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.

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.