Our Team
STUART BIRNBAUM
Founder & CEO
Stuart's career was launched as a comedy writer; penning for Lily Tomlin, Chevy Chase, Redd Foxx, Christopher Guest and Tim Conway and is the recipient of the Writers Guild Award and an Emmy nomination.
DR. BRIAN TAYLOR
Psychiatrist
Dr. Taylor is on faculty for the Community Memorial Health System psychiatric residency program.
He graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1991, completed his internship in general surgery at University of California, San Francisco, and then returned to Stanford University Hospital to train in psychiatry where he served as Chief Resident. He is the former VCBH Medical Director for the Ventura County Health Care Agency and Past Chief of Staff at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). He previously served as the VCBH Quality Medical Director, Medical Director for both Hillmont House, a mental health rehabilitation center, and the Anka-Ventura Crisis Residential Treatment center, as well as Chief of the VCMC Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Taylor is a recipient of the 2015 David Fainer, M.D. and Leo Tauber M.D. Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Award and has also been recognized by both Top Doctors Magazine 2019 and by the Consumers' Research Council of America 2015 as one of America's Top Psychiatrists.
LAURA BERMAN
Program Director, Therapist, Group Facilitator
Laura holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University, and is also a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor. She has worked in the field of addiction in a number of modalities for over 9 years. Laura expertise lies in working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
Laura’s vocational experience includes working as Program Aide for Visions Adolescent Treatment Center mentoring adolescents recovering from addiction, at New York Center for Living as the Intake Coordinator and Individual Therapist, and Hazelden Betty Ford’s New York City Intensive Outpatient. Laura’s training at Hazelden Betty Ford’s New York City Intensive Outpatient facility facilitated experience working with dual-diagnosis adults and young adults, personality disorders, family systems, and trauma-related issues. Laura utilizes several modalities (DBT and Mindfulness, CBT, attachment, MI, and ACT) in order to create a more tailored therapeutic setting for her client’s. Laura works collaboratively with her clients to create a safe environment where client can move towards alleviating symptoms, change in behavioral patterns and negative thinking, transform family-of-origin dynamics, and improving interpersonal relationships. She helps clients develop insight, identify their values, and gain tools to better manage their substance abuse and mental health symptoms.
RACHEL MCMURRAY, LMFT
Clinical Director
She provides clinical trainings on eating disorders and related topics and is the clinical director at Lakehouse Recovery Center. Rachel specializes in treating people with one or more of the following diagnoses: eating disorders, personality disorders, chronic/complex post-traumatic stress disorder, self-injurious behaviors, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. Rachel brings a level of expertise to her work as a result of spending the majority of her career working in eating disorder and substance use disorder treatment centers, performing a variety of clinical and programming roles over the past fifteen years. Rachel identifies openly as a person in recovery from anorexia nervosa and self-injury, creating an authentic sense of purpose and connection with her clients and fellow colleagues.
BILLY STEWART
Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor ll
He has experience in a variety of specialties including Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Youth Offenders and Residential Treatment. Billy was inspired to pursue the field of Substance Abuse Counseling after spending his early years in the music business as a musician in Hollywood, CA during the 80s and early 90s. Billy shared his thoughts about his reason for taking a different path and states, “After surviving the destructive lifestyle and losing some close friends to overdose and suicide, I began to look at life differently”.
Billy is a husband and father to a son he and his wife fostered as an infant and later adopted 7 years ago. When he isn’t working on home improvement projects, he enjoys playing sports with his son, outdoor grilling and playing his guitars.
JOSEPH SPARKS, MSW
Program Therapist
Joseph struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction for 7 years. Joseph attempted to attend several treatment centers early in his addiction but it was not until 5 years ago when he was ready to surrender and ask for help that he got the help he needed. Because of his own experience he made a choice to return to school at the University Of Denver to obtain his Masters in Social Work to help individuals and their families recover.
NATHANIEL HODDER-SHIPP
Breathwork
Using an arsenal of techniques with a special focus on breathwork, Nathaniel has helped thousands of people process trauma, disarm negative thought patterns, and maintain healthy and happy relationships with themselves and loved ones. Nathaniel’s client base ranges from those seeking relief from everyday anxiety to people suffering from severe emotional and physical trauma and desperate for help, and his specialty includes working in addiction treatment facilities to help accelerate clients’ journey to recovery.
Nathaniel was trained to facilitate breathwork professionally and has completed the David Elliott Healer Training series multiple times. He also is the founder of The Recovery Circle, a weekly support group led by trained breathwork professionals to offer an effective alternative to traditional 12-step programs.
To learn more about Nathaniel, please visit http://breathworkforrecovery.com
BEN CAMPBELL
Group Facilitator
He is currently pursuing his Masters in Social Work with a focus on continuing his work with the addiction and prison populations. He is a founding member of LA’s Playback Theater which does performances for at-risk populations.
In addition to working in the recovery field, Ben is an actor with a BFA from NYU Tisch. He's performed on London’s West End and on stages across LA.
BROOKELYN HALL
Case Manager
Throughout the decade she has obtained her Bacelors' in Psychology as well as several certifications including a CADAC, Seeking Safety and becoming a Peer Support Specialist. Brookelyn is in recovery from substance abuse which gives her the compassion needed to meet her clients where they are at. She is currently working towards a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology where she plans to continue the education course for her Doctorate. If Brookelyn is not in the office, you will find her with her rescue dog, Rocket, camping or on a hiking trail in beautiful Southern California.
BRIAN JACOBS
MA Counseling Psychology, Pranayama Breathwork Facilitator
He is a very compassionate, kind and empathetic person and these qualities lie at the core of his work. He combines a blending of traditional Psychology, with his passion Pranayama Breath Work. His work is geared towards assisting people to experience the interwoven connection that exists in, body, mind and spirit. He received his Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from LMU, where he developed his fundamental foundation of studying various perspectives, theories and practices in the field of