themselves physically and mentally.

Rafael Cortina, MFT, MBA

Therapist

Rafael is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and as a bilingual/bicultural therapist he has delivered clinical and consultation services in both Mexico and the United States. He has over fifteen-years of diverse experience serving individuals, couples, families and groups. Rafael has a masters of arts in counseling psychology, an MBA from National University and is a certified Gestalt therapist. His experience includes diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders , anxiety disorders, addiction, grief and loss, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and a mental health disorder), trauma, and LGBT and transgender issues. Rafael has served as lead faculty member at the Humanistic Institute of Gestalt Psychotherapy, as a marriage and family therapist at Sharp Mesa Vista Outpatient Dual Diagnosis Program, as a staff therapist at the LGBT Center, and as a bereavement counselor at San Diego Hospice.

Lauries Chapman, M.S., MFC35559

Therapist, EMDR Certified, CSAT-1

Laurie Chapman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than twenty-five years’ experience and extensive training in the following evidence-based practice therapy models: strategic, solution-focused, multi-systemic, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, trauma resiliency, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Laurie specializes in fields including trauma, addiction/recovery, young men in transition, and mood disorders.

Laurie holds a master of science degree in marriage and family therapy from San Diego State University and a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a business minor from the University of California at Los Angeles. She is an active member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the EMDR International Association, and the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction.

Kathy San Filippo, MA

Equine Therapist

Kathy holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology with undergraduate studies in organizational psychology. In addition to numerous experiential certifications and more than thirty years of equine experience, Kathy has worked in a number of different settings including private practice, colleges, churches, and other non-profits, having great success with clients who have failed to thrive in the traditional “office therapy” environment. She has a long history of providing support within the community offering counseling and outreach services to youth and adult survivors of trauma and abuse, those struggling to overcome addictions, mental illness, and eating disorders, couples and families, the blind and the disabled.

Michael Giancola, MA, MS, LMFT

Group Facilitator

As a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in men‘s sexual health, it is an honor to join the accomplished group of clinicians doing work with the residents of The Grounds as of fall 2016. Since 2005, I have been doing counseling work with people who are better trying to understand how their sexuality and their mental health combine to help form a healthier version of themselves. As a group therapy leader at The Grounds, it is an honor for me to deliver an evidence-based group therapy curriculum that asks young men to consider their sexual health in the context of their recovery from drugs and/or alcohol. I particularly enjoy this work because it is my personal and professional belief that there are precious few places on our planet where young men can speak honestly and vulnerably about their sexual development, sexual history and sexual health in ways that honor the complexity of male sexuality. The level of respect and commitment for the recovery process at The Grounds are a perfect fit for giving young men a place to reflect on their sexual health as it relates to their recovery. Where sexuality was traditionally considered an off-limits topic in recovery, we now know that recovery without discussing relational ethics, sexual health principles and young men’s erotic selves leaves them lacking key resources for sustained sobriety. I look forward to continue to be a part of The Grounds’ team.

Dr. Nicole Posner, MD

Psychiatrist

Dr. Posner is a psychiatrist in private practice in San Diego, California specializing in both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Dr. Posner completed her residency in adult psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is consistently recognized as “One of America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News and World Report. She completed her medical schooling at Sackler School of Medicine. Living in various cities has helped to broaden her life experience and appreciation of various cultures and perspectives.

Identified as an eating disorder expert, she has been featured on national television and served as the president of the San Diego Chapter of the International Eating Disorder Association. She has also been published in a medical text on impulse control disorders.

Currently, she maintains a private practice specializing in psychotherapy and medication management for adolescents and adults. Interests include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, chemical and process addictions, attention deficit disorder, and eating disorders. Dr. Posner utilizes pharmacogenomic testing in her practice when appropriate. Moreover, she has advanced training in transference-focused psychotherapy for personality disorders.

Brandon Parkhurst

Rock to Recovery, Radical Aliveness Group Facilitator

Brandon Parkhurst is a musician, music expressionist, San Diego native and Certified Core Energetics Practitioner specializing in addiction and personal growth. He works with groups and individual clients, providing a safe space for people to heal trauma and work through blocked emotions. As a musician, Brandon toured for most of his early years in his band Kut U Up alongside mainstream acts such as Green Day and Blink 182. Now Brandon works with the therapeutic elements of music and somatic healing techniques to lead people to a place of feeling totally ALIVE.

Scott DeLeau

Outreach & Admissions

In long-term recovery, Scott has worked in various roles within the treatment field for many years. He enjoys sharing his experience, strength and hope with others as they navigate their own recovery journey. He also understands the importance of “the right fit” – pairing the right treatment experience with an individual’s unique situation, needs, and goals.

Jordan Wagner

Chef

As a chef with ten-years experience working in many positions within the food industry, Jordan comes to The Grounds with a dedication to teaching and preparing food in a conscious and healing way.

Jordan graduated from Culinary School in San Francisco in 2011 with a culinary arts degree. After graduation, he worked for restaurants, catering companies, wineries, and retirement communities, and for the past five years has served as an Executive Chef at San Diego State University.

Jordan has a passion for teaching and has taught cooking classes in over twelve different cuisine types. As far as his personal cooking style, he has always enjoyed preparing plant-based and organic dishes with healthy, clean, and vibrant ingredients. Jordan’s food is full of flavor and utilizes organic herbs and spices, and a presentation style that is as fresh as the taste. The meals he prepares incorporate holistic health with a balance of nutrients, healthy fats, proteins, and superfoods.

