A Sober Way Home's Professional Treatment Staff

Directors

 

Jody Pegram, Executive Director

Jody entered into the recovery field in the late nineties. Fueled by personal experience and a commitment to serve, Mr. Pegram worked his way from the ground up. He has been formally trained at Hazelden as well as the Professional training association. His creative and precedent setting approach have made him a sought after member of the national recovery community.

Beginning with Stebanger homes in Palm Beach, FL. he was integral in the development of C.A.R.E. in southern Florida and appointed associate director / founder in 1999. His insight and creative ability have earned him positions at multiple facilities in a broad range of capacities. Notably as director of Coral Reef Counseling, Executive Director of Addiction Management and consultant / therapist at Blackwater outdoor experiences where he was responsible for developing and instituting their extended care treatment planning.

Here at A Sober Way Home he brings his considerable body of work experience along with an authenticity and uncanny ability to express his passion for recovery to our staff and clients. Mr. Pegram is a welcome addition and we feel blessed to have him on board.

Kimberly Joiner, Chief Administrative Officer
Kimberly serves A Sober Way Home in many capacities. She is responsible for financial management, program development, assuring that all aspects of the program are in line with licensure requirements, as well as supervising personnel. Her integrity and commitment to excellence shine through all that she is a part of. Kimberly is a vital and integral part of the team.

Pete Stewart - Program Director/Family Liaison
Pete is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the day to day logistics as well as providing and maintaining a safe, consistent and appropriate residential environment for A Sober Way Home clients. His attention to detail, strong leadership skills and ability to effectively communicate his experience, strength and hope have made him a valuable and respected member of our team.

Medical Staff

Don Damstra, MD, FASAM - Medical Director
Don Damstra has been a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) since 1968 and is a fellow of the society. He is board certified in Addiction Medicine. He attended medical school at Northwestern University and has been licensed to practice medicine in Michigan, Illinois and currently, in Arizona, Don has more than 40 years of experience in the field of addiction medicine with a passion for the care of alcoholics and addicts. He also adds experience in medical management.

Don has worked as clinician and Medical Director in several addiction treatment settings in Michigan and Arizona. He has served as a consultant to the Arizona Health Department and the Veterans Administration, and he is a former member of the Arizona Department of Transportation Medical Advisory Board, and a consultant to the Arizona Emergency Medical System.

Sally Kinsley - Medication Support Staff

Contracted Medical Staff

Ed Gogek, M.D.

Board-certified Psychiatrist who has worked in Prescott for several years. His background in addiction Psychiatry includes a fellowship in chemical dependency and in several programs with homeless alcoholics and addicts, and experience in treating sexual addictions and eating disorders.

Michael W. Carlton, MD - Consulting Addictionologist
As the CEO and Founder of Phoenix Recovery, Dr. Carlton has admitting privileges at all the major Phoenix-based hospitals and can provide detox services when needed. As a physician certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Carlton has the knowledge to diagnose and treat specific problems and to medically manage addictive disorders.

As Medical Director of several Phoenix area treatment centers, he has medically managed over 25,000 individuals withdrawing from drugs and alcohol. Dr. Carlton completed his four-year dual residency training in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and two years of a specialty fellowship in Medical and Industrial Toxicology. He has over a decade of experience in the treatment of addiction. He has given educational lectures and seminars throughout the Southwest. Dr. Carlton has published numerous articles and has extensive knowledge in the fields of Addiction, Toxicology, and Medicine.

Dr. Robert Upchurch

Licensed Naturopathic Physician. He graduated in 1986 from John Bastyr University with a degree in Naturopathic Medicine and has practiced in Arizona for the past 16 years. He has a general practice but specializes in using natural hormones.

Therapists


Dale Ryder, LCSW - Clinical Director
Dale Ryder is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners in Arizona. She has been working in the field of Criminal Justice and addictions for the past 20 years. Her journey in working with families, and those who struggle with self defeating patterns, has opened up an avenue for long term change when they can identify unmet needs and ways to confront self limiting behaviors.

Recovery is not only an individual goal, but a family goal and a community goal. Many aspects of the person's life are affected by substance dependence and abuse. Dale utilizes a systems based approach to therapy, looking at all aspects of the client’s world. Dale's unique skill set includes a strong work and leadership ethic.

Dr. Jim Hopper

James O. Thomas, LISAC (Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor) - AZ Board of Behavioral Health, Ordained Minister, Provides assessment services to local courts.

Benjamin Ainsa, M.Ed.

Ben has a Masters of Education in Counseling and Human Relations and is well on his way to becoming an independent substance abuse counselor. He has over 5 year experience working as an Adult Probation Officer, successfully counseling and empowering probationers to overcome obstacles inhibiting them from living a fulfilling life. Ben is also a certified group facilitator and has taught numerous classes such as substance abuse, anger management, domestic violence, DUI, life skills, and Moral Reconation Therapy.

As part of his undergraduate degree in International Law & Diplomacy, and his natural love of cultural diversity, Ben has lived and traveled throughout Europe, China, and Mexico and is bilingual in Spanish. Participants in his groups frequently comment they enjoy Ben’s relaxed style which is both engaging and interactive.

Marguerite Gundacker, MA, LAC

Marguerite has a Masters in Community Counseling from Northern Arizona University and is less than one year away from attaining her licensure as an independent counselor (LPC). She has experience as a lay counselor, working with women’s trauma issues and group work while in the United States Air Force; during which time she had the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe, Japan, and Hawaii. More recently, she has experience (post-graduate) with adults and adolescents in crisis settings and residential treatment. Marguerite specializes in a family systems approach, especially in reference to substance recovery and trauma issues. She enjoys group work and has presented on topics such as PTSD, Girls Circle, and DBT. She is an important addition to our team.

Office Staff

Kimberly Joiner - CAO, HR, Accounting

Michelle MacIntyre – Administrative Assistant

Joel Figueroa – Insurance Billing

Residential Staff

Rachael Ruiz – Women’s House Manager

Katy Warren – Women’s House Manager

Mark McGowan – Men’s House Manager

Brian McEnroe – Men’s House Manager

Jon Wetgrove - Airport Pickup