STAFF

Christina is a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP). She is also certified in Somatic Trauma Resolution, is a Reiki Master and has completed certification with Spirit2Spirit Healing. Christina uses Somatic modalities including Psychodrama and Psychodramatic Bodywork to help her clients heal from varying types of abuse, traumatic injury, abandonment, grief, loss or other events that results in the traumatic “overwhelming” of the nervous system. Her extensive work with trauma survivors has evolved to helping individuals with addiction and abuse issues, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Christina’s holistic approach to the recovery process is augmented by her passionate energy, creativity, intuition and natural healing talents. Her work in individual sessions and as a group facilitator brings her clients hope and dramatic, healthy changes.

Josie has been in the substance abuse industry since 2015. She has always been on the frontline starting as a case manager from day one. Her journey began in her recovery in 2010 and found she had a passion for inspiring others who were beginning their Josie had been in the mortgage industry since 2004, and as her disease progressed she began to lose everything worthwhile in life. Thankfully, she ended up in addiction treatment with a case manager who challenged her and changed her life. Josie became passionate about helping others and decided she wanted to inspire people just like her case manager had done with her.

With over five years of experience working in treatment compliance and insurance coordination, Nicole is a true asset to both Rising Roads Recovery staff and the family members of clients. Her tremendous knowledge and compassion arm her in her role as advocate for our clients and their families with the insurance companies. Nicole’s goal is to help families feel comfortable and secure in their decision to pursue treatment, and she strives to make the insurance and financial process as stress-free as possible. Nicole is also responsible for our licensure and compliance, ensuring Rising Road Recovery up to date with all city and state regulations.

Dr. Elizabeth J. Roberts, MD is the Medical Director of Pace Recovery and a board-certified psychiatrist, by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. She believes that it is important to address a person’s mental health issues to deliver effective addiction recovery care. Dr. Roberts takes a measured approach to mental health treatment. She is not the type of doctor that prescribes an abundance of sedating or dangerous psychiatric medications. Her philosophy for treating patients is to use the smallest amount of medication as possible while delivering the maximum amount of psychotherapy, exercise, good nutrition, and recovery education. She has been practicing psychiatry for over 25 years. Her mission is to protect her patients from the addicting and damaging effects of over-prescribing psychiatric medications. She has published books and articles on the subject of misdiagnosing and over-medicating patients. She is the author of the book: “Should You Medicate Your Child’s Mind.” Her books brought her to the attention of a House Sub-committee that was investigating the harmful effects of psychiatric medications on children and invited her to testify in Washington DC on October 27, 2011. Dr. Roberts has also appeared on The Oprah Show, CNN, The Today Show, ABC News in Chicago, CBS News Los Angeles, and NBC News in San Francisco. She was featured as the addiction expert on the educational video; Think, Don’t Drink. Her radio appearances include Washington Post Radio, Washington D.C.; The Milt Rosenberg Show, Chicago; The Pete Wilson Show, San Francisco; Positive Parenting, San Francisco, and others. Dr. Roberts has been published in the Op-Ed pages of The Washington Post and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and quoted in publications such as the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times. Dr. Roberts completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, earned her medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago, completed her adult Psychiatric Residency at the University of Hawaii and her Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Laurie Watter, MS, RN, BNS, is a registered nurse who received her BSN from Alfred University and her certification in school nursing from Caldwell College. Laurie has worked in a variety of clinical settings with a significant part of her nursing career working with children who have developmental disorders and supporting the families who love them.
After learning first-hand of how substance use affects a family, Laurie immersed herself in her recovery. She began attending family support groups and eventually began facilitating them. These experiences led Laurie to go back to school, where she earned her Masters Degree in Family Counseling from the University of West Alabama. At this time, she also completed a graduate certificate in Addiction and Recovery from the University of Florida and received certification as a Family Recovery Coach.
This has led Laurie into her current position as East Coast Program Liaison for Rising Roads Recovery, where she will serve as support for referents and families.
Laurie believes strongly that family members can find peace and serenity, often amid the chaos. Her work is her passion, and Laurie continues to challenge herself to find balance. She enjoys needlepoint, taking long walks, exploring new places, and spending time with her friends, her husband, and her family.