Staff Bios
Alisha Adrian Executive Director
Owner of Rites of Passage LLC and The Phoenix Rising Programs Residential Extended Care Program and the Intensive Outpatient Programs for both co-ed adults and Teens.
I am a transpersonal counselor/psychotherapist, life coach, healer and artist. I have done extensive transpersonal (mind/body/spirit) work as well as trauma/PTSD work and I also have extensive experience as a dual-diagnosis counselor working with substance and eating disorder issues that stem from trauma. I have a masters in counseling psychology, a certification in transpersonal counseling, a certification in equine assisted psychotherapy and life coaching, LPC licensure in the state of Colorado and am a first level Reiki practitioner and certified in the healing modality Jin Shin TARA. I have spent many years working with shamanistic and energy healing modalities. I engage clients in all types of transpersonal work including art therapy, dream therapy, ceremony and self-growth.
All of the types of therapy and coaching that I engage in are experiential therapy modalities because I have found that when a person engages their body/mind and spirit together in a session, more is synthesized and integrated allowing breakthroughs to occur quickly and learning or relearning that they engage in allows clients to begin to use this new knowledge immediately as opposed to strictly cognitive based counseling, which can take weeks, months or years without any significant results being made.
My work is very diverse because I utilize all of my experience as well as everyone else on the staffs to find what works for each client who comes into our program to excel and focus upon what she needs to achieve her goals.
Janet Switzer LPC, LAC, MAC, DVAP
I work with individuals, couples, children and adolescents. My specialties include trauma and abuse, domestic violence, communication issues, addictions, grief and loss, and wellness.
I have been trained in EMDR. I am a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. I provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Addictions Counseling.. Additionally, I have an undergraduate degree in Health & Human Performance and work towards emotional, spiritual and physical balance.
I am approved by DVOMB as a full Offender Provider for the State of Colorado.
Jennifer Berger Life Coach/Group Leader/ Equine Specialist
Jenn has an extensive background with horses, as she was raised on an Arabian horse breeding farm. She was involved in all aspects of running the farm from a young age. She was active in her local 4-H group teaching non-owners about horses and participating in horse judging competitions. Although she competed in horse shows at all levels, she discovered her love of training horses as well as rescuing and rehabilitating abused animals in her early youth.
She uses this inherent knowledge in her work as an Equine Specialist, teaching others not only horse safety, but the ability to understand, learn from, and communicate with the horses. Jenn also provides riding lessons to clients of all levels of experience, from those who have never been on a horse to those who are advanced riders.
As a graduate of the Rites of Passage program, Jenn offers a unique perspective to clients in her work as both a psych tech and life coach. Her deep understanding of program materials, discernment of psychology, and life experience allow Jenn to co-facilitate group sessions with significant impact.
Jenn has passed the required State exam to register as a therapist. Jenn is currently working toward her goal of getting a Masters in Counseling so she may continue helping people transform their lives in a healthy way, as she has. Jenn has also been certified by the State of Colorado as a QMAP, allowing her to administer medications to clients, when necessary.
Chanel Heermann, MD
Chanel Heermann, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist who personally understands the importance living of a balanced, authentic life. She founded SynerGenius to empower individuals to create health and happiness by developing harmony in their lives. Her interest in these powerful techniques was inspired by her own efforts to create more peace and presence in her daily life.
Dr. Heermann received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and went on to complete her psychiatry residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dr. Heermann was one of the first 121 physicians in the world certified by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Graduate of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine's fellowship program, Dr. Heermann is board certified in both Psychiatry and Integrative-Holistic Medicine. She serves on the faculty of Saybrook University's College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences and as guest faculty at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Heermann is an expert in women's mental health, with extensive training in a variety of natural approaches, including the advanced nutrient therapies taught by the Walsh Research Institute, and the effective use of multi-nutrient formulas, such as those offered by Truehope and others. She is certified in Mind-Body Medicine and has also completed substantial training in the cutting-edge fields of positive psychology and collaborative communication.
Dr. Heermann is the author of The 7 Foundations of Health and Happiness: Building a Bridge to Balance, several published, peer-reviewed articles, including "Selected integrative medicine treatments for depression: Considerations in women" and "Perinatal Depression: An Evidence-Based Review of Integrative Treatment".
Gila Ackerman Steinbock
I am a board-certified psychiatrist, and have been practicing psychiatry in Colorado since 2011. I completed my residency at the University of Colorado in Denver, and soon after graduation I opened my private practice. I also work at the Boulder Veterans Center where I help veterans of all ages suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
