Staff

The clinical staff at Balboa Horizons stands out as the single most vital resource of the Holistic Healing Program for Women.  Our Professionals have been screened and selected for their background and success in the field of women's addiction, and recovery.

Balboa Horizon’s is pleased to present a highly trained and skilled staff that brings over 40 years of experience into the healing environment with compassion, professionalism and a dedication to the care needs that are specific to recovering woman.  In addition, our staff has an understanding of the life-changing challenges and issue’s that women commonly face in recovery.  Our staff provides care that is personal, individualized where necessary and addresses the physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that have lead many women to addiction.

The Balboa Horizons program is unlike any other in combining a gentle inspiring environment with extensive daily and weekly exposure to leading professionals in the field with a generous staff-to-client ratio.

 

Lenny Segal, MSW LMSW

Executive Director

Lenny Segal is the Executive Director of Balboa Horizons.  He has a Masters Degree in clinical social work from Arizona State University, with over 11 years of experience in the addiction field. Lenny has spent the last ten years at the prestigious Cottonwood Tucson treatment program working as a Primary Therapist. 

Lenny specializes in the treatment of individuals who suffer from co-occurring / dual diagnosis issues.  He understands the importance of being able to work and address the underlying problems that have caused the hardships in their life today.  It is only by targeting and overcoming these underlying issues, that enable a person to maintain ongoing recovery. Lenny's passion is helping individuals work through areas of their lives that they have struggled with for so long.  At Balboa Horizons, Lenny takes an active approach in helping the Resident and their Families move towards their goals. 

 

“It is an indescribable feeling that I get when I work with an individual and for the first time they are happy with themselves.  I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to help so many amazing people.”

Suzanne M. Casale CATC CAADE

Director

Suzanne began her work in the field of addiction treatment after 20 years as a successful entrepreneur in the clothing design business. Experiencing personally the transformation that recovery brought into her own life, she became dedicated to sharing that with others. In working to create a solid and balanced program for our clients Suzanne believes in blending the cornerstone of 12-step recovery, with newest methods that have proven effective in treating addiction.

Suzanne graduated from Saddleback College receiving certificates in Alcohol and Drug Studies and Family Services. She is a Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor by the State of California and is a registered member of the California Association for Alcohol/ Drug Educators.

 

Linda Kraemer, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Linda uses a practical, problem solving approach, she is honest and direct, but caring. Linda utilizes a combination of cognitive-behavioral and humanistic techniques. Linda works with individuals and groups and believes what makes therapy effective is a combination of educating clients, establishing goals, creating an open environment and a trusting relationship. Over the years, she has learned specific techniques to use for individuals struggling with anxiety, panic, depression, personality disorders, cutting, anger, substance abuse, low self-esteem.

"We deal with just about every diagnosis, but in-particular Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality, Bipolar Illness, Substance Abuse, and Schizophrenia. I speak nationally to therapists about working effectively with Borderline Patients. It requires a lot of compassion."

 

Erika Vargas, J.D., MFT - Therapist

Primary Therapist

Erika has over 6 years of experience working in the behavioral health field. The primary focus of her practice has been working with individuals with addiction.  She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of addiction and has particular talent for working with trauma survivors, performing EMDR and family therapy.  She also has experience in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. We love Erika's creativity.

She has the ability to have fun and make the "treatment" experience much more comfortable. In addition, Erika holds a Juris Doctor from University of Southern California and is an adjunct professor at Chapman University. The combination of her experience and extensive training as both a therapist and an educator have given her a special aptitude for grasping the underlying conflict, stresses, perceptions, distortions and self-worth issues involved with addiction.

 

Dr. Kristin Briscoe, PsyD

Primary Therapist

has extensive experience assisting individuals, families, and groups achieve optimal wellness. Kristin has a natural and relaxed way of assessing the needs of her clients and employing a range of therapeutic techniques that are most suited for them. She has worked in numerous treatment centers in Southern California assisting individuals struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.  Utilizing a psychospiritual approach she has helped many make profound mental, emotional, and behavioral shifts so that effective change both personally and professionally is experienced.  Her diverse background of working in both the clinical and emergency medical services/ crisis intervention setting allows her to readily recognize and help those experiencing physiological and psychological stressors and distress as they manifest in the moment.

For the last six years she has concentrated in the areas of stress management and relapse prevention.  Assisting individuals and families understand the driving force underneath obsessive/compulsive and high risk behaviors, so that one may experience freedom from such preoccupation and the numerous compromises that are a result from such behavior, is the primary focus that Kristin brings to the recovery process for her clients.  Developing a healthier view of one’s self, releasing limited thinking patterns, overcoming resistance and emotional blocks, and experiencing more peace are some of what one can expect from sessions with Kristin.

Kristin holds a Doctorate in Clinical psychology, a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology, A Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, and a certification in Kundalini Yoga.

Kelly Kunz

Kelly completed her Masters in Counseling from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.  She worked as a program counselor in an intensive inpatient treatment center for addictions and co-occurring disorders before joining Balboa Horizons in 2008 as a Case Manager. 

 

Chris Russell

Office Administrator

 

Consultants

Dr Hisham Korraa MD Medical and Psychiatric Consultation

Dr Britton Arey MD Medical and Psychiatric Consultation

Rand Lundmark, MA, CAS, CADC II
Dr. Gary Dylewski, Medical & Psychiatric Consultation
Dr. Edward Kaufman, M.D. Medical & Psychiatric Consultation
Allison J. Pratt, B.S., MBA Pratt & Associates Vocational Counseling
Christine McIlwain, Ed.D., MFT
Michael Rudolph, MD