The Center's staff of trained professionals guides each young man and woman through an individual treatment program. The staff includes a medical director, clinical psychologist, certified chemical dependency counselors, youth counselors, house managers, an activities coordinator, teachers with appropriate credentials for the educational program, and a full administrative staff.

The staff offers recovery education and individual and group counseling. The primary treatment occurs in same-gender therapeutic groups. This helps to create healthy peer group processes that youths can replicate in their communities. The daily group therapy sessions help each young person see his or her troubles as part of a predictable pattern resulting from drug or alcohol use. More importantly, these groups allow them to begin to process, learn and reinforce healthy ways to cope with life's demands with the support of peers who give positive and healthy feedback.

KEY STAFF MEMBERS:

Wm Michael Johnson, Ph.D, Executive Director, Before coming to the Bobby Benson Center, Dr. Johnson was Executive Director of the Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent Aids, Honolulu; President and CEO of the South Shore Mental Health Center, Charlestown, R.I.; Chief Executive Officer of the Chelan-Douglas Behavioral Health Clinic, Wenatchee, WA, and Director of Drug and Alcohol Services, Crest View Hospital, Casper, Wyoming.

While based in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Johnson trained individuals across the Middle East, Europe and England on the delivery of drug and alcohol services. Under a Rotary International grant, he provided training to communities in Russia to initiate Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs. He is the author of several chapters in a U.S. Department of Justice training manual on crime scene investigation regarding inhalant abuse.

Dr. Johnson holds a Doctorate in Health Services/Administration from Walden University and an M.A. in Counseling and Educational Psychology from New Mexico State University. He is an Adjunct Professor in Sociology and Psychology at Hawaii Pacific University and is a frequent speaker to civic and community groups.

Mahalo

Clinical Director, Available Soon.

Mahalo