• Professional Interventionists

    clinical experience makes the difference

    Professional Interventionists - clinical experience makes the difference

Jeff Jay, CIP

Jeff Jay is a professional interventionist and co-author of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention (Hazelden, 3rd edition, 2021). He has been working full time in the substance abuse treatment field since 1986, including work for the Hazelden Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and is a Certified Intervention Professional. He has appeared as an expert on CNN, PBS, and the Jane Pauley Show. His spiritual memoir is Navigating Grace, a solo voyage of survival and redemption.

Jeff specializes in complex interventions for impaired professionals. He is also skilled in working with baby boomers, older adults, and younger adults. His expertise is sought after for cases which are complicated by psychological issues, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disease and trauma. He also conducts interventions for eating disorders, gambling addiction, sex addiction, and other issues. His personal recovery from addiction dates from October 4, 1981.

“I believe in intervention for a very simple reason,” says Jeff.
“Intervention saved my life.”

Debra Jay

Debra Jay is a noted author, speaker, and trainer for addiction professionals. She worked for Hazelden as an inpatient counselor for both men and women, was interim supervisor of the women’s program, facilitated the weekly family program, designed the evening outpatient family program, and was the coordinator of the older adult track.

Debra was a guest lecturer for Wayne State University graduate studies on addiction for fourteen years. She has been writing a newspaper advice column on families and addiction since 1996. She has served as board member for Brighton Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, and Dawn Farm. She is a recipient of the 2012 Letitia M. Close B.V.M Award in recognition of a significant ministry in helping women with the disease of addiction.

Debra was the addiction expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show for 3 seasons and has appeared on the Dr. Oz Show. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the Hazelden Addiction Professionals Training Program.

To learn more about Debra’s books, click here.

Our Clinical Associates

Kathryn Row, MA, LPC, CAADC

Kathy is a Clinical interventionist and a Structured Family Recovery® Counselor in Ann Arbor/Detroit, MI. She has been helping families in the field of mental health and addiction for more than 20 years.

Kathy worked at Pathway Family Center, a long term adolescent treatment center, where she held the position of Vice President of Clinical Operations.

She also served as an Adjunct Instructor in Addiction Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Read more about Kathryn Row

Michael Parr, MD

Board Certified in Addiction Medicine
Professional Interventionist

Michael Parr, MD, is a professional interventionist in Sacramento, California. He has been helping families get in recovery for decades. He is a Love First certified professional interventionist, and is board certified in addiction medicine.

Dr. Parr  has over 30 years experience in chemical dependency treatment and pain management. He served as a consultant to the National Basketball Association Player Assistance Program for 25 years.

Read more about Dr. Parr

Cheryl Emery, MS, CAP

Cheryl Emery is a professional interventionist based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is deeply passionate about helping families and their addicted loved ones. She has worked in psychiatric centers and addiction treatment programs since 2003.

Cheryl specializes in complex addiction and trauma. She excels in helping highly resistant clients including young adults and families affected by the disease, as well as its aftermath.

Read more about Cheryl Emery, MS

Elisabeth Escobar, MA

Elisabeth Escobar is a professional interventionist in New York, NY, and Washington, DC. She has been working in the field of counseling and substance abuse treatment for over 25 years, in both the United States and Europe. Elisabeth works well with all age groups and facilitates each family member’s personal growth and development around what it means to be in Recovery.

Elisabeth holds an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University and an M.A. in Guidance & Counseling from Eastern Michigan University. Her treatment approach draws heavily from the 12-step program and she utilizes Carl Roger’s approach of Un-Conditional Positive Regard in her work with clients. She also currently maintains a private Coaching, Counseling & Consulting Practice via Skype and is a regular contributor to the London based, “Intervene” magazine.

Read more about Elisabeth Escobar

Lowell Duncan, LADC, CAP

Lowell Duncan is a clinical interventionist based in Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota. He has more than 30 years experience in the addiction treatment field. Lowell is a graduate of the Hazelden Chemical Dependency Counselor Training Program, and he an LACD, CAP, and an Internationally certified drug and alcohol counselor.

Lowell worked at Hazelden Foundation in Center City, Minnesota for 26 years as a unit supervisor and therapist. He is also the author of Hazelden’s publication Heroin: The First Few Months of Recovery. His intervention experience is as wide and deep as his professional experience. He is passionate about helping families and patients find joy in recovery.

Read more about Lowell Duncan

Lori Forseth, Clinical Coordinator

Lori answers questions and coordinates appointments for professional intervention and Structured Family Recovery®. She has been working with families at Love First for years and is very knowledgable, available, and an easy-going, warm person to talk with about addiction and family needs. Lori has degrees in psychology and sociology, graduating with distinction in both areas. You can call our direct line, toll free: 888-220-4400.

Copyright © 2000-2021 Love First, Inc. All rights reserved. ••• Structured Family Recovery® is a Registered Trademark of Debra Jay.
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