Meet The Oro Staff
Program Co-Founder
BOB FORREST, PROGRAM CO-FOUNDER
Bob Forrest is perhaps best known as the straight talking, straight shooting counselor on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew. Bob had a long journey in his struggle with addiction, visiting rehab facilities 24 times before finding sobriety in 1996. He has spent the last 17 years being of service, becoming one of the foremost… Read More
Medical
Dr. Jason Giles, MD, Board Certified Addictionologist
Dr. Giles completed an internship in General Surgery, residency in Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, and earned board certifications in Anesthesiology and Addiction Medicine. He was a cardiac anesthesiologist and pain specialist, before devoting his full time to Addiction Medicine in 2005… Read More
ANETA PRINCE, MD
Dr. Prince specializes in integrative psychiatry, focusing on a patient-centered approach that considers evidence-based pharmacological treatments as well as sociocultural factors, nutritional status, mind-body medicine, and preventative medicine in both the treatment of illness and the promotion of long-term mental wellness… Read More
Dr. Daniel Son, MD
Daniel Son is a compassionate and warm psychiatrist specializing in addiction psychiatry. Dr. Son is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. He received his medical education from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Read More
TAMRA LUTZKER, RN
Tamra Lutzker is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of nursing experience which includes working as a detox specialist in an exclusive Malibu treatment center and providing medically supervised private in-home detox to high profile clientele… Read More
Clinical
DAVID CISNEROS, LMFT, CLINICAL DIRECTOR
David Cisneros is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He got clean and sober in 1999 and began doing volunteer literacy work for Cri-Help, Inc. in 2000. He assisted in developing a literacy program for their sister program Socorro, in East Los Angeles… Read More
Dr. Urvi Natha, PsyD
Dr. Urvi Natha completed her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and serves as a primary therapist at Oro House Recovery Centers. Dr. Natha was trained in advanced cognitive behavioral therapies at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Read More
ITAY KOHANE, PSYD, PSYCHOLOGIST
Itay moved to the United States to finish his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University in Santa Barbara, CA following eight years of service in the Israeli Air Force as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot… Read More
Shelby Ash, Psychological Associate
Shelby Ash has a Master’s degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Antioch, Santa Barbara. Shelby has completed several years of intensive training in psychodynamic and relational therapy at The Saturday Center for Psychotherapy.… Read More
GABRIELLE SAMUELS, LMFT, PRIMARY THERAPIST
Gabrielle received her BA from UC Irvine and has her MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University as well as a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute…. Read More
Darrin Kagele, M.A., LMFT, Primary Therapist
Darrin Kagele is a California Board licensed Marriage and Family therapist with 8+ years of extensive client experience in addiction treatment. Read More
Matthew Morgan, SUDCC-IV, Primary Therapist
Matthew Morgan is trained in various techniques, including EEG Neurofeedback, LGBTQ Focused EMDR, clinical trauma (CTP), MI, SUD Counseling, DBT, Meditation (TM), case management, and classical guitar. Read More
ChaRosnese Dixon - Primary Therapist
ChaRosnese Dixon is a client-focused professional dedicated to client development. Her background includes working with children in child protective services, residential settings, and foster care, as well as with adults with a dual diagnosis of substance addiction and mental health disorders… Read More
JODI WAGNER, CADC-II, CSC, DIRECTOR OF CLIENT CARE
Jodi Wagner is a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor as well as Clinical Supervisor Credentialed and has worked in the recovery field since 1999! Jodi worked at Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health for co-occurring disorders with women as a Primary Counselor for over 6 years and from there was at Journey Out for 8 years, prior to… Read More
COREY CARDENAS, EQUINE SPECIALIST
Corey Cardenas has been horse crazy for as long as she can remember. Regularly riding and being with horses since she was three, Corey has been well shaped and trained by the horse. She is continually learning the subtle art of body language and reading energy. With a genuine love of people, trust in the… Read More
Support Staff
HEIDI PHERSON, CLIENT ADVOCATE
Heidi Pherson started her sober journey at an AA meeting in NYC’s West Village and never looked back. Since that night in 2012, Heidi has placed daily meditation and living a life of service at the center of her life, with a particular focus on compassionately supporting those in addiction recovery… Read More
ARNIE SALLAN, SHIFT LEAD
Arnie Sallan has worked in the field of dual diagnosis treatment since 2015 and has been sober since 2014. He is active and involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and enjoys participating in his recovery. Arnie loves working at Oro and being engaged in the recovery community and giving back what has been given to him. He… Read More
SAIGE EVANOW, RADT-I, NEUROFEEDBACK TECHNICIAN
Saige Freie managed a sober living facility in Ventura prior to coming to Oro House and has been with us since 2017. Her passion is helping people to understand the nature of addiction and what drugs and alcohol do to the body and mind. Saige is currently in school studying psychology and has been sober since… Read More
DREW DENNETT, MSW PRACTICUM STUDENT
Drew Dennett has worked at Oro House Recovery Centers as a residential advisor and shift lead and has been with the company since 2019. He is currently in the process of receiving his MSW from the University of Southern California Dworack-Peck School of Social Work.… Read More
SAL MICHAEL FEDERICO, BA, RADT-1, OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sal Michael Federico didn’t take the usual path in life. He starting using alcohol and drugs at young age, and in the process, missed out on a normal childhood. After a lengthy 19 year battle with addiction, Mike has been clean since 2011. It took an outpatient program and help from a 12-step program to give… Read More
MEL WILLIAMS, TRANSPORTATION
Mel Williams had seen and felt the impact of addiction occur in her family and became passionate about helping others struggling with substance use disorder in any way possible. This inspired her to work in the field of recovery. She has an AA in Social Science and Sociology and loves coming to work every day… Read More
Gavin Pherson, Meditation, Breathwork, Yoga Instructor
Gavin Pherson is a licensed 300RYS Yoga Teacher in the Tantric tradition, a certified Breathwork instructor, and an interfaith meditation teacher. He has been a dedicated yogi since 1999… Read More
Admissions
BOB HOWLAND, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Bob Howland comes to Oro House with over 15 years in Healthcare/ Medical industry experience, 25 years in business development and a bachelors degree from George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia. Bob has dedicated his life to helping others in the transition to recovery. Bob suffered a back injury when he was 18 years old… Read More
BRANDON LEWIS, ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR
Brandon Lewis has been working in recovery for over 7 years. Some of the tools he has found useful are both therapy and psychiatry to address the underlying issues that drive substance use disorder. Brandon is a talented musician and has been playing guitar and… Read More
ALI MORROW, DIRECTOR OF UTILIZATION REVIEW
Ali Morrow has worked in the field of dual diagnosis treatment since 2007 when she served as a Resident Advisor. Upon earning her LVN in March 2011, she transitioned into working in Utilization Review. Ali is passionate about Utilization Review and she thoroughly reviews client records and collaborates with the… Read More
Founders
EVAN HAINES, MA, CO-FOUNDER
Evan Haines is a Co-Founder of Oro House, and specializes in admissions, and marketing and business development. An active participant in the recovery world, it felt natural for Evan to transition into the sober living business, and help others obtain and maintain sobriety. In 2010, he and Jared founded Oro House, which, in less than… Read More
JARED VALENTINE, CO-FOUNDER
Jared Valentine is a Co-Founder of Oro House Recovery Centers. During his ten-year tenure as Co-Founder, Oro House has been providing community-based, long-term holistic drug and alcohol treatment by running inpatient, outpatient, and transitional living facilities under one umbrella… Read More
