Ann and Bill Schneider, Co-Founders, Experienced Texas Addiction Treatment
Bill and Ann have been respected innovators in the alcohol and drug treatment field for over 20 years. Touched by family members and close friends who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, they recognized that traditional treatment centers were often failing to address underlying emotional and childhood trauma issues that all too often led to relapse among clients.
In response to this unmet need, they founded The Life Healing Center of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1994. Under their guidance, and with a strong commitment to providing quality care, it combined the latest in successful mental health therapies with traditional 12-Step spiritual support. Life Healing Center soon emerged as the leading residential trauma treatment facility in the country attracting hundreds of referrals from Hazelden, Betty Ford, Caron Foundation, Sierra Tucson and The Meadows as well as receiving referrals from all fifty states and fifteen foreign countries.
Bill and Ann sold their addiction treatment facility in 2004. Then, with help from their long time friends, the late Coach Darrell Royal and his wife Edith, they devoted much of the next several years to aiding a struggling Austin non-profit alcohol and drug treatment center. The Center was in danger of closing its doors with the resulting loss of free services that the poor and working families of Central Texas had relied upon since 1967. The Schneiders assisted in re-organizing the board of directors, rallied community support, and helped guide the agency to become one of the most successful community treatment facilities in Texas.
Now Bill and Ann are excited to re-enter the addiction recovery field. They bring their talents for innovation and program quality to an emerging new recovery model that can lead men to the full and fulfilling life in recovery they’ve been searching to find.
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Ann and Bill Schneider
Co-Founders | Experienced Texas Addiction Treatment
Peter Piraino, LMSW, LCDC, Executive Director
Born and raised in Long Island, NY, Peter received his master’s degree in social work from Stony Brook University. He is a licensed chemical dependency counselor in Texas as well as New York. Peter brings with him a vast amount of clinical and leadership experience in the drug and alcohol treatment field.
From teaching class at Stony Brook University, to providing individual and group therapy for adolescent and adult treatment centers, to being the Clinical and Executive Director of a nationally renowned treatment center, Peter is the perfect fit for helping men recovery at The Last Resort Recovery Center.
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Peter Piraino, LMSW, LCDC
Executive Director
Leonard Weiss, MD, Addiction Psychiatrist
Dr. Weiss’ psychiatric residency training was at Michael Reese Hospital of the University of Chicago. After graduation, he started the dual diagnosis group psychotherapy program at Michael Reese. He also taught geriatric psychiatry while a member of the faculty of Rush Medical School and was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Prior to this, Dr. Weiss did bench research in nutrition while an undergraduate at MIT, followed by a straight medical internship at Metropolitan Hospital of NY Medical College, an internal medicine residency at Ford Hospital of the University of Michigan, and a Nutrition Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of the University of Cornell and Columbia.
While in private practice, Dr. Weiss started the second largest outpatient aftercare program at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago. He taught residents and medical students at Michael Reese Hospital and Chicago Osteopathic Hospital. In addition, from 1991 to 1999, Dr. Weiss did forensics work for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and Medical Disciplinary Board as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
- 30+ years of experience.
- B. S. in Mathematics from MIT (Cambridge, MA)
- M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine, (Detroit MI)
- Post-graduate training in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital of the University of Michigan (Detroit MI)
- Post-graduate training in Psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital (Chicago, IL)
- Nutrition fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital (NY, NY)
- Board-Certified in each of the following specialties:
- Internal Medicine
- Nutrition
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Addictionology
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Leonard Weiss, MD
Addiction Psychiatrist
Dr. Robert Dougherty, MD, Medical Director
Dr. Robert Dougherty earned his BS in Psychobiology from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, CT. After college he was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy. Dr. Dougherty completed flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas and served as a Naval Aviator and flight instructor during the Gulf War. Upon completion of his initial obligation to the Navy, he started medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 1995.
While in medical school, Dr. Dougherty was selected as one of eight students nationally to attend the Aerospace Medicine Clerkship at NASA. He returned to Corpus Christi to complete his residency in family practice. Dr. Dougherty is married with seven children and enjoys his family time, volunteering for the Children’s Advocacy Center, woodworking, and playing guitar. He regularly rides his bicycle with his children to school and work.
