Jane R. Furtner, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, CPS, ICADC, CCDP-D, CCS
Jane has been working as a counselor and therapist for the past 20 years in substance abuse, survivors of physical and sexual abuse, and the interaction of the two presenting problems. She has organized and directed programs for extended care after inpatient treatment in supportive community environments. She has also participated in authoring studies of the roles of various positions in the treatment field, as well as developing standards and testing for professionals in the field of addiction counseling and prevention specialists.

Currently Jane has a private practice as well as serving as President and Administrator of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia, Inc., Delegate to IC&RC for the Georgia Board, and board member for the Prevention Certification Consortium of Georgia. She has presented several professional workshops and has offered practicuum placements for masters level students in Psychology, Community Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling.

Stephen Mathis, PsyD, ICAADC, CCDP-D, ICCJP is a licensed psychologist in four states. In addition to a Doctorate degree, he possesses a Post-Doctoral in Clinical Psychology, a Diplomate in Addictionology, Diplomates in Forensics (one in Forensic Examination, one in Forensic Medicine, and many in various sub areas of Forensic Psychological Specialties), a Diplomate in Sports Psychology, a Diplomate in Psychopharmacology, a board certification in substance abuse treatment from the APA, an international board certification in addictions, and a national board certification in group psychotherapy. He is a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners, a Fellow of the Prescribing Psychologists’ Register, a Fellow of the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists, a Fellow of the International College of Professional Psychology, a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist, a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional, a Master Addiction Counselor, a Certified Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a Certified Rational Addictions Therapist, a Certified Rational Sex Therapist, and a Certified Clinical Supervisor of other counselors treating addictions.

Dr. Mathis is also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and as a trainer for other therapists working with athletes.

For the past 24 years, Dr. Mathis has specialized in treating adolescents, adults, families/couples, athletes, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered persons, and trauma survivors. Treatment areas and populations served include addictions, destructive “cults”, gang involvement, alternative religious expressions, existential issues, “new age” matters, disruptive behaviors, attention deficits, learning disorders, pain management, suicide, interpersonal conflict, relationships, academic and/or occupational dysfunction or impairment, sexual orientation issues, identity concerns, eating disorders, social skills deficits, stress-related disorders and/or management, sport and/or athletic competition matters, survivors of dysfunctional or abusive families and/or relationships, forensic evaluations and related issues, participants in the BDSM and/or polyamorous lifestyle, and coping with death, grief, or significant loss.

In addition to providing psychological assessment, individual psychotherapy, and group therapy, Dr. Mathis is an adjunct/part-time faculty at several local colleges, conducts seminars and workshops nationwide on a variety of topics, supervises other therapists, and has pioneered a new form of music-assisted therapy (M.A.TH.I.S.). Currently, he is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Psychologists Treating Addictions, the American College of Forensic Examiners, the National Association of Cognitive–Behavioral Therapists, the National Association of Forensic Counselors, the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology, the Prescribing Psychologists’ Register, the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists, the Georgia Psychological Association, and the Board of Directors of the ADACB-Ga., the member board in Georgia of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium — Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse.

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Donna L. Johnson, CAS, ICADC, ICCJP, ICCDP, LADC  Donna received her undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Criminal Justice Administration and Sociology with a minor in Psychology. She attended Nashville Law School and completed coursework at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School of Addiction Studies. She has also been trained by the Matrix Institute and the University of California Los Angeles on the Matrix Model of Treatment and provides specialized treatment for those with methamphetamine addiction.

She is a Certified Addiction Specialist with the American Academy of Healthcare Providers in Addictive Disorders, Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Internationally Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the International Consortium of Addiction and Prevention Credentialing Boards.

 Donna has over 25 years experience in the field of addiction and criminal justice. She has worked for the Tennessee Department of Corrections, Tennessee Board of Pardons and Paroles, Tennessee District Attorney General and worked 17 years for a 35 million dollar community public provider in Georgia, holding positions as Director of Substance Abuse Services and Deputy Director of Behavioral Health.

Donna has been a trainer/presenter for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Family and Children Services, Georgia Department of Corrections, multiple private organizations and has presented on numerous occasions for the annual conferences for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. She has also been a presenter for the Harvard School of Addiction Studies. She was invited to attend the first White House Conference on Mental Health where she participated in panel discussions on co-occurring disorders to develop best practices presented to SAMHSA and NIDA. She has also been a trainer/speaker for numerous universities, conferences, and other national addiction and drug court conferences.

She is currently CEO for Addiction Solutions of Georgia, Inc., a company specializing in the treatment of forensic addictions, methamphetamines for adults and adolescents. She also contracts with numerous drug courts and other agencies for consultation and training.

