Staff
At Miracle by the Bay we believe that the staff members are an essential part of the recovery process for all of our clients and from the very beginning we were committed to unparalleled excellence. We have chosen each and every one of our staff members and associates based on their professional backgrounds but also on their ability to work with and assist our clients in their recovery processes. Â
We work with many Addiction Professionals including Medical Doctors who specialize in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine and/or Detoxification, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselors, Interventionists, Psychologists, Sober Coaches, Hypnotherapists, and Spiritual & Life Advisors that have undergone years of training in their respective fields. Many of our staff members have had personal experience in recovery or with 12-step programs or have family members and good friends that have been through treatment and live in recovery. We believe that this personal experience offers a great perspective for our clients because it is a real understanding and a connection that cannot be achieved any other way. Our staff members dedicate themselves to the recovery way of life and are able to assist our clients with any problems or
issues they might need to deal with. We are delighted to offer our services to help as many people as possible recover from the despair and depression that addiction and alcoholism may have created.
We are proud to work with quality professionals, and even more importantly, loving and caring individuals who are committed to continuing education to better themselves in the fields of addiction medicine and client services. Each consultant, affiliated provider, staff member, and volunteer has been handpicked from the best of the best because we want to ensure our clients’ success
in recovery.
Stuart B. Kipper, MD
Consulting Physician for Detoxification and Addiction Medicine
Dr. Kipper has been providing personal and private addiction medicine consultation, detox, and follow-up for over 5 years. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in private practice since 1990. He is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the Founder and CEO of Medical Group of North County with offices in Encinitas and Vista. Dr. Kipper loves the outdoors, hiking, baseball, family, and traveling. He and his wife Lisette have 4 boys, Ben, Erik, Noah, and Harrison.
Richard M. Wachsman, MD
Consulting Psychiatrist
Dr. Wachsman has over 35 years experience in San Diego hospitals and clinical settings treating complex psychiatric disorders such as Addiction, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, as well as Weight Management issues. He is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and currently has a private practice in La Jolla, CA. Dr. Wachsman's community and volunteer work includes pioneering a radio talk show on CBS Radio which helped over 400,000 people with addictive behavior and other psychiatric problems.
Jennifer Messier, PhD
Clinical Director/Psychologist
Dr. Messier is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of chronic pain management and co-existing disorders including prescription drug abuse and prescription drug addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, sleep disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders. She uses the Addiction-Free Pain Management® (APM) Treatment System to set goals and implement specific actions plans. Dr. Messier has been personally mentored, trained, and certified by Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, owner and developer of the APM® System. Dr. Messier is also certified in Denial Management, Relapse Prevention Counseling, Addiction-Free® Pain Management based on the Gorski-CENAPS® Model, and is also trained in EMDR. Dr. Messier is also a published co-author of Denial Management Counseling for Effective Pain Management (2006) and has co-facilitated Addiction-Free Pain Management® trainings for professionals in the addiction field.
Douglas A. Cohen, MA, MFT
Interventionist/Psychotherapist
Douglas A. Cohen, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been working as a psychotherapist since 2003, and an Interventionist and Addiction Consultant since 2007. Areas of specialization for Douglas include, Motivational Interviewing, Substance Abuse/Recovery, Co-Occurring Disorders, Co-Dependency, Depression, Anxiety, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Couples and Families work, and Mindfulness and Acceptance practices. In addition to his private practice and clinical work, Douglas has a passion for service and helping others and has worked with and volunteered for many non-profit agencies including: The Los Angeles Free Clinic, Height Ashbury Free Clinic, and Planned Parenthood providing community services in the form of outreach and trainings regarding issues associated with adult and adolescent drug and alcohol abuse / dependence and reality based sexuality education, anger management for juvenile wards and adult offenders, and men's and women's health and reproductive issues.
Mischell Elias, L.Ac
Licensed Acupuncturist
Mischell has a Masters Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and is nationally certified with NCCAOM as well as being Licensed in the State of California.. This extensive training allows her to evaluate and implement treatment strategies utilizing a wide variety of modalities based on your specific needs. Utilizing this approach she has seen beneficial results whether your health concern is acute or chronic. In addition to her private practice and work with Miracle by the Bay, Mischell is a pilot and has a background in aviation. This gives her an in-depth understanding of the health challenges both mentally and physically, that can affect a pilot and any person that has to deal with a stressful environment on a daily basis. For over twenty years she has personally used Acupuncture and Herbs to help maintain the high energy level required to perform effectively while under pressure. She is extremely passionate about her work and the fabulous healing that Traditional Chinese Medicine offers.
Kathy Stowell, RN, LPT, CCH, CHT
Clinical Hypnotherapist
As a holistic professional with a background in conventional medicine, Kathy has worked with issues such as stress management, trauma, and addiction for over 20 years. Kathy is a psychiatric nurse and massage therapist with an emphasis on the mind/body connection. Her education includes a certification for Clinical Hypnosis from the Center for Neurosomatic Sciences (A.C.H.E.), and a certification from the International Professional School of Bodywork, both located in San Diego, California. She is also a graduate from the Psychiatric Nurse Program at Grossmont College in La Mesa, California. It is Kathy's goal to help clients fulfill their goals, ambitions, and assist them with the challenges they are facing whether they are a result of addiction or chronic pain or the underlying cause. Equally important, she wants each client to rediscover the fact that making improvements can be quick, easy, and fun.
Glenn B. Frieder, D.C.
Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Cranial Osteopathy
Dr. Frieder has been training in and practicing a variety of healing modalities over the last 25 years. At age 15 he was paralyzed in an accident. After medical treatment failed he was literally carried into a chiropractic office where one chiropractic session enabled him to walk again. It was on that day that he made the decision to become a chiropractic physician and to devote his life to helping others. Dr. Frieder earned a Bachelor of Science in School Health Education and Biology in 1975, and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1979. He is a Certified Metabolic Physician, and interned at Kelly Metabolic Cancer Clinic. He has trained extensively in chiropractic, naturopathy, osteopathy, homeopathy, and clinical kinesiology.
Zack Shelton
Program Assistant/Recovery Coach
Zack struggled personally with prescription drug and alcohol addiction for years before finding a design for living that solved his problem with addiction. He has been working with alcoholics and addicts for over four years, sharing the message of recovery to those who still suffer, with compassion and understanding. A corporate sales professional for many years, Zack now devotes his strong communication and interpersonal skills full time to the work of recovery. He enjoys a healthy, active life, and is devoted to helping others to shed the burden of addiction so that they too can have a life beyond their wildest dreams.
