Candy Finnigan is a nationally recognized addiction specialist and interventionist. She received her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Counseling Skills and her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Abuse Studies from UCLA in 1993. Internships were done at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she worked in Addiction Services, and C.P.C. Westwood Hospital. She was certified in Sex Addiction by Dr. Patrick Carnes in 1997 and attended Post Induction training with Pia Mellody, R.N., in 1997 at the Meadows. She received her intervention training in 1991 from Dr. Vernon Johnson when intervention was relatively new. In 2001 she was trained in Systemic Family Intervention. She has enjoyed professional relationships with many treatment centers nationally and internationally. Candy also completed co-dependency training with a well-known author and authority on co-dependency and its role in addiction and alcoholism treatment, Pia Mellody. She has done extensive workshop training in the fields of dual diagnosis and psychiatric treatments, and other process addictions.

Candy has been involved in all areas of recovery for over 28 years, not only as an interventionist, but also in relapse prevention, holding a certificate in the Gorski method, having been trained in 1996 by Terence Gorski. Additionally, she has extensive experience in assessment, placement, and aftercare treatment. She has been a group facilitator for many years with both adults and adolescents. Candy did work with the students at Beverly Hills High School as a drug and alcohol specialist/counselor for 11 years, acting as facilitator of the “Sober Lunch” program. She is a Certified Master Addiction Counselor III and a Board Registered Interventionist II. She belongs to the Association of Intervention Specialists and is a Certified Intervention Professional.

Ericha Scott, Ph.D., LPCC917, ICAADC, ATR-BC, REAT

For thirty-eight years, Dr. Scott has been a healer who walks the fine line between mysticism and evidenced-based psychotherapy.

She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LPCC917) in California. She has been initiated in several shamanic traditions, certified as an interfaith spiritual director, energy healer, and advanced substance use disorder counselor, and she is a dually certified creative and expressive arts therapist. She has been a keynote speaker, and she has contributed to several books ranked as number one international best sellers. She paints and writes poetry.

Ms. Pedersen, CADC-II, is known for her unbridled passion and fierce commitment to any person in need of care. A respected professional with over 35 years of progressive experience in the addiction and mental health field. Trained by the masters, she received her certification in addiction counseling at UCLA in 1986. She received her Intervention training in 1985 from the prestigious Johnson Institute. She is considered one of the pioneers of our helping profession. Her expertise in program development is evidenced by her contribution to the building of two of the finest residential treatment programs in the nation. Lynne has an innate ability to create space where the integrity of care and healing is paramount.

Dr. Matthew Polacheck, PsyD, MA, is a well-known expert and spokesperson on mental health and substance use disorders, appearing on CNN, Fox News, Dr. Phil and myriad national media outlets. During his 15 years as a clinician, he has served in several leadership roles, most recently for the past 7 years as director of The Betty Ford Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Polacheck also served as director of Mental Health for the Center for Discovery. He gained valuable insight and experience during his time directing adult and adolescent residential facilities, opening and operating Outpatient programs, and teaching graduate-level courses on chemical dependency and mental health. A certified trauma therapist, addiction counselor, and author, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his MA in counseling psychology and PsyD from the Wright Institute in California.