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  • Professional Interventionists

    Clinical experience makes the difference

Debra Jay, MA

President & Co-Founder

Debra Jay is a nationally recognized addiction specialist, author, and speaker known for her pioneering work with families facing addiction. As co-founder of Love First, she helped establish one of the most respected practices in the field.

Debra is the creator of Structured Family Recovery® and co-author of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention, both of which have transformed how families support lasting recovery. Her professional training programs in Clinical Intervention and Structured Family Recovery attract experienced clinicians from across the U.S. and internationally. Debra has appeared frequently in national media, including three seasons on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

In 2026, NAATP honored Debra and Jeff Jay with its Michael Ford Award for writing excellence, recognizing more than three decades of writing, teaching, and innovation that helped establish families as essential partners in addiction treatment and recovery.

Read Debra’s full bio HERE

Jeff Jay, BSc, CADC, CIP

Co-founder

Jeff Jay is co-author of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention (Hazelden, 3rd edition, 2021). He has been working full-time in the addiction treatment field since 1986, including clinical work for the Hazelden Foundation. He has written extensively on the spirituality of recovery, the Love First approach to intervention, and the keys to long-term success.

Jeff is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and is a Certified  Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Certified Intervention Professional. He has appeared as an expert on CNN, PBS, and the Jane Pauley Show.

Jeff’s expertise is sought after for clinical training and leadership. His acclaimed spiritual memoir Navigating Grace: a solo voyage of survival and redemption, was published by Hazelden. He is also co-author of  At Wits End: what you need to know when a loved one is diagnosed with addiction and mental illness, (Hazelden). His personal recovery from addiction dates from October 4, 1981. (read Jeff’s full bio HERE)

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

In 2026, NAATP honored Debra and Jeff Jay with its Michael Ford Award for writing excellence, recognizing more than three decades of writing, teaching, and innovation that helped establish families as essential partners in addiction treatment and recovery.

Our Clinical Interventionists

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

Scott Steenbergh, MSW, LCSW, CAADC

Scott Steenbergh has been helping families and their beloved addicts since 2012. He is a licensed clinical social worker, a certified Structured Family Recovery® counselor, and a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor. He is also a person in long-term recovery from addiction himself. Scott is an expert in helping families navigate crisis situations and guiding them in the treatment and recovery process.

Read more about Scott Steenbergh

Amy Jack, MA, CIP, LFCCI

Amy Jack, MA, is a Love First Certified Clinical Interventionist and Structured Family Recovery® Counselor with over twelve years of experience in the addiction and recovery field. She understands the profound impact addiction has on the entire family and is deeply committed to helping families find stability, clarity, and direction.

Read more about Amy Jack

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

James Patterson, ICADC

James Patterson has been helping patients and families for 35 years. He is an internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor and has served for more than 25 years as executive director of Specialized Outpatient Services. He is a trainer for the American Society of Addiction Medicine and has served on many non-profit boards. He brings a special calm and insight to the most difficult situations, based on years of experience and personal recovery.

Read more about James Patterson

Lisa Nagy, CAP, Clinical Coordinator

Lisa Nagy is the clinical coordinator at Love First. She holds the CAP licensure (certified addiction professional, Florida), and has been working in the addiction treatment field for over fifteen years. Lisa is also certified as a Structured Family Recovery® counselor, guiding families through the recovery process. She is a family support specialist and provides remarkable insight and services to families in need. Lisa has held a variety clinical positions in the addiction treatment field, providing front-line services to both patients and families in residential and outpatient settings. Her clinical insight and recovery experiences have proven to be invaluable to the families we serve. Currently, Lisa Nagy manages our clinical team and helps direct families in crisis to appropriate services at Love First.

IN MEMORIUM:
March 29, 1941 – March 25, 2024

Michael Parr, MD

Physician and Clinical Interventionist

Michael Parr was a hero in the field of addiction medicine. He was also our dear friend and colleague. We’ve added our thoughts and remembrances to his page.

Michael Parr, MD
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