Jacqueline Hoagland, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been working in the mental health field since 2006. She has extensive experience working with a broad range of populations including foster youth, adolescents, adults diagnosed with schizophrenia and other severe mental health disorders, as well as individuals struggling with substance use. Jacqueline has worked in several settings throughout her years including providing in-home services; however, has always been drawn to the residential setting given her own experience as a late teen.
Jacqueline earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2007. Her early experience was as a school social worker for 6th and 7th graders. After moving out West to set new roots, she had the opportunity to work with foster youth in a group home setting. Partnered with a non-profit organization, Jacqueline created a 6 month workforce development program to provide foster youth aging out of the system experience working in a café setting. In 2009 she began working for a county contracted program who served adults diagnosed with a severe mental illness. It was here that she found her passion working with clients experiencing psychosis and truly learned to meet a client “where they are.” For the next decade, Jacque helped start and run residential facilities for adults struggling with substance use and primary mental health disorders. She has always maintained a small private practice and had the plan to transition this into a full time role; however this changed after meeting the founders of The Arrow House. What started off as a tour of the facility quickly led to her falling in love with the philosophy and the small family feel. It was an honor when they asked her to join as Clinical Director and several months after as their Executive Director.
Jacqueline feels strongly about clinicians never pushing their own agenda onto a client, but rather helping clients find their truth and their dreams and desires. She mostly pulls from DBT, CBT and narrative therapy and is also trained in EMDR.

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, founder of The Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of “Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others,” has over three decades of experience working with trauma survivors across diverse groups globally. She’s a pioneer in trauma exposure and serves on advisory boards for organizations supporting girls in sports and resilience networks addressing climate change. Additionally, she’s an associate producer of the acclaimed film “A Lot Like You” and author of “The Age of Overwhelm: Strategies for the Long Haul.”

Dr. Kathryn Held, a Psychological Associate and CADC III, serves as an individual therapist and OCD Specialist at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers. Bringing over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Kathryn focuses on treating disorders within the anxiety spectrum, particularly within intricate family systems. She possesses specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as SPACE, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. Kathryn is also adept at working with the LGBTQIA+ community. Notably, her prior research delved into a language analysis of adolescent suicide notes, exploring themes of punitiveness.
Well-regarded for her relational and artistic approach, Kathryn strives to support, educate, and empower her clients. Before joining the Visions team, she gained valuable experience in diverse treatment settings, including detox, sober living, and as the Program Director of a dual diagnosis outpatient treatment center.

Dr. Murphy has more than 15 years of experience working in the addiction services industry, with training in SMART Recovery and Motivational Interviewing.

APA and CCAPP certified to provide continued education on the Neurobiology of Addiction and The Use of Exposure Therapy in Addiction Services, Dr. Murphy has facilitated trainings at professional conferences, clinics, and in hospitals over the last 15 years. Along the same lines, Dr. Murphy has supervised both predoctoral students and postdoc clinicians, with broad experience in curriculum development.

Dr. Murphy has completed more than 5000 psychological assessments, highlighting his expertise in diagnosis and treatment planning.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Dr. Murphy completed his graduate studies at the California School of Professional Psychology, completing his dissertation studies on addiction disorders. Licensed via the Board of Psychology in California (PSY 23323).

A parent to two young children, Dr. Murphy spends most of his free time bending over to pick up random toys. Otherwise, Dr. Murphy is an avid sports fan and particularly enjoys watching hockey during downtime.

Ashley is the National Executive Director of Mission Connection, the outpatient extension of AMFM Healthcare’s compassion-driven, evidence-based, clinical program. In her role she oversees multiple teams in WA, CA, and VA, who provide IOP services, both in person and virtually. Her leadership skills are focused on compassion, trust, safety, and inclusivity. Being a licensed clinician first, Ashley derives her leadership skills from being a therapist, ensuring connection and understanding of each team member she supports. Ashley ensures that the quality of care at Mission Connection never waivers. Quality of care is at the utmost importance of her role. Some of the core values Ashley focuses on at Mission Connection are innovation, integrative care, compassion, and connection. Ashley’s journey in the helping profession began as an ABA therapist. She has gained experience working in non-profit organizations working with foster youth in various settings. Ashley then joined AMFM Healthcare in 2019 as a residential level of care therapist. During her time as a therapist at AMFM, she identified a key area of care that was missing, which was identified as continued care. This lead to assisting in developing Mission Connection, outpatient services at AMFM Healthcare.

Stefan holds a master’s degree in applied psychology from Regis University, is a licensed addiction counselor in the state of Colorado, and has specific interests in addiction treatment, trauma informed care, mindfulness practice, dialectic behavioral therapy, clinical supervision and 12-step facilitation. In his professional career, he has had the privilege of working with men in recovery as a coach, therapist, and executive director. Currently Stefan is serving as the Chief of Clinical Operations at Jaywalker Lodge in Carbondale, CO.