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Dr. Robert Dougherty MD
Medical Director
Michael Wurth, MA, NCC, LCDC, LPC, Clinician
Michael Wurth is both a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and he employs mindful counseling methods from a narrative perspective. Michael teaches overwhelmed people how to rewrite the stories in their heads that are holding them back. This often requires challenging the longest-held of assumptions we carry about ourselves.
Narrative focus comes second-nature to Michael. Before he became a Nationally Certified Counselor, Michael held a Master Degree in Comparative Literature and worked for years as a stockbroker in New York, an English teacher in Caracas, and a screenwriter in Los Angeles and Hawaii. Michael has won awards at several film festivals for two of his feature films and three short works. Michael has also directed and written over 40 commercials.
While no two situations are identical, Michael tends to employ Mindfulness-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, to help clients identify their thinking patterns in active addiction, and how these thoughts actually control their beliefs and their emotions, often without their knowledge. Michael believes, “it’s in our thoughts, not our feelings, where our addictions begin and end. The stories we tell ourselves dictate our paths.”
“It’s an honor to be able to serve the clients at The Last Resort, and I’m grateful to learn from each of them.”
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Michael Wurth, MA, NCC, LCDC, LPC
Clinical Director
Marshall D. Neal, MA, LCDC-I, Clinician
Marshall was born in Bastrop, Texas, but has lived all over The Lone Star State and the Southwest United States. He served 12 years in the United States Marine Corps and was a police officer for 5 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Florida Tech, a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and currently working on his doctorate of Psychology from the University of the Rockies.
Marshall has struggled with substance use and addiction for the entirety of his adult life, and currently maintains his sobriety by immersing himself in the 12-step community. Working for the local mental health care authority in Austin/Travis County for several years, Marshall provided psycho-social rehabilitation services to individuals diagnosed with both substance abuse disorders and other mental health disorders. He began his journey with The Last Resort as a Recovery Specialist until a clinical position opened in January 2017. He enjoys daily meditations and spending time with his family to replenish his passion for working with individuals from every walk of life who are struggling with addiction.
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Marshall D. Neal, MA, LCDC-I
Clinician
Theresa Stringer, LMSW, LCDC-I, Clinician
Specializations: Relationships, Anxiety, Depression, Stress management, Couples Counseling, Self-Esteem and Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Life transitions, Addictions, Aging and Bereavement.
Theresa began her interest in Clinical Social Work after working as a nurse in the Addictions field. Her training in the US Army and work in a variety of clinical settings set the stage for her education in Social Work. She completed her Master’s in Social Work from Western Carolina University with a concentration in Substance Abuse.
Theresa brings a genuine, empathetic and open-hearted energy into her counseling practice. She offers a safe space to open up and process what you are going through. Because of her first career as a nurse, Theresa uses a holistic approach to identify patterns that may be hindering you in feeling fulfilled and becoming the best version of yourself.
I am a lover of dogs and the outdoors. I moved to Texas from Asheville, NC in May of 2016 and enjoy exploring Austin’s art, music and food scene. I believe in self-care in order to better serve others and utilize yoga, pet therapy and essential oils daily.
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Theresa Stringer, LMSW, LCDC-I
Clinician
Chris Shanks, LCDC-I, Primary Counselor
Chris was born & raised in Houston, Texas and had a twenty year career as a digital photo retoucher in Dallas. His twenty eight year struggle with addiction began around age 13. Throughout his addiction Chris tried quitting numerous times in multiple programs, rehabs and detoxes. He was addicted to almost every drug there is at one time or another. At the end of it all Chris found himself coming off heroin & meth in solitary confinement facing a long prison sentence. Chris says he finally became teachable and connected to the spiritual principals of Buddhism and Zen meditation while in prison. He found a practice that connected him to a power greater than himself.
That was the missing element in his previous attempts at 12 step recovery. Today Chris has 7 years clean & sober. He has a new life and has restored many family connections. Chris is about to finish his degree in addictions counseling in December. He has recently completed his practicum & education for his LCDC-I. He stay balanced through daily mediation, biking, weight lifting and working with others. Chris also loves to volunteer by writing inmates to share his own experience with meditation & recovery and what it has done for him.