Donna is also serving as Chairperson for the Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional Committee for International Consortium of Addiction and Prevention Credentialing Boards. She works with national and international leaders in the fields of addiction and criminal justice to improve credentialing processes within the forensic addiction fields.

Donna also received the Addiction Professional of the Year Award in 2006 from the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium for outstanding achievements in the addiction profession.

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Elizabeth (Lizz) Toledo, LCSW, ICADC, CCS
Ms. Toledo is a 20 year veteran of the recovery field. Born in Costa Rica, she grew up in a poor inner city neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut. From a working class immigrant background, Lizz has a deep commitment to serving oppressed communities. Lizz has experience in developing & coordinating programs serving communities of color, the LGBT community and women. She also has extensive experience coordinating National, regional and local conferences and events.

She has worked as an HIV/AIDS counselor and activist, coordinated substance abuse programs for pregnant women, developed and coordinated domestic violence programs for batterers, developed and directed gang violence prevention programs and volunteered for sexual assault hotlines.

Currently Ms. Toledo serves as the Vice President and Ethics Committee Chair of the Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia (IC&RC). She also serves on several boards and committees to end Domestic Violence in Georgia. Strongly believing that hope for recovery from addictions, violence or other destructive behaviors is possible for all persons, Ms. Toledo serves on several committees to enhance treatment & prevention outcomes.

Ms. Toledo is the Executive Director of Angels Recovery, Inc. (501c3) in Forest Park, GA. Ms. Toledo presents on a variety of topics nationally and locally in an effort to fulfill the mission her mentors passed on to her. “Each One Teach One! Pass it on.”

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Since the early nineties, Diana has presented as an addiction expert at various conferences, universities and continuing education workshops. Both as a clinician and administrator, she has built a diversified addiction and mental health knowledge base within outpatient, hospital, correctional and residential settings.

It is through her professional experiences that she continues to dedicate and commit to promoting professional addiction competencies through advanced education and addiction certifications. She currently teaches at Argosy University of Atlanta, serves as the Publics Relations Chairperson on the Georgia Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification Board and is the President of the INSTITUTE for Clinical & Professional Development of Georgia (www.ICPDGA.com). She is an International Certified Advance Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICCAADC) and International Certified Clinical Supervisor (ICCS) through the Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia. Her most recent certification was through the Georgia Addiction Certification Board where she earned her CCS as a Certified Clinical Supervision. Currently, most of her evidence-based training involves providing education for counselors who are seeking certification as addiction counselors and clinical supervisors. Currently, she continues her advanced academic training through earning her PhD in Psychology where she is conducting her research in addiction clinical supervision and workforce development fro recovering professionals.

Clinically, Diana currently is the Founder and President of Kennesaw Psychotherapy Services. She works with diversified treatment problems, yet specializes in couple’s communication and family dynamics, women’s relationship issues, co-occurring disorders as well forensic sciences. Recently, she has become the Hero House Clinical Supervisor (www.HEROHOUSE.org ) of the only residential program in the country that exclusively serves college students who are early in recovery.

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Jennifer Brown, LMSW, ICAADC

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University in 2003 and completed her Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in the prevention and treatment of addictive diseases in 2008.

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University in 2003 and completed her Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in the prevention and treatment of addictive diseases in 2008.

She has worked in the field of substance abuse and dual disorders for more than five years. She is an Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor (ICAADC). Jennifer is employed by WellStar Health System as a counselor/behavioral health assessor. Her clinical experience has included extensive work in emergency and non-emergency assessments and referral services, as well as individual, family, and group therapy with children and adolescents suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and adjustment-related difficulties. Currently, Jennifer is the newsletter editor of the Georgia Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor Certification Board.

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Marianella Alvarado-Michel, BS, CADC, ICADC has been in the United States for 13 years and received a B.S. degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University. While at KSU, Ms. Alvarado-Michel participated in an eight-month practicum seminar at the Psychiatric Stabilization Unit of WellStar Hospital.  Ms. Alvarado-Michel has worked as an alcohol and drug counselor for eight years and also specializes in the treatment of other addictions, such as compulsive sexual behaviors.

She served as the program coordinator of a non-profit organization that served the Hispanic Community that provided recovery to patients with substance abuse problems. Three years ago she opened her private practice called the Quality of Life Care Center, which provides ASAM Level I substance abuse treatment, as well as sexual addiction and codependency groups for males and females and their families in the Atlanta and Marietta areas.  

Ms. Alvarado-Michel participated in the 10 month co-occurring disorders training sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources. She also had the honor to participate in the Leadership Institute promoted by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTC). Ms. Alvarado-Michel is one of the members of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (IC&RC/AODA). She is also a member of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH).

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