Tiq speaks and writes about intersectional leadership, transgender rights, and racial justice. He shares stories of his life and how his transgender experience has informed his views on masculinity, race, and the gender binary. A journalist for over a decade, his work has appeared on MIC, Buzzfeed, NBC and CNN. He is also a strategic media consultant helping organizations and companies create detailed media campaigns that will engage diverse audiences in ways that are inclusive and authentic.

Nicole Wendel is the Education Director at Visions Teen Treatment Center and The Arrow House Teen Treatment Center. Outside of providing supervision for Educators at Visions and at The Arrow House, she works closely with students, families, schools, and clinicians to integrate education and advocacy into teen treatment. Nikki specializes in helping students regain confidence in the classroom by offering creative learning opportunities and implementing individualized student goals.She aims to assess creative ways to support student’s education and guides families through finding the appropriate learning environment when students graduate from treatment.

Nikki has her Master's in Education from the University of Missouri. She is currently pursuing her Master's and License in Professional Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Nikki has presented seminars to parents and educators on the intersection of education and teen clinical treatment. She specializes in educating parents and educators on topics related to education advocacy and student learning disabilities and teaching parents how to communicate with schools to support their child’s needs.

Dr. Kevin Simonson, board-certified psychiatrist, received his MD from the University of California, Irvine and completed psychiatry residency at the Long Beach VA and the University of California, Riverside. He has additional training in TMS, ketamine therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, integrative psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychedelic therapy. Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Kevin enjoys surfing, yoga, playing the guitar, and mindfulness meditation.

After a successful 20-year career in business, Stephanie seamlessly transitioned into the fulfilling realm of therapy, driven by her passion for supporting adolescents and children. Throughout her journey, Stephanie dedicated her time to working with teens in an adolescent treatment center, wearing multiple hats from recovery coach to recovery counselor, ultimately evolving into her current role as an individual therapist. Amidst this professional evolution, Stephanie diligently pursued her master's program, combining academic rigor with practical experience. Today, she stands as a dedicated practitioner, specializing in trauma therapy. Stephanie's therapeutic philosophy embraces a person-centered and eclectic approach, reflecting her commitment to tailoring interventions to the unique needs of each individual she serves. Her transformative career trajectory underscores her unwavering dedication to fostering healing and resilience in the lives of those she guides on their therapeutic journey. Beyond her professional pursuits, Stephanie finds joy in her personal life with her partner of 17 years, three grown daughters, and 6-year old grandson. Outside the therapy room, she and her partner share a love for adventure and nature, often finding solace and joy in hiking together. Stephanie embodies a holistic approach to life, valuing both the intricacies of human connection and the beauty found in the natural world.

Dr. Gold earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from William James College and completed a specialized concentration in neuropsychology. He completed his pre-doctoral residency at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Neuropsychology program, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Gold’s training has included various settings, including school-based mental health programs, outpatient clinics, the veteran’s healthcare system, academic medical centers, and psychiatric hospital programs. Dr. Gold works with adults across the lifespan, with specialties in psychiatric neuropsychology, neurodevelopmental neuropsychology, medical neuropsychology, and rehabilitation psychology. Blending a developmental framework and expertise in neuropsychology, Dr. Gold strives to understand the larger whole of his patients and partner with them to identify areas for meaningful growth.

As a therapist, Dr. Gold primarily practices using principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in conjunction with systems theory and mindfulness practices. In pulling on his neuropsychology expertise, Dr. Gold emphasizes educating patients on the intricacies of their unique neuroanatomy to help them understand unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior and guides them in their journey to identify better ones. He focuses on treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, sleep, and cognitive disorders. He is also certified in CBT for insomnia and has completed training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Heather Russo earned her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and is an MFT and certified as an Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor. Heather draws on her 16 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare industry developing and leading strategic planning initiatives to improve organizational health and client outcomes.

Brittany Cohen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over a decade of experience specializing in adolescent behavioral healthcare. Holding the position of Vice President at Ascend Healthcare, a renowned company focused on adolescent behavioral health, Brittany spearheads the clinical vision and oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization.

With a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC), Brittany has honed her expertise through years of hands-on experience. Prior to her current role, she served as a therapist and clinical director for various programs, gaining invaluable insights into the needs of adolescents and their families.

At Ascend Healthcare, Brittany oversees the development and implementation of diagnostically niche programs tailored to meet the complex needs of adolescents and their families.

Shelby Becker is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelors in Nutrition and Dietetics from California State University, Northridge. Shelby completed her Dietetic Internship at the West Los Angeles Veteran Affairs, rotating in two eating disorder outpatient group practices. While there, she found her passion for supporting people in bettering their relationship with food, movement and their bodies.

