Denis Mansfield

In-House Chef Denis Mansfield

Denis Mansfield

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

In-House Chef

Denis Mansfield

Denis Mansfield is a chef with a passion for cooking and for the recovery community. He has been in recovery, himself, for 4 years and, in that time, has learned that people can change their lives and grow tremendously if given the tools and opportunity. After getting sober, Chef Denis went to culinary school at College of the Canyons, and then worked in several restaurants where he had the opportunity to hone his skills in the kitchen. He is dedicated to providing healthy meals to help heal the body, without sacrificing flavor and fun. He believes eating should be an experience and understands that mealtime is an opportunity to build community.

In-House Chef Denis Mansfield

Jennifer Poynter

Jennifer Poynter

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

Yoga Instructor

Tanya Nord, MA, MFTI, C.HT

Jennifer Poynter is a yoga and meditation teacher who focuses on health and healing underserved communities and those impacted by trauma and abuse. Her classes are held in studios, drug rehabs, homeless shelters, and prisons. She has multiple certifications in yoga, meditation, yoga for trauma, and Tai Chi Qong. The power of yoga has helped her grow stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, and artistically. Her care filled, balanced teaching style allows students to release tension and anxiety and open up to the knowledge, wisdom, and creativity that is already inside each of them.

unnamed 1 Jennifer Poynter

Tanya Nord, MA, MFTI, C.HT

Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master/Teacher TANYA NORD, MA, MFTI, C.HT

Tanya Nord, MA, MFTI, C.HT

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

Hypnotherapist/Reiki Master

Tanya Nord, MA, MFTI, C.HT

I am a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master/Teacher and a Marriage Family Therapist Intern. I have enjoyed success in my private practice as a Healing Art Practitioner specializing in Reiki and Pranic healing since 1992, as a Clinical Hypnotherapist since 2001, and as a Marriage Family Therapist Intern since 2009.

I find that the combination of my training and honed skills makes me uniquely suited to guide my clients through whatever challenges they wish to overcome and help them realize, and even surpass, their personal goals.

It is my conviction that each of us has within ourselves an infinite well of resources just waiting to be tapped; and it is my passion to help clients discover and cultivate their own unique gifts that will bring them joy and fulfillment in every area of their lives.

Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master/Teacher TANYA NORD, MA, MFTI, C.HT

Rick Macrorey, C.A.D.A.C-C.A.S.

Rick Macrorey, C.A.D.A.C-C.A.S.

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

Drug & Alcohol Counselor

Rick Macrorey, C.A.D.A.C-C.A.S.

Rick Macrorey is a certified Chemical Dependent Counselor who has had experience as a case manager and facilitator in many treatment facilities, as well as extensive knowledge on how to work recovery in his life. Rick attended Point Loma College in San Diego where he studied Business Administration. Rick has excelled in sports and developed the art of working as a team player. He brings to our program compassion, love of recovery and straight talk. He is passionate about recovery and about helping our clients change the direction of their lives. Rick creates a trusting, vulnerable environment for our clients to navigate the most difficult emotional work.

rick Jennifer Poynter

Kori Francisco

Case Manager KORI FRANCISCO

Kori Francisco

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

Case Manager

Kori Francisco

Kori Francisco is our intake/discharge coordinator and case manager. She comes to our facility with a strong understanding of the addiction recovery process. Kori creates a safe environment for clients to feel comfortable during their stay at Valley Recovery Center . She meets with each client weekly to create achievable aftercare goals. Kori also assists clients with all work or disability-related issues so they can focus on their recovery. Kori’s motivation, dedication, and empathy are necessary for our clients to reach their aftercare goals once they graduate from our facility.

Case Manager KORI FRANCISCO

Tammy Albretson, CATC1

Lead Substance Abuse Counselor Tammy Albretson, CATC1

Tammy Albretson, CATC1

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

LEAD SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

Tammy Albretson, CATC1

Tammy Albretsen is currently the Head Certified Addiction Counselor and Med Coordinator specializing in client care. Tammy has been with Valley Recovery Center since the beginning and holds a strong passion for the field of addiction. She treats addicts and educating individuals to help them better cope with their addictive personalities and break the cycle of addiction to recover their lives, as well as to overcome the stigma associated with this disease. Using clinically tested evidenced-based interventions. Her passion for helping others combined with her extensive personal experience makes her an indispensable asset to VRC. Tammy’s professional skills coupled with her dedication and devotion has driven her in confining her education towards achieving her MFT license and is certified in Equine-Assisted Therapy discipline of using horses as a means to provide metaphoric experience in order to promote emotional growth.

Lead Substance Abuse Counselor Tammy Albretson, CATC1

Kenneth England, LMFT

kenneth england lead therapist

Kenneth England, LMFT

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

LEAD THERAPIST

Kenneth England, LMFT

Kenneth England received his Master’s degree in counseling from California State Northridge and he is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

He joins Valley Recovery Center with 11 years’ experience working with other highly respected therapeutic and substance abuse programs. Kenneth started working in recovery at Cri-Help, Inc., where he worked with patients who struggled with substance abuse compounded by mental illness. It was at Cri-Help where Kenneth began working intensely with families of patients, whom he sees as an underserved population of the substance abuse field. Kenneth worked for many years at Promises Malibu– a world-renowned residential treatment center.

He has training and experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brief Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Ropes/Experiential Therapy and Family Therapy—including Imago Therapy for couples. Kenneth has also counseled professional athletes and their families from top sports leagues in the United States, teaching them techniques to manage all aspects of their professional and personal lives.

He brings his extensive professional knowledge, along with his own recovery experience of twenty-eight plus years. Kenneth takes pride in working with both the client and their families to ensure they receive quality service, empathy and guidance on the journey towards change and fulfillment.

kenneth england lead therapist

Dr. Jack Kuo, MD

dr jack kuo

Dr. Jack Kuo, MD

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Jack Kuo, MD

Dr. Jack Kuo began working in substance abuse treatment as a volunteer outreach worker for homeless teens in Waikiki. He then did residential counseling for at-risk youth in a group home as well as the homeless, mentally ill people at a transitional living program. Next, he worked as a community health outreach worker doing HIV prevention education and operating a needle exchange program with intravenous drug users. Dr. Kuo then completed his general and addiction psychiatry training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. From 2005 to 2018 Dr. Kuo served as the Director of Psychiatric Services at the Promises Malibu residential treatment center.

Dr. Kuo has presented nationally and internationally on topics ranging from ethnic biodiversity in substance abuse and mental illness to an update on methamphetamine use disorder to an evidence-based review of virtual reality and other forms of cybertherapy in substance abuse and mental illness. In addition, he has presented extensively about videogame addiction and made several television appearances as an expert consultant on videogame addiction.

dr jack kuo

Amy Spahr, LCSW

Clinical Director Amy Spahr, LCSW

Amy Spahr, LCSW

Learn more about the expert drug & alcohol treatment staff at Valley Recovery Center at Agua Dulce.

Clinical Director

Amy Spahr, LCSW

Ms. Spahr has over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field, primarily leadership roles in substance use and eating disorder treatment facilities. Her previous positions include Executive Clinical Director at Promises Treatment Programs, Director of Phoenix House Academy, Executive Director of Remuda Ranch, and Program Director of Developmental-Behavioral Consultants. In addition to oversight of facility operations and management teams, Ms. Spahr also enjoys the provision of direct clinical services and has extensive experience with depression, anxiety, body image, addictions, trauma, and family relationships.

Clinical Director Amy Spahr, LCSW