Addiction is a disease that requires proper treatment, and just like any other illness, addiction can come in varying degrees of severity. For most people battling addiction, their dependence is too strong to fight the disease on their own. Some individuals may require detox to rid their body of the toxic drugs or alcohol followed by inpatient treatment with 24-hour nursing care to monitor potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
For those starting their recovery journey without having to detox, or for individuals ready to take the next step towards sobriety after detoxing, outpatient treatment helps recovering addicts transition from life in active addiction to a rewarding, productive life of sobriety.
At Outpatient Los Angeles, we employ an evidence-based treatment philosophy that uncovers the root causes of addiction and helps bring about positive lifestyle changes necessary for lasting sobriety. We focus on an upscale experience that includes luxurious accommodations, healthy meal preparation, luxury transportation, and more. For many of our clients, this experience is transformative and leads them to live a life they never believed was possible during their time in active addiction.
While in treatment, we also provide a strong support network of staff, peers, and alumni – all in recovery themselves with real experience and real clean time. It is possible to stay sober, and outpatient substance abuse treatment at Outpatient Los Angeles will arm you with the tools to fight and overcome addiction in real world scenarios for years to come after treatment.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse addiction, do not hesitate to reach out. You CAN recover. We can help.
Rod Amiri, MD, is a psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist in Beverly Hills, California. He serves as executive director of Connect Wellness and personally leads their renowned intensive outpatient program to ensure the highest level of success for every patient.
Born in Ahvaz, Iran, Dr. Amiri escaped the war-torn country with the help of his family and immigrated to the United States at age 13. He excelled in high school and college, graduating at the top of his class. He earned his medical degree from St. George’s University in True Blue, Grenada, before going on to complete his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Amiri served as chief resident at Cedars-Sinai, where he mastered intensive psychotherapy skills and was honored with several awards, scholarships, and fellowships from organizations including the California Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association. He also gained teaching experience as a professor of anatomy and physiology at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles.
In addition to helping men and women cope with mental health disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, Dr. Amiri has a private practice in Beverly Hills, California, and is a consulting psychiatrist.
As Clinical Director, Karen Cohen leads the treatment team with great empathy and unparalleled commitment to the well-being of the clients in our care. With advanced clinical experience, Karen guides our clinical team in providing quality care to our clients and creating individualized treatment plans using a holistic approach.
Karen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and went on to pursue her Master of Science Degree in Counseling, with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She has extensive experience working within the field of addiction and dual diagnosis. Karen also has advanced experience with managing and structuring clinical programs that best meet the needs of clients. At Outpatient Los Angeles, Karen works compassionally with staff, clients, and their families to foster a healing environment.
Jordan is a Graduate from the University of Arizona. He obtained a BA in Behavioral Sciences and a Minor in Psychology and Family Studies. Jordan has been working in the field of behavioral and substance healthcare since 2009. He began his career as a sober living manager and it was this experience that solidified Jordan’s passion for providing compassionate, client-centered care in the mental health, addiction, and co-occurring treatment field.
Over the years Jordan has served as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, and Program Director for various treatment programs in Los Angeles and Malibu. Jordan has also supported the creation and development of various local treatment programs in the Los Angeles area that continue to serve clients and families today. In addition to having a passion for building strong clinical programs utilizing evidence-based practices for clients and families. These experiences of providing direct client care as well as program development, program leadership, and compliance have culminated in his current role as Program Director.
With nearly two decades of experience working in the treatment field, Isaac Reddick brings more to the table than merely his 30 years of continuous sobriety. His fervent belief that, “You are only as strong as you will LET yourself be” has enabled him to be a leader and mentor to our clients as they struggle throughout the days of their early recovery, all while managing the staff that guides them throughout their day-to-day affairs. Coordinating his own efforts with those of our vaunted clinical team, Isaac’s irreverent sense of humor and ability to keep every problem “right-sized” has made him, time and time again, the go-to guy when it comes to fulfilling every client’s needs.
Hailing from Pasadena, California, Taylor began his journey in a treatment setting as a client after years of struggling with substance abuse. Upon graduating as a client, Taylor began working as a house manager in a sober living in 2019. Over the next few years Taylor demonstrated his commitment to helping others along their personal recovery journeys as a residential technician. Serving now as the Director of Housing for Sober Complex, Taylor leads with his frontline treatment experience and educational background in systems engineering.
“Looking back now, I remember how broken and lost I was coming into treatment. Now I have the opportunity to be one of the first smiles and signs of support for those who walk in the same doors I did on my first day and let them know there is hope.”
Indeed, it is his dedication for helping people in recovery and his love of complex systems that makes him such a valuable asset to developing and maintaining the operations side of the treatment experience. On the weekends you’ll find Taylor leading expeditions with clients to the trails and beaches of Southern California, riding dirt bikes with friends or doing yoga in the local parks.
Britanni is a client-centered therapist with a passion for helping individuals heal. Britanni utilizes a humanistic approach to assist clients is working through presenting problems such as unresolved trauma, attachment issues, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and family and relational issues. Britanni started her career working with transitional aged foster youth in a residential setting. It was here where Britanni learned the importance of trauma informed care and meeting the client where they’re at. Britanni started her work in substance abuse at the residential level before transitioning to the IOP level of care. Britanni approaches her clients and their families with compassion and empathy as they work towards healing from the disease of addiction.
Britanni earned her bachelors in Liberal Studies from California State University, Fullerton and went on to pursue her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Hope International University.
Valerie Reich is a person-focused therapist who is encouraging, open-minded, and warm. Valerie utilizes a holistic approach to aid her clients in working through their presenting problems. Valerie has treated numerous presenting problems, including trauma, attachment issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and relational issues. Valerie is currently recieving training and cetification in Couples and Sex therapy and has been able to assist individuals coming to treatment to strengthen their interpersonal relationships with their partners and families. Valerie started her career working at the West LA Veteran Affairs with houseless veterans in substance abuse recovery and has since transitioned into working at both the private detox/residential and IOP levels. Valerie earned her bachelor’s degree from Elon University in North Carolina, and her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Valerie is an LGBTQIA2s+, Anti-Racist, and Sex-Positive clinician and works to make a comfortable therapeutic environment for all of her clients.
Christopher Soto joined Outpatient Los Angeles in the summer of 2021 with a passion to work with other recovering addicts.Chris earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California Lutheran University where he worked as an Alcohol and Drug Peer Educator. Currently, he attends the University of Southern California as a Master of Social Work student. With us, Chris works alongside our clinical team to help facilitate successful discharge planning for clients. He prides himself in preparing clients for discharge with increased confidence in employment and educational resiliency. Chris hopes to offer tools in relapse prevention and discipline to the clients he works with.
Leila is a native of Texas and graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville Texas, with a degree in Business Administration. Leila started her career working in treatment in 2013 and has worked in various treatment centers in the Los Angeles area. She has been working with the company since July 2020 as a Human Resources Manager.
Stating that “Addiction has affected one of the most important people in my life and working in this field has been rewarding and challenging. It gives me a greater sense of the struggles of addiction and the beauty of recovery.
Nicolas has been the Director of Admissions for Elysium Health since 2020. He believes in facilitating a smooth experience for our patients, insurance providers, and other partners, and has been working in the substance abuse field for over 6 years. Nicolas grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. After high school, Nicolas attended college and worked in Richmond, VA. Nicolas’ own struggles with substance abuse brought him into the behavioral health field, where he has concentrated his professional efforts in helping others achieve sobriety. He has been sober since April 15, 2014 and is now committed to assisting other people receive life-saving treatment and achieving sobriety.
Six years clean and sober may not seem like a lot of time to the layman, but to our clients, six years is a lifetime. Nicknamed “The Recovery Goddess” by our constituents, Shirley Pius brings more than just experience, strength and hope to her job; she also brings a healthy sense of compassion and support to the table. Responsible for managing and coordinating individual patients’ day-to-day medical, psychiatric and therapeutic schedules, Shirley’s ability to set the vision put together by our clinical team into action makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the face of our outpatient center. Outside of her worklife, Shirley finds fulfilment in helping newly clean and sober addicts as an active member of Narcotics Anonymous and spends her free time enjoying live music at renowned venues with her fiancee and their two adorable dogs. With such a robust, well-rounded life serving as an example of what good recovery looks like, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone else who could help meet the challenges of early recovery with the level of honesty, care and aplomb that she does; and because of this, Shirley Pius has proven herself an invaluable member of our team.
