Licensed psychologist Stevie Stanford, PhD, joins Promises P.A.T.H addiction and mental health treatment center as clinical director. Austin, TX (PRWEB) Aug. 26, 2014 – Promises Austin addiction treatment center is proud to welcome licensed psychologist Stevie Stanford, PhD, as Clinical Director. In this role, she will help expand the center’s dedicated trauma treatment program. Stanford earned her doctorate in counseling psychology and master’s degree in community counseling from Northern Arizona University. While working on her doctorate, Stanford developed a measurement tool called the EDAM (Eating Disorder Assessment for Men) to help measure eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia and body image issues in men. She has worked in community mental health, working with individuals, couples and families, doing both psychotherapy and psychological testing. She specializes in trauma, family therapy and working with the LGBTQ population. She also has experience working with court-mandated adults with substance abuse, adolescents with emotional and learning disabilities, and individuals with serious mental illness. Stanford has an extensive background in trauma resolution, particularly with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Drawing from this knowledge, Stanford will expand the trauma program at Promises P.A.T.H. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Stevie Stanford to the Promises P.A.T.H team,” said Ilana Zivkovich, Executive Director at Promises P.A.T.H. “With her years of experience in EMDR and focusing in on the impact of trauma, we know she will round out the services already being provided and enable the team to best meet the needs of all the clients we serve.” In addition to her extensive experience as a trauma specialist and EMDR practitioner, Stanford brings a wealth of knowledge as a certified Clinical Supervisor in a dual diagnosis residential treatment setting. Having worked as a Clinical Director in residential programs, her strengths also lie in clinical enrichment, program management and curriculum development and she will bring this experience to the role of Clinical Director at Promises P.A.T.H. “I truly believe that trauma is an underlying factor in most substance abuse issues,” Stanford said. “These issues can be from a dysfunctional family system, childhood trauma, unresolved grief, abuse, combat-related trauma or a single-incident trauma such as a car accident or witnessing a traumatic incident. In order to move into a healthy life of recovery, it is essential to resolve trauma wounds from our past and to develop trauma resiliency.” As Stanford takes on the role of Clinical Director, Ilana Zivkovich, who has overseen the clinical and programmatic enhancements of the facility in recent years, moves into the role of Executive Director. Zivkovich is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed chemical dependency counselor, and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator in training to become a consultant in that work. Her passion, experience and dedication have been integral to the success of the program and the clients and families it serves.
About Promises Treatment Centers
Promises Treatment Centers in Malibu, CA, West Los Angeles, CA, and Austin, TX are among the nation’s premier addiction treatment centers. Led by some of the country’s leading addiction specialists, Promises has built an international reputation for innovative addiction treatment and exceptional service. Whether an individual requires detox, residential drug rehab, outpatient treatment, extended care or a sober living environment, Promises has been a drug rehabilitation center of choice for more than 25 years. For more information about Promises Treatment Centers, call (866) 285-9441 or visit www.promises.com. Promises Treatment Centers is part of Elements Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral health care programs that also includes The Ranch, The Sexual Recovery Institute, The Recovery Place, Right Step, the Sundance Center, Lucida Treatment Center and Clarity Way. Elements offers comprehensive, innovative treatment for substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, eating disorders, and other mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering clinically sophisticated treatment that promotes permanent lifestyle change, not only for the patient but for the entire family system. For more information about Elements Behavioral Health, visit www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com.