Caroline Smith, MA, LPC, LSAC

Caroline Smith received degrees in psychology and professional counseling from Ottawa University.  She has certifications in trauma, abuse, deprivation, chemical addictions, and sexual addiction counseling.  She has worked at The Meadows Treatment Center as a Family Counselor, Primary Counselor, Survivors Workshop Facilitator, Community Relations Representative, and Special Assistant to the Clinical Director.  Within this program, she worked with individuals notable in the field, including Patrick Carnes, John Bradshaw, Claudia Black, Terrance Real and Pia Mellody. Ms. Smith then went on to join the professional clinical staff at Remuda Ranch Treatment Centers for Anorexia and Bulimia in Wickenburg, AZ as a Primary Therapist working exclusively with adolescent females and their families. She specializes in the field of eating disorders, trauma, and co-morbidity.

Amanda Elkin, MS, LPC, NCC

Amanda Elkin is the Program Coordinator of the Pine Grove Intensive Workshops and the Family Program.  Amanda graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Masters of Arts in Journalism.  After working in the public service sector for several years she went back to the University of Southern Mississippi pursuing a degree in Community Counseling graduating with a Masters in Science.  Amanda is licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC).  She is currently completing her certifications in Sexual Addiction (CSAT) and EMDR.

Charlie Risien, AAC, CCJP, CMAT, CSAT, LCDC, MAS

Charlie Risien holds a Master’s Degree in Addiction Studies and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, an Advanced Addiction Counselor, a Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist, a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional in the state of Texas and a Somatic Experience Level I Practitioner.  She is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Supervisor and has worked and trained with Dr. Patrick Carnes on his task-based model at The International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals.  Ms. Risien has received extensive training in Pia Mellody’s Post Induction Therapy model of love addiction/love avoidance and codependence, as well as in Terry Real's relational couples intensive work at the Relational Life Institute.  She has conducted numerous workshops and intensives based on all of these ground-breaking models.
 
Ms. Risien is an active member of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) and of the Texas Association for Addiction Professionals (TAAP).  She regularly presents and trains at conferences and workshops for TAAP, and for The Meadows Lecture Series.  Ms. Risien has been a therapist in private practice for 15 years in San Antonio, Texas, where she assists clients with their addiction and co-dependency issues.

Stefanie Carnes, Ph.D.

Stefanie Carnes is the executive director of the Palm Beach Institute, a treatment program in West Palm Beach Florida.  In this capacity she supervises and manages the therapy services for numerous programs including the drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit, extended care and intensive outpatient programs.  Her area of expertise includes working with patients and families struggling with multiple addictions such as sexual addiction, eating disorders and chemical dependency.  In her previous position at Pine Grove Recovery Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she was the director of the Gentle Path Program for sexual addiction, director of the Family Therapy Program, and director of the Research Program.

Dr. Carnes is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an AAMFT approved supervisor.  She has been an active volunteer with AAMFT serving on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Division as Secretary.

Dr. Carnes is also a certified sex addiction therapist and supervisor, specializing in therapy for couples and families struggling with sexual addiction.  She received her Ph. D. from the University of Georgia with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy.  She has taught at multiple universities as adjunct faculty including the University of San Diego’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program as well as Alliant University in the Department of Clinical Psychology.

She presents regularly at conferences at both the state and national levels.  She is also the author of numerous publications including her new book, Mending a Shattered Heart: A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts.

Cara Tripodi, MSS, LCSW, CSAT

Cara Tripodi the owner of STAR (Sexual Trauma and Recovery) and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1991 where she received her Masters in Social Science Degree. She has been treating sex addicts and their partners in both individual and group settings since 1991. Cara is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) and is a certified sex addiction therapist (CAST). She is also a Level II trained EMDR therapist. Her previous experiences include service as a medical social worker where she developed an expertise in the area of traumatic and chronic illness and loss. Today, Cara maintains a private practice as well as educating the behavioral healthcare community through workshops and lectures.