Cody Trout

Senior Case Manager

Cody obtained his first sponsorship for competitive surfing when he was 14 years old. After attending Mesa College, studying sports medicine and playing water polo, he traveled the world as a sponsored surfer. He’s surfed all over the world, including Hawaii, Mexico, Fiji and Australia. Once back in the states, he began a career in the treatment field working as a master guide for Aspiro Adventure Outdoor Therapy where he earned certifications in wilderness first responder, motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. Cody has worked with adolescents and young adults with a wide spectrum of behavioral and mental health issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, negative family relationships, spectrum disorders, depression and self-harm. His biggest impact at The Grounds is helping members learn the basic skill of independent living as well as leading positive recreational activities like surfing, hiking and fishing.

Mark Trickett

Case Manager

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Mark comes to The Grounds with important life experience. Combining his educational experiences at Kennesaw State University, personal recovery journey and real-world work experience, Mark brings a perspective to Grounds members that they can relate to and connect with. Mark uses these experiences to guide and inform his case management responsibilities and support members in organizing and balancing their own goals, dreams, and responsibilities. On the golf course, on a surfboard or while strumming a guitar, Mark teaches the lessons of recovery and life balance.

Bentley Ruff

Case Manager

Bentley is from Bonita, California, just about 10 minutes south of Downtown San Diego. He grew up participating in lots of recreational activities such as downhill mountain biking, Baja motocross runs, BMX, sailing, spear fishing, and surfing.

Currently, Bentley is going to school at UCSD Extension to obtain his CADC. He initially worked in real estate and construction, then was given an opportunity at The Grounds to help young men grow into young adults.

Bentley has two years of experience in ownership and operations of a sober living facility and enjoys having the ability to relate to the young men that come to The Grounds and help them get a sense of the value of independence. The reason he loves being part of The Grounds staff is that he is confident in the program model. He believes that The Grounds does something exceptionally different from other programs. Bentley believes that The Grounds teaches young men how to develop a self-sufficient lifestyle while having fun, learning, and experiencing different hobbies such as hiking, fishing, and surfing. “It feels good to know that when guys graduate, they have the tools they need to face challenges on their own, and the confidence to overcome those challenges because of the time they spent at The Grounds with our staff.”

Eric Prevost

Mentor

As a mentor, Eric helps The Grounds residents with job seeking, financial responsibility, 12-step program support, and general guidance. Eric also maintains connection, through trips and activities, with active Grounds alumni. Eric’s personality and personal experience make him a talented and insightful team member with the innate ability to establish a connection with residents as they walk through the challenges of recovery. Growing up in Southern Oregon, Eric always enjoyed being in nature, but upon moving to coastal San Diego, he quickly realized there is nowhere else he’d rather be. During his free time, Eric enjoys surfing and staying active within his recovery community.

Andrew Krotinsky

Mentor

Andrew is an alumnus of The Grounds. His experience on both sides of the curtain as an alumnus and now a current team member gives him a unique ability to relate to current members. Originally from New York, Andrew attended a wilderness program in the Pacific Northwest and migrated to San Diego. He is transparent about his own journey in recovery and maintains an active program. Andrew loves the San Diego lifestyle and is a huge believer in being physical. During his free time, Andrew enjoys surfing, skiing, camping and being outside as much as possible.

Katie O'Brasky

Therapist

Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 32 years of experience. Guided by her belief that therapy is a collaborative process between counselor and client, Katie views her role as an assistant – helping her clients identify sources of pain and roadblocks to happiness. Katie’s therapeutic style includes creating a safe environment to explore painful emotions and destructive relationship patterns, because while therapy is designed to be helpful, it may at times also be difficult and uncomfortable. Both direct and nurturing, she provides honest feedback in a supportive and protected space.

Licensed since 1992, Katie started out her career as a Clinical Social Worker in both inpatient and residential treatment facilities for children, adolescence and adults. While in those settings, Katie ran groups and provided individual and family therapy. Katie then went on to work in an Employee Assistance Program where she saw and dealt with a wide variety of situations including trauma, substance abuse, ADHD and school problems, mood disorders, parenting, and workplace issues. Entering full-time private practice in 2004, Katie works with trauma, substance abuse, co-dependency, mood disorders and out-of-control sexual behavior/sexual health. She draws from a combination of therapeutic approaches that include family systems, psychodynamic, psychoeducational, and Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Whitney Whaley

Yoga Instructor

For Whitney, health and wellness is an integral part of life. As a yoga instructor with more than five years’ experience, Whitney strives to make each person she connects with feel light, safe, and empowered. Whitney uses her position as The Grounds Recovery yoga instructor to share mindful practice and help her students unite the mind, body and spirit.

Daniel Scholder

Mentor

Daniel is a mentor with a history of recovery dating back to 1987. He has been part of The Grounds family for more than 3 years, and his experience, strength, hope, and wisdom have a positive impact on everyone around him. A San Diego native, Daniel worked in the auto industry running car dealerships for most of his career, with time also spent as a caregiver prior to transitioning to The Grounds full time.

Andrew Pratt

House Manager

Andrew combines his skills and experience in office administration and event coordination with his desire to help young people with substance abuse issues overcome the challenges of addiction and reach their full potential. A recent graduate from Indiana University, Andrew grew up on the East Coast, and his interests include hitting the gym, playing golf, surfing, and putting his best effort into living a balanced lifestyle.