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
Steve Thomason, LMSW, LCDC, Executive Director
Steve Thomason, LMSW, LCDC
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Steve Thomason, 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
Marshall D. Neal, MA, LCDC, Clinical Manager
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. As Clinical Manager Marshall has obtained a certificate as a Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner and a certificate as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Practitioner. 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
Clinical Manager
Chris Shanks, LCDC, 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
Primary Counselor
Ellen Pace, LMFT-A, LPC-I, EFamily Program Coordinator, Director of Equine Therapy Services, and EMDR/Trauma-Informed Services Provider
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
Family Program Coordinator, Director of Equine Therapy Services, and EMDR/Trauma-Informed Services Provider
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 Director of Treatment Operations, Corbin will direct the overall functions of the treatment services offered through the entire continuum, and maintain organization-wide quality care through the course of our clients’ experience at TLR. He will facilitate treatment-related operations including but not limited to: policies and procedures, company philosophies and treatment modalities/approaches, programmatic and organizational direction, and ensure implementation fidelity of The Last Resort’s mission, vision, and purpose.
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Corbin Bigheart
Director of Treatment Operations
Will Brown, Admissions 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.”
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Will Brown
Admissions Coordinator
Terry Brudos, Continuum of Care
Bio coming soon…
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Terry Brudos
Continuum of Care Coordinator
Josh Barnett, Director of Operations
Bio Coming Soon..
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Josh Barnett
Director of Operations
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 a husband, father of a beautiful daughter, avid golfer, upland game hunter, connoisseur of local cuisine, and an enthusiast of the Austin music scene.
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)
Drew Tindell, LCDC, Chemical Dependency Counselor
Drew Tindell is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor that has been in the recovery field for over seven years. He has ten years in recovery and employs mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing into his style of counseling. “With staying in today, you can avoid wasting time in yesterday and tomorrow.”
At age 40 Drew had a 9th grade education and with the help of a strong mentor and friends in recovery he went back to school and received a GED, an associate’s degree from Hill college in criminal justice for drug and alcohol counseling, has a certificate in correctional counseling, and is furthering his academic studies at Texas Tech where he will receive a bachelors in communication studies and sociology by the summer of 2018. He plans to continue his education through Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in the spring of 2019.
Drew has struggled with addiction for various drugs since he was a teenager. On July 24th, 2007 he had his last drink and started going to court ordered treatment where he was introduced to a twelve-step program of recovery and he has been sober ever since. Through working the program in his life and practicing mindfulness and meditation he has been able to enjoy a full and vibrant life. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, fishing, and continues to broaden his spiritual life through fellowship and sharing the message with anyone who wants it.
One of his favorite sayings is “Go with the flow of life and let God be your current.”
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Drew Tindell, LCDC
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Arthur H Litteken, LPC-Intern, LCDC
Art lived in Wichita Falls most of his life. He earned a BBA after high school and spent 30 years as an owner/operator of a successful ready-mix concrete operation. Art has been an ordained minister and former volunteer chaplain through Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He served several years, on the board of The Association of Disabled Citizens and the Boy Scouts of America (An Eagle Scout). Art also headed up the Family Preservation Program for the Wichita County Juvenile Department.
Art battled addiction, personally and within his own family, most of his life and with no exposure to AA or the 12 steps before landing in residential treatment. After rehabilitation, he resigned from Juvenile Probation and earned his MA in General Counseling. Art has worked in the recovery field ever since. “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. This is a calling for me and I am truly blessed to be a part of The Last Resort team.” Art enjoys outdoor activities, including water and snow sports. He is an active member of the AA community and has a zest for life that is apparent to all who know him.
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Arthur H Litteken, LPC-Intern, LCDC
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Charlotte Davis LCDC
Bio Coming Soon..
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Charlotte Davis, LCDC
Chemical Dependency Counselor