Lloyd Vacovsky
Director
Lloyd Vacovsky co-founded Assisted Recovery in 1996 as the first private
Treatment Program in the United States to recognize the value of the medication
naltrexone in the battle against Alcohol Dependence. Lloyd serves as Director
for the American Council
on Alcoholism.
Vacovsky says: "When
we first started ARCA ten years ago, I believed that naltrexone would soon
become a standard part of the alcoholism treatment process, and I was surprised
when it didn't catch on more quickly. But it is gratifying to see that with
the recent addition of Campral® in the market, that it's finally getting
some of the attention it deserves. And with Vivitrex® (the injectable
form of naltrexone which provides a 30-day timed-release dose) soon to be
available, we hope to see even more public awareness of this extremely effective
and helpful medical option. That can only result in better success rates
and greater incentives for the development of other pharmacological options
to help address the physical aspects of other addictions."
Recovery is different from being 'in recovery.' Recovery means that the
individual is no longer alcohol-dependent. It means that when the individual
wakes up in the morning, alcohol is not an issue, and that it is not an
issue the entire waking day. Being 'in recovery' means that the individual
must maintain his or her complete focus on maintaining abstinence, and putting
up with the emotional and physical discomfort associated with achieving
sobriety. Recovery is that point when alcohol is no longer the primary focus
of life. Indeed, it means that the individual can proceed through the day,
constantly bombarded by elements of the alcohol world, and not have a problem."
Emmett Velten, PhD.
Clinical Director
Emmett Velten, PhD,
holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a PhD in psychology
from the University of Southern California. His dissertation produced the
Velten Mood Induction Procedure, which is widely used in research on mood
states.
Dr. Velten has been Clinical School Psychologist with the Memphis City Schools, Staff Psychologist in the Division of Gastroenteritis of the University of Alabama School of Medicine, and Chief Psychologist at Yuma County Behavioral Health Services in Arizona. In San Francisco, for fifteen years he was Clinical Development Director of Bay Area Addiction Research & Treatment (BAART) and California Detoxification Programs. He was an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at California Pacific Medical Center and an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco. See his Private Practice site.
Dr. Velten is a past president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Board of Professional Advisors of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York, and editor of the SMART Recovery® News & Views newsletter.
Samuel C. Walker,
NMD, PC
Medical Director
Also known
as "Dr. Sam" to his patients, he has been in private family practice
for eight years and the Assisted Recovery staff physician for over five
years. Seeing literally hundreds of ARCA clients, he firmly believes that
alcohol dependence is a multi-faceted illness that requires treatment of
the psycho/social issues, as well as the physical aspects of the addiction.
Dr. Walker says: "Medication isn't a cure
all; however, it does give the patient a fighting chance to succeed at abstinence.
so that he or she can now begin to address the complex psychological and
social issues of recovery."
Diogo Machado, BS,
BHT
Substance Abuse Counselor
Diogo Machado comes to us from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
where he was a Clinical Psychologist with Clinical
Jorge Jaber, which is one of the preeminent alcohol and drug treatment
programs in South America.
Diogo is a recognized expert in Motivational
Interviewing and has been working in the field of alcohol and substance
abuse addictions for nine years. He also served as the Director of International
Affairs for the Brazilian Association for Alcoholism and Drugs.
Diogo, along with ARCA Director Lloyd Vacovsky were instrumental in helping
to establish the Brazilian branch of SMART
Recovery as an option for Brazilians seeking recovery. Diogo is a strong
advocate of pharmacotherapy and the utilization of safe, effective medications
to assist in the recovery process.
Diogo says: "this program helps those who were not successful with other treatment approaches."
Terri Rogers, MS
Program Manager
For the past four years, Terri Rogers has been ARCA's Program/Office Manager. In addition
to keeping the office running smoothly, she "womans'' the telephones...
and you will find her to be gracious, knowledgeable and very helpful with
any questions you may have.
Terri says: "I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to see the positive changes in people soon after they enter the ARCA program. They see the light at the end of the tunnel, start smiling and begin to embrace life again. After four years, I remain convinced of the efficacy of the ARCA treatment protocols."
Contact Assisted Recovery today at
(602) 264-7897 or toll free (800) 527-5344
