Nicole leads a team of passionate, experienced writers, editors and other contributors to create and share accurate, trustworthy information about drug and alcohol addiction, treatment and recovery for The Recovery Village and all Advanced Recovery Systems sites. She is a graduate of the...

As the content manager at Advanced Recovery Systems, Melissa Carmona puts years of writing and editing experience to work helping people understand substance abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. Melissa is a Florida State University graduate with bachelor’s & master’s...

Jonathan Strum graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with a Bachelor's in Communication in 2017 and has been writing professionally ever since. He has written, edited and published content for health care professionals, educators, real estate agents, lawyers and high-level university...

Erika Krull has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and has been a freelance writer since 2006. She is a healthcare writer specializing in mental health content for professional training modules, blogs, and websites. Her writing has been featured on Mindcology.com and...

Dr. Jessica Pyhtila is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland with practice sites in inpatient palliative care and outpatient primary care at the Department of Veteran Affairs. She is a double board-certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and a Pharmacotherapy Specialist...

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited,...

Kevin Wandler is the chief medical officer at Advanced Recovery Systems. With more than 30 years of experience in addiction medicine, Kevin ensures that the latest research-based techniques in addiction treatment are being used. He is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is...

A dynamic leader and award-winning business strategist, Nanci Stockwell brings years of industry experience in behavioral health care to her role at Advanced Recovery Systems. As chief clinical and education officer, she develops and implements effective, evidence-based programs of care for...

Jenni Jacobsen is a licensed social worker through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. She has seven years of experience working in the social work field, working with clients with addiction-related and mental health diagnoses.  Jenni is also a school...

Kate Dubé is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and health writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of California, Berkeley and has worked as a researcher and clinician at the University of California, San Francisco for...

Benjamin Caleb Williams is a board-certified Emergency Nurse with several years of clinical experience, including supervisory roles within the ICU and ER settings. He obtained his Associates in Applied Science in Nursing from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, then went on to obtain...

Erica Weiman graduated from Pace University in 2014 with a master's in Publishing and has been writing and editing ever since. She has written and edited content across many niches, including psychology and mental health, health and wellness, food, technology, and workplace culture. She is...

Paula Holmes is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist and freelance writer who lives and works in midcoast Maine. She received her master's degree in Social Work in 2008 from the University of Maine. With over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, she is always amazed...

Rachel Loukas received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Montana in 2010 and later went on to earn her Associates in Human Services with a focus in addiction treatment and prevention. She has a diverse professional background that includes medication therapy management, clinical...

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider (CACP). Since...

Danielle is licensed clinical social worker, currently living and practicing in central Connecticut. Danielle graduated from Columbia University in 2012 with a Masters of Social Work, and always had the goal of opening her own private practice. She specializes in women's issues, maternal health...

Abby Doty graduated from Hamline University in 2021 with a Bachelor's in English and Psychology. She has written and edited creative and literary work as well as academic pieces focused primarily on psychology and mental health. She is passionate about removing the stigma around mental health and...

Elizabeth Cambria, PharmD is a licensed, registered pharmacist and certified pharmacist immunizer. She is a 2004 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. She has more than 21 years of experience in community pharmacy and patient consultations. Elizabeth is passionate about...

Michelle Giordano has been a licensed pharmacist in New York State for nearly two decades. She received her doctorate in pharmacology from St. John’s University, where she earned an academic merit scholarship throughout the course of her studies. She has worked in the pharmacy retail...

Leila Khurshid is a clinical pharmacist based in Denver, CO. After graduating from Regis University with her Doctor of Pharmacy, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT where she continued to practice for a number of years. During this time, she became...

Theresa Valenzky graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Arts in News/Mass Media Communication and a certificate in psychology. She is passionate about providing genuine information to encourage and guide healing in all aspects of life. Through her experience as a community news...

Sara Graff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She also has earned a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development from Webster...