Prior to Polaris, Shelby worked extensively with clients suffering from eating disorders/ disordered eating in both a residential treatment center as well as in outpatient settings. She is HAES informed, client centered and guides her practice with an all foods fit approach. She aims to help clients with: intuitive eating (when appropriate); regaining body trust; connecting to hunger and fullness cues; weight restoration/and or maintenance; identifying and addressing food rules; and rejecting diet culture.

Shelby is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Professionals.

Alyson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of clinical experience in a variety of settings, including residential treatment, private practice, and community-based mental health. She is trained in multiple evidenced-based practices including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness. She has worked extensively in residential treatment, both in administrative and clinical roles, and has come to specialize in the treatment of adolescents with emotion dysregulation and suicidal behaviors.

Before stepping into the role of Executive Clinical Director for all Evolve Treatment Centers, Alyson had the privilege of developing and launching Evolve Vanalden, the first residential comprehensive DBT program for teens in the state of California and one of only a handful in the country. As the Clinical Program Director at Vanalden, Alyson managed all clinical and administrative aspects of the program, supervised the associate therapists on staff, and facilitated DBT skills training groups. Alyson is a respected leader in Comprehensive DBT Residential Programming for Adolescents.

As Executive Clinical Director for Evolve, Alyson’s mission is to strengthen and improve every aspect of Evolve's clinical standards and practices. This includes enhancing the role of DBT skills training in all Evolve programs by ensuring clinical staff have the appropriate training, resources, experience, and mentorship to implement skills training in a way that helps clients most effectively. Alyson is committed to data-driven, evidence-based treatment, and works with Evolve’s clinical teams to document and publish treatment outcome data for all Evolve programs.

ANDREA POLARD, M.A., PSYD, # 17098 | CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Andrea F. Polard first became a psychologist in Germany at the Freie University of Berlin in 1993. Besides working in research at her Alma Mater, she enjoyed working with multi-symptomatic children, adolescents, and their families for various District offices of Berlin. When she immigrated to the U.S. in 1994, she had to get her second MA degree in Counseling Psychology and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Ryokan College (1998). For two years, Dr. Polard worked in convalescent homes and halfway houses, where she was trained in various methods of psychological and neuroscience testing. She also worked at the Primal Institute for three years, where she conducted group and individual therapy with trauma survivors. Yearning to work more holistically, she subsequently underwent diverse training included in CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Therapy, Mindfulness, and Mind/Body work. In 2012, she founded the Los Angeles Center for Zen Psychology, where she saw multisymptomatic clients who sought to heal and grow. Since 2020, Dr. Polard has joined the team at Paradigm Treatment Center, Malibu, where she assesses adolescents and young adults with the help of a personality test (MMPI), and, as needed, with an autism test battery (e.g., ADOS) and intelligence tests (WAIS/WISC). She loves diagnostics and positive psychology and has given several courses on the subject. Dr. Polard enjoys writing articles (Psychology Today) and non-fiction books (e.g., A Unified Theory of Happiness).

Jennifer Moriarty graduated in 2013 from Loyola Marymount University with her Master’s in Counseling. In an effort to continue her education, she enrolled in the Addictive Disorders Program at Oxnard College. She will graduate from the program in Fall 2019. Jennifer loves working at Avalon and feels at home within this wonderful community.

Born and raised in Orange County CA, Jennifer Moriarty discovered her passion for helping others early on. Her involvement in child-centered charitable organizations prompted her to focus her undergraduate work in Early Childhood Education.

Her post-graduate work allowed her to continue her passion by obtaining a Master’s in Counseling with a focus on Mental Health from Loyola Marymount University. Her dedication to the service of others recently prompted her to earn an Addictive Disorders Certificate, to better serve those struggling with addiction.

Jennifer is originally from Orange County and recently moved to Camarillo. She is happily married to her husband Brian, and they adore raising their spirited 5-year-old daughter Sarah.

Jennifer is committed to treating the whole person and is passionate about supporting others on their journey toward living their best life.

Aja is currently the National Executive Director of Adolescent services at AMFM Healthcare, where she oversees the development and implementation of the adolescent residential behavioral and mental health programs. In her role, she continually strengthens the organization’s infrastructure, supervises personnel, and enforces organizational and regulatory policies and procedures, while also liaising with business development, admissions, utilization review, and finance.
In 2012, she began her career working as a residential and outpatient provider for adolescents with Newport Academy. Following her passion for helping those in need, Aja began her private practice in Newport Beach, CA in 2016. Aja is an EMDR-trained Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) & Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).
Aja is originally from upstate New York and attended the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York where she received a bachelor’s degree in education. She pursued a career as an educator and eventually transitioned to working in higher education for the State University of New York. She later went on to receive her Master’s in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton and currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.