Chad Williams Executive Director

Chad Williams studied abroad at the University of Melbourne Australia and the University of Sterling Scotland while earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology as a graduate from Albion College, Michigan. A transplant from the Midwest, Chad moved to California from Michigan to pursue his career. Chad’s passion for psychology led him to work as a mental health intern at various Michigan State run institutions performing intake assessments, suicide assessments and facilitating various groups.

Arriving in California, he worked as a behavioral specialist, supervising daily operations for a highly structured Crisis Care residential treatment center, focusing on teaching children cognitive and social strategies. With over 10 years of experience in the industry Chad continued his passion by working for several drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities in Southern California. Chad enjoys the great outdoors to the fullest with his chocolate lab who loves hiking, mountain biking and swimming.

Dr. Akashdeep Gill, MD Medical Director Psychiatrist

Dr. Akashdeep Gill is a board certified psychiatrist practicing in the Los Angeles area specializing in both addiction and general psychiatry. He has had the opportunity to train and practice in multiple clinical settings across the Los Angeles area including UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Olive View County Hospital and the Veteran Affairs medical centers. Personally, he has worked with and feels comfortable with patients from a variety of backgrounds and history.

His beliefs reflect his understanding that mental illness and addiction can be extremely difficult and painful. He acknowledges and understands that not everyone is the same and that a comprehensive diagnosis and flexible treatment plan are important to successful recovery. He believes in comprehensive care with a focus on the integration of evidence based pharmacology and psychotherapy specific to patient needs. Currently he works with Restore Health and Wellness Center as the staff psychiatrist.

Following graduation from Kent State University, he received his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He then completed his Psychiatry Residency at the UCLA – San Fernando Valley Program and graduated from the UCLA – Cedars Sinai Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship.

Darin Bennett Clinical Director

Darin Bennett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, understanding treatment and addiction from both an educational as well as experiential perspective. He is a passionate clinician, believing that every single person possesses the necessary internal resources to change. He leads the treatment team, motivating clinicians and clients alike to rise to the challenge of recovery and face and process everything while in treatment.

He has worked in treatment for over a decade and has been continuously in his own recovery since 1994. “Treatment is not about providing clients information about addiction and recovery, it is about providing a safe and contained environment to foster the transformation from despairing to hopeful, from broken to healed.” Darin heads and directs the clinical staff, charging them each day to hone their practice and to provide optimal care to each and every single client.

Vinsent Franke Program Director

Vinsent Franke is a Los Angeles local who discovered the passion of his life by bringing healing to people who have been through traumatic and stressful life events. Vinsent believes there is no single approach to recovery. Helping people create healthy perceptions of themselves to strengthen their relationships is an art. Utilizing past experiences as a martial artist and teacher, along with his education as a substance abuse counselor/coach/interventionist and pastor, assists Vinsent in helping his clients learn healthy forms of self-rediscovery.

Self-rediscovery is where the true adventure is, according to Vinsent. As a long-standing member within the recovery community, his work in the field began over 12 years ago. Utilizing his own experience with recovery, Vinsent shares his experience successfully with those in need and is very comfortable working with all people looking for a new path. Finding ways to create new mental, emotional, physical and spiritual experiences with people is what recovery is truly about.

Saba Kerendian Primary Therapist

Saba Kerendian is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her education from Phillips Graduate University with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and an emphasis in school counseling. Saba brings with her the knowledge and experience of working with children and adolescents struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in the Glendale School District.

She holds a positive, warm, and accepting environment for all her clients to build a trusting therapeutic alliance. She gravitates towards a narrative therapeutic approach aiming to guide clients who struggle with addiction and underlying emotional issues to develop a strong support system and healthy coping skills to aid them in their recovery. With a strong passion for helping her clients recognize their strengths, Saba hopes to empower clients to create a positive change in their lives.

Rachel Ashby Primary Therapist

Rachel Ashby received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University in Los Angeles, CA. Ms. Ashby also received advanced education and training in Spiritual Depth Psychology, Self-Psychology, Transpersonal and Transcultural Psychology, and Relational and Intersubjective Psychology. Ms. Ashby has received further education and training in trauma, dynamics of addiction, and eating disorders and Attachment Theory. Ms. Ashby has completed intensive education in France, focusing on the intersection of Buddhism and Psychotherapy.

