About Ohio Addiction Recovery Center

Mike is the Program Director at Ohio Addiction Recovery Center. Armed with his extensive experience in the addiction treatment field, Mike plays a critical role ensuring the maintenance and evolution of our successful program.

Mike has worked in addiction treatment for nearly six years. In his previous role, he worked in Community Relations with one of the highest rated addiction treatment centers in West Virginia and also owned his own transitional housing program. When asked why he decided to accept his role at OARC, he says “I love the smaller family-like environment at OARC. I came from a large facility where sometimes clients could get lost in the shuffle. At OARC, the individualized aspect is really emphasized and I think that’s what makes this program special. The staff are also extremely passionate and you can tell for many of them their job is more than just a paycheck.”

Mike is from Canton, Ohio and is very open about his own experience with addiction and recovery. After years of struggling with substance use, addicted family dynamics, and consequences he considers rock bottom, he finally decided to enter a long-term program similar to OARC. He says long-term treatment was the best decision he ever made.

Mike also says a focus on spirituality, fitness, and brotherhood were all key components that led to the rewarding long-term recovery he enjoys today. As Program Director, Mike molds our program and guides our team to encompass these values.

Karen is a highly experienced clinician with over 30 years of experience in the mental health & addiction field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Sociology from Otterbein University, a Master’s in Social Work from The Ohio State University, and a LISW-S certification. Starting initially as a consultant for OARC, she became our full-time Clinical Director in 2019.

Her career began in forensic psychiatry where she evaluated individuals with criminal charges to determine if they should receive addiction treatment in lieu of a conviction. Throughout her career she held many other positions, working both in administration and as a clinician. Her impressive resume includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer of a state hospital and, most recently, the Chief Operations Officer of a privately-owned behavioral health center here in Central Ohio.

Karen was in retirement when she started consulting for OARC. When asked why she decided to accept the full-time role, Karen says “Let me say this: I came out of retirement to work for OARC. The team of clinicians is among the most unique I have ever worked with. Their drive, personal integrity, teamwork, and dedication to the client make it a really enjoyable place to work. Many of our clinicians also have personal experience with recovery and I think that’s what makes our program special.”

A veteran psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience, Bethany is the Clincal Supervisor for OARC’s women’s program. She is a graduate of Ohio Christian Univiersity and holds an LCDC III certifcation. In her role, Bethany both provides direct care to clients and helps guide OARC’s treatment model for women. She also trains new therapists, acts as example of OARC values, and collaborates with the clinical team to develop treatment plans. Her clinical approach utilizes evidence-based modalities such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialecitcal behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, process therapy, group therapy, and more.

Bethany says she was drawn to the addiction treatment field starting in high school when her best friend fell into substance abuse. Being deeply impacted by this experience, she developed a passion for understanding why individuals turn to drugs or alcohol and what solutions are available. 

Today, she says being a therapist is her dream job because she loves helping people. In her own words: “When you see a person come in confused and broken and then start a life of recovery, it’s extremely rewarding knowing you helped them put the pieces back together.”

Josh has been with OARC since 2016. He and his team link OARC with the recovery community and help build professional relationships with other healthcare providers. In his role, Josh collaborates with various agencies, hospitals, community liasons, and treatment centers to amplify our impact throughout Ohio. Whether one of these entities could benefit from OARC’s services or needs resources outside of our scope, Josh’s vast knowledge of behavioral health solutions enable us to engage the community in a deeper capacity. 

Josh is in recovery himself and says his years of active addiction helped shape who he is today. He believes his experience with recovery has given him great insight on how to be most helpful to those struggling with substance use. In his own words, “I love my role because I get an opportunity to give back to the community. Even when OARC isn’t the best fit for someone, it’s rewarding when you can offer a solution.”

Jon, who you might hear called by his nickname “Sunshine”, has been working in admissions at OARC since 2017 and has a passion for helping others. Jon is often the first point of contact for many of our clients and their families, providing counsel, assessments, and guidance through the admissions process. Jon also trains other admissions coordinators and acts as an example of OARC values for his team. From your first phone call through your first day of treatment, Jon and his team ensure all of your questions have been answered and help facilitate a smooth admission process.

When someone calls us for help, they are often going through one of the most difficult periods of their life. For someone entering addiction treatment for the first time, they often have many questions about the process and what comes next. It’s important that the person answering that call be compassionate and helpful, while having extensive knowledge of the different levels of care and resources available outside of OARC. Being in recovery himself and having deep working knowledge of addiction treatment, Jon ensures that the person answering that call is able to provide exceedingly helpful and empathetic assistance.

Meet Teddy, one of the certified therapy dogs at OARC! Those who are familiar with us know we have always had animals incorporated into our program. We strongly believe in the healing power of animals.

Not a dog lover? That’s ok too. Being a well trained pup, Teddy can respect your privacy.

Meet Lexi, one of the therapy dogs at OARC! Those who are familiar with us know we have always had animals incorporated into our program. We strongly believe in the healing power of animals. Lexi is certified therapy dog you will surely meet at our program.

Not a dog lover? That’s ok too. Being a well-trained pup, Lexi will respect your privacy.