|
We are really impressed with the staff you've assembled here.
We seldom see this kind of quality in any program, much less in a rural area.
-- Inspector for the State Certifying Agency, 6/2008
The Courage to Change Ranch staff is comprised of trained professionals dedicated to helping heal addictive behaviors.
The level of care at the ranch exceeds state standards of staff-to-patient ratio, permitting us to give individual and personal attention to patients. Staff counselors have achieved high levels of state "Certified Addiction Counselor" (CAC), cognitive behavior and pharmacology training and experience. In-service and cross training takes place throughout the year to keep the staff current on the latest therapies and education.
More than half of the staff members have been through alcohol and addiction recovery programs. Their integrity, dedication and eagerness to work with others trapped in addiction behaviors are heartfelt. The Courage to Change Ranch program is non-judgmental, egalitarian, and supportive - showing respect for all who share our path of healing from addictive behaviors.
Executive Director: Judith Ann Miller, Ph.D., CAC III 
Judith Ann Miller Ph.D. is a dedicated family and domestic relations professional. Her background includes child and family investigation, participation in family court status conferences with pro se litigants, respondent attorneys, caseworkers, GALS, therapists, and families. Dr. Miller has a successful track record in dealing with family court matters in a variety of capacities including facilitator, mediator and mental health specialist. Her skills include parenting time evaluation, domestic violence, restraining orders, developing shared-parenting plans, court reporting, facilitating and mediation. Dr. Miller's educational background is in family relations, child and human development, and community and human resources. She is committed to service in family courts.
In 2004, Dr. Miller founded Courage to Change Addiction Recovery Ranch. Her research related to addiction as a brain disease quickly became the foundation for the program that provides a scientific standard of care focusing on neurotransmitter recovery. Dr. Miller is a proponent of science-based holistic therapies and natural interventions to repair the damaged addicted brain. Now in is 7th year, the Courage to Change program is becoming nationally recognized as a leader in the neuro-immune-endocrine science of addiction recovery.
Education
2009 – Certified Alcohol Addiction Counselor Level III
1999 to Present - Family Relations Services, Child & Family Investigator*, Parenting Coordinator, Special Master
1999 to 2002 - Advocate for Children CASA Program Coordinator
1981 - Ph.D., Human Development and Family Relations/Community and Human Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
1977 - M.S., Child Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
1971 - B.S., with Distinction; Home Economics Education/Human Development and Family Relations, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Clinical Supervisor: Mary Kaye Whittemore 
Mary Kaye Whittemore
Clinical Supervisor
AA/AS Medical and Chemical Dependency
CAC III
13 Years in AOD Field
Experience in Co-Occurring Facility
Whittemore is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those who are dependent on alcohol and drugs. She works diligently to create a therapeutic environment for all clients under her care.
Whittemore is a staunch believer in the C2C program and states unequivocally that in all her years working at different treatment facilities in southern Colorado – she has never been part of a program where the staff works as a team with the client’s best interest in mind. According to Whittemore, her experience is that incoming client’s often leave other treatment programs in frustration – many within the first week of their stay. The C2C program is unique she says, because when client’s arrive – they stay – they complete the program and a high percentage maintain their sobriety. They understand that Courage to Change is unique. The science based holistic modalities resonate with their own needs and understanding of what it will take to break the cycle of addiction.
Over the past 14 years, Whittemore has been employed as the Clinical Supervisor at Peak Addiction Recovery Center in Cascade, IOP/OP Special Connections Counselor- Crossroads Turning Point, Pueblo, IOP/OP Counselor/Case Manager- Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Center, Colorado Springs and Detox Counselor/Supervisor, Case Manager for Connect Care.
Clinical Supervisor: Renee de Alba 
Renee de Alba, MA CAC III
2007 - Odyssey Training Center - Substance Abuse CAC III
1982 - University of Colorado, Boulder - Psychology MA
1979 - Colorado Women’s College, Denver - Psychology/Anthropology BA
de Alba is a motivated and committed substance abuse counselor. Her repertoire includes skills in anger management, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, risk reduction, stress reduction, assertiveness training, role-playing, body centered and trauma therapy, and life skills to an addicted, and often, dual diagnosis population.
Specific areas of focus include: anger management, impulsive behavior, co-dependence, self-sabotage, assertiveness training, PTSD and trauma therapies, family dynamics, abusive behavior, and life skills. de Alba is proficient at helping clients learn new skills and training them in alternatives to their current behaviors. She has also provided case management.
Her extensive experience includes successfully working with a diverse number of client populations; substance abuse, dual diagnosis, DUI Level II Education and Therapy, criminal offenders, street kids, physically and sexually abused and abusive men and women, people with addictions of all kinds, clients from many cultural backgrounds and clients with AIDS.
De Alba is able to quickly establish rapport and trust with dysfunctional clients in difficult circumstances and help guide them to a deeper level of self-exploration.
Over the years de Alba has worked as a DUI Instructor At Monarch Counseling Services, as a teacher, therapist and counselor, in the Transitions Module, at the Boulder County Jail, a Drug & Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor at
The Phoenix Project, in the Boulder County Jail, and as a therapist, substance abuse counselor and instructor, at Centennial Peaks Hospital in Louisville, CO.
Marketing Director: Leslie Carol Botha
Author & Publisher Understanding Your Mood, Mind and Hormone Cycle
Broadcast Journalist
Award Winning and Internationally Recognized Expert on Women’s Hormone Cycles and their Behaviors
Member of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research
Over the past 20 years Botha has honed her skills in marketing, promotions and public relations as she researched an integral element in women’s health that has been totally overlooked by the system. She has expertise in web site and newsletter development social media networking, journalism skills and public speaking.
Botha and Dr. Miller were colleagues in Fort Collins, CO thirty years ago when Dr. Miller was on the board of directors of Changing Woman Magazine – Botha’s award-winning international networking publication that focused on women’s issues. Dr. Miller asked Botha to join her staff in August of 2009 to develop a marketing campaign for Courage to Change.
Botha's past experience in marketing includes employment at distinct resort properties in Estes Park, CO and for the Town of Estes Park.
Her skills include promotions, print and broadcast journalism and public speaking.
Chief Financial Officer: Peg Pandolfi 
Chief Financial Officer
Owner Business Sense Accounting and Financial Services
Pandolfi has a strong background in accounting and financial services and integral business growth development. She uses her expertise to empower businesses with solid fundamentals, tactical visions, critical decision-making abilities, and solid business sense.
 Ross Hilzer CAC II Therapist
Hilzer is the co-founder of Courage to Change Ranches and recently celebrated 6 years in recovery. He is a CAC II and a dedicated counselor. Clients love his groups and occasionally he will hold individual sessions which he calls a "knee to knee". One client said: "He has a gentle way about being in your face." Hillzer's greatest attribute is also his greatest fault in that he cares so much for the client's that it breaks his heart when they do not do well after they transition from the ranch.
Hilzer has now dedicated his life to working with addicts in recovery. In his counseling sessions, he instills a message of hope and integrity to self and others. According to Ross, unless you are honest with your self – you cannot be honest with others. His desire is to attain a CAC III and to share his experience and the wisdom he has gained with others who have the courage to change.
.
 Ted Uilbarri - Case Manager
He was supposed to be just another statistic. Just another drug addict/drug dealer and all around bad guy who was in and out of jail his entire life. Who quite frankly belonged there and didn’t have a problem with it. The reality of it is he was real good at what he did and he enjoyed being that parasitic statistic. He had spent a life time of doing and selling drugs – and it was all he knew.
The thought never crossed his mind as to how he was hurting what he cared about most; second to his addiction of course, and that was his family. After all his addiction was his identity; just another statistic. All was going according to plan until the night he went to jail - but this time it was different - there would be no way out. A prison sentence was in order; he became a statistic in a more unforgiving reality.
My name is Ted and I did make that statistic – although the consequences of my addition were not as severe. My goal and dedication is to tip the scales one person at a time until those stats are in favor of recovery and a new way of life.
 Courage to Change Addiction Recovery Ranch is most fortunate to employ counselor, Ryan Duffy. Mr. Duffy has a special way of counseling in that he wants our clients to learn how to live, have fun and enjoy a life of sobriety and productivity. These attributes cannot be taught in a classroom or a group session, they actually require a reality experience. Ryan heads up the Work Therapy program one of the components of care at the Courage to Change Ranch.
Ryan also makes sure that the clients have an opportunity to experience fun and enjoyment during their residency. Clients enjoy field trips to the Paint Mines, AA meeting and dances, football and basketball games, rodeos, auction sales, community picnics, barbeques or other social activities.
The C2C Ranch recognizes that clients can create their own dopamine naturally with fun and laughter and serotonin while enjoying the sunshine and absorbing natural Vitamin D. Many of these activities are a new experience for clients to enjoy without the use of drugs or alcohol. Fishing and camping are favorite activities that alcoholics and addicts love to do in combination with their drug of choice. In fact most have never been sober while fishing or camping.
|