Prior to joining Restore Treatment LA, Ms. Ashby worked as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist in community mental health providing long-term psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families. Ms. Ashby has been trained in Crisis Management, Immediate Intervention, Suicide Assessment and Prevention, and weaves her extensive education and experience into customizing individualized treatment for client’s who struggle with addiction, addictive behaviors and mental health needs.

As a clinician, Ms. Ashby’s goal is to provide a corrective emotional experience, leading to corrective relational experiences. With empathy, compassion and understanding, Ms. Ashby adds tremendous value to the Restore team by helping her clients build a cohesive self, self-understanding, and self-compassion as clients continue their healing journey.

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Nicole Shoumer Primary Therapist

Nicole Shoumer is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, having received her master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles, with an emphasis in spirituality and depth. Nicole possesses a substantial amount of knowledge in and passion for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She also received in depth psychodynamic training at Airport Marina Counseling.

Having worked with a wide array of people, from those struggling with addictions to those with severe anxiety and Schizophrenia, Nicole offers comprehensive knowledge of the unique challenges individuals face in their day to day lives. Being an adaptable therapist is important to Nicole, as she finds it necessary to tailor herself to the needs of each client and meet everyone where they are at emotionally. Nicole is able to hold a safe and secure environment, where one may feel understood and at ease in her presence.

Rick Hagaman Recoveryfit

Rick Hagaman has provided his elite fitness and wellness services to individuals and corporate groups since 2006. He has utilized this success and experience along with over 18 years of active recovery to create the Recoveryfit program. “Early on, I was lucky enough to realize just how essential fitness and exercise was to my recovery. Sometimes it was the only thing between me and a drink. I developed this unique program in an effort to share the gift of fitness with others suffering from addiction who are searching for tools to stay clean and sober.

Recoveryfit is an expertly crafted group fitness program presented in alignment with the 12 Steps and 12 principles of recovery. This innovative program elevates the emotional well-being of clients through exercise; consequently, increasing the chances of long-term recovery from addiction. Recoveryfit centers on the often-neglected PHYSICAL COMPONENT of recovery by providing the valuable tool of fitness to people struggling through the early months of the recovery process.

Safe and effective exercise is universally beneficial for all who do it; however, Recoveryfit’s comprehensive fitness program is especially beneficial to those individuals recovering from addiction:

• Produces endorphins (similar to drugs)
• Partially replaces cravings for drugs and alcohol
• Exercise may reduce withdrawal symptoms
• One can start developing healthy habits to replace ones which have been destructive
• Feel better and look better; increasing your self esteem
• If I have low self-esteem, my mind tells me I might as well drink
• Exercise can slow down the alcoholic mind for a period of time
• Creates a special bond and camaraderie within the group

Clients experience recovery at the physical level through this one-of-a-kind exercise program, creating a paradigm shift not only for recovery, but also for fitness and exercise.

Isis Andino Case Manager

Isis Andino’s name certainly captures people’s attention. Isis was appropriately named for the Egyptian goddess, Isis, goddess of healing and rebirth, and that is exactly what she does with her clients. Isis has worked in various aspects of recovery, has personal experience with both substance abuse and finding recovery at a young age. She is especially skilled in working with those in early recovery and those struggling with the mixed emotions of being away from family.

Isis’ engaging presence allows her to quickly establish trust and rapport, safety and a sense of vulnerability, and brings empathy, respect, and non-judgment to her clients. It is these qualities that help restore hope and motivate clients to reach for the healing and rebirth her name represents.

Liana Pogosyan Case Manager

Liana first began her journey with Restore Health and wellness as a technician and quickly worked her way to shift lead. Showing exemplary ability, she has now taken on a new position in case management. Believing in the process of recovery herself, she leads by example, pushing herself to new challenges and higher limits. Liana enjoys helping clients by empowering them to take back their lives and work with the strengths of each client to better themselves.

Liana has completed the addiction studies program at Pierce College and is on an academic venture to becoming a licensed therapist in the near future. Liana takes recovery very seriously she has compassion for our clients and takes pride in her part with Restore because she feels no job is neither too big nor too small to help our clients thrive.

Shannon Hall Clinical Services Coordinator

From his own life experience with Trauma and recovery from Drugs and Alcohol abuse, Shannon has discovered his passion and purpose to serve those that are in the grip of active addiction, to take the journey with the broken and hopeless addict to a place of hope and healing, to foster the belief that any addict can and does recover.

Shannon started his career of counseling in 2005 with troubled youth. He has accomplished certification and continues to strive for a higher level of education/understanding of addiction, so that he can be the most effective servant/counselor possible.