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Chris Shanks, LCDC-I
Primary Counselor
Ellen Pace, LMFT-A, LPC-I, Equine Specialist and Family Program
Ellen is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and specializes in Equine-Assisted Therapy. Ellen coordinates the Family Program and the Equine-Assisted Therapy program at The Last Resort Recovery Center. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP), Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP) and is a P.A.T.H. Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Ellen also uses her training in EMDR therapy, implementing a proven method of treating severe trauma with our clients
Ellen has worked in the Equine-Assisted Therapy field for the last six years at Spirit Reins and Silver Lining Therapy in Liberty Hill, TX; ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids)-Georgetown, TX, and the counseling field at STARRY Counseling-Round Rock, TX. She has also worked internationally, creating an equine-assisted therapy program and using EMDR PRECI protocol to assist orphans in Zambia, Africa and serves on the board of HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) in Beijing, China. Ellen has brought tremendous experience to The Last Resort by combining her knowledge of trauma-focused therapy with the naturalistic lessons that ensue from working with horses. This creates a unique, one-of-a kind experience by identifying underlying issues that may block our client’s progress in reaching their long-term recovery goals.
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Ellen Pace, LMFT-A, LPC-I
Equine Specialist and Family Program
Corbin Bigheart, Program Director
Corbin was born and raised in Enid, OK and a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma (Boomer!). Struggling with alcoholism and addiction starting at age 17, Corbin started trying to get sober at 22. In and out of rehabs, hospitals, and jails, Corbin tried everything other than the 12 steps to find recovery with no success.
“I couldn’t stay sober for longer than 24 hours outside of an institution. I had reached a point where I truly believed there was no hope for me.”
In April of 2015, after 5 years of looking for a solution, he finally found one that worked in God and the 12 Steps. Corbin then was able to find his life’s purpose through helping other men find sobriety. “Passing strength and hope on to the addict or alcoholic who still suffers is the greatest joy of my life.” As the Recovery Specialist Supervisor, Corbin provides day to day leadership and direction to our Recovery Specialists, as well as 12 Step implementation and program direction outlined by our Director and Coordinator of Recovery Services.
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Corbin Bigheart
Program Director
Will Brown, Alumni Coordinator
Will had a pretty average childhood. He grew up with two loving and compassionate parents that would do anything for him; He was active in the Cub Scouts and played sports. Until, like so many other young peoples’ stories, Will began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It got bad enough that Will ended up in his first treatment program at age 16.
At age 17, Will found opiates. He tried one pill and was hooked. For 5 years, Will was in and out of jail, rehab, and hospitals until he was finally desperate enough to try something different. Through the 12 steps, Will was able to develop a relationship with a Higher Power strong enough to keep him sober.
“My quality of life today is far more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined, and I want other young men to be able to experience the same freedom I do.”
As continuum of care coordinator I work with all parties involved to develop an aftercare plan for each individual before the leave our direct care. After leaving our care I continue to follow up with Alumni, and organize events for all of them to get together and enjoy the fellowship that they have created out of their new found freedom.
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Will Brown
Alumni Coordinator
Parker Chapin, Continuum of Care and Referral Relations Coordinator
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Parker grew up in a wonderful family with 2 loving parents. His journey with alcoholism and addiction started when he was 15 when he started drinking and taking opiates. When he was 16, he was sent to a prestigious military academy in South Texas and graduated in 2012. He started playing music shortly after graduating and found his niche. “As a musician, drinking and drugging is all around, I believed I could only play music under the influence and I accepted it as a part of my life.” Parker was in and out of jail, treatment centers, and psych facilities until he found himself on the verge of death in 2014. On November 16th, 2014 he found his way back to a treatment center on South Padre Island.
“I had no other option, I knew I was going to die if I continued to live the way I was living.” .
After treatment he was afforded the opportunity to move to sober living in the Texas Hill Country. He lived in Kerrville, Texas for a year and ended up helping manage his sober house. “My experience with sober living was the most pivotal aspect of my recovery. I learned what God’s grace truly is, I found that sobriety and happiness could be synonymous, and I discovered that I could enjoy making music sober.”
Parker started working in treatment in early 2016 and hasn’t looked back. “God continues to give me the coolest perspective on things. Sobriety is a bi-product of working the steps. Life continues to become more meaningful each day. Being able to give and expect nothing in return is one of the greatest gifts God has revealed to me.”
As a an employee of The Last Resort, Parker gets to see our clients from day one and is afforded the opportunity to witness the miracle of seeing a hopeless drug addict/alcoholic obtain freedom on a regular basis. “I love drug addicts and alcoholics, but what I love more is seeing them find God and see them help someone as hopeless as they were. I am so blessed to be on this team of men getting to see men recover on a daily basis.”
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Parker Chapin
Continuum of Care and Referral Relations Coordinator
Erik Jokinen, Director of Admissions
The Last Resort is pleased to announce our newest team member Erik Jokinen. Erik will be joining us as the Director of Admissions. Erik is an alumnus of The Last Resort with over 3 years of continuous sobriety.
Prior to joining the TLR team, Erik worked for a nationally renowned facility in Louisiana. Being a native of Louisiana himself, he is a die-hard LSU Tigers fan. Erik spends much of his time carrying the message of hope to others so they may find the same freedom he was given.
“I am grateful to be a part of The Last Resort Recovery Center. To help men recover and to help families begin to heal is an honor and a privilege.”
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Erik Jokinen
Director of Admissions
Billy Fava, Business Development Specialist
Please welcome Billy Fava as our newest Business Development Specialist. Billy will be representing The Last Resort Recovery Center in the Bayou State of Louisana. Billy is from Lafayette, Louisana with over 35 years of sobriety and decades of intervention experience. We are excited to bring Billy’s experience and passion for recovery to our marketing team. Billy will be building relationships with recovery providers all across South Louisiana and helping families place their loved ones in treatment.
“Billy has done interventions over the past 35 years! In sharing his experience, strength and hope he has helped families and individuals to gain freedom from the pains of addiction! The confidence, security, and safety that Billy provides in an intervention is priceless!” – David Legendre, Ph.D.
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Billy Fava
Business Development Specialist
Kim Rabago, Director of Finance
A long time Texas resident, Kim received her Master’s in Professional Accountancy from The University of Texas. She is also a licensed CPA in the State of Texas and began her career in public accounting as an auditor for Ernst & Young. Her experience also includes financial management for a start-up toxicology lab.
Kim’s passion for horses and rescuing dogs brought her to the Smithville area, where she lives with her husband, three dogs, two horses, and a donkey. Her newest dog, Harper, joins her at TLR everyday and is well-loved by our residents.
“I feel honored to work for a company with such an important mission; The Last Resort changes lives everyday.”
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Kim Rabago
Director of Finance
Austin Berry, Director of Business Development
Austin has been with The Last Resort from the very beginning. He has risen in the ranks from a tech staff, to admissions, to marketing, and most recently, Director of Business Development. Born in Arlington, TX and graduating Memorial High School in Houston, he went on to the University of Alabama while secretly continuing to cheer for the Longhorns! Austin is an avid golfer, music lover, and duck hunter. He has a strong passion for sharing the message of recovery, drawing from his own personal experience since entering recovery in 2010.
Austin says, “I love seeing the miracle of recovery before and after. It draws me closer to the guys and closer to God – one day at a time.”
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Austin Berry
Director of Business Development
Bob Beare, Ph.D ,Senior Clinical Consultant, Experience and Men’s Depth Work Program (Adjunct Professional Staff)
Dr. Beare is an industrial/organizational psychologist and has been a clinical psychotherapist and executive coach for over 20 years, working with individuals, couples, families, leaders, and organizations. He was a long-time instructor at the C. G. Jung Center in Houston, a certified leader with the ManKind Project International, is the Senior Clinical Consultant and former Clinical Director of The Last Resort Treatment Center for Men, and Senior Clinical Consultant to Maui Recovery in Hawaii.
A professional actor, director, and composer, Bob is the founder of Houston Playback Theatre (a personal story-based theatre troupe) and is also the author of The Creative Fire – 10 Weeks to Emotional and Creative Fitness. He is a trained expressive arts therapist using art, poetry, music, movement, and theatre in all of his therapeutic and coaching work.
Dr. Beare is the founder of The Authentic Leadership Program, helping leadership teams to become more effective and profitable through dynamic emotional intelligence training. He is also the founder of The Brave Heart Experience, an intensive 2 ½ day workshop for men, women, leaders, and people in recovery who are ready to dive deeply into self-empowerment.
Dr. Beare has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. His doctoral research and published dissertation was on the topic of “Senior Leader’s Experience’s with Vulnerability.” Bob is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, and is a certified Birkman Method Consultant.
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Bob Beare, Ph.D
Senior Clinical Consultant, Experience and Men’s Depth Work Program (Adjunct Professional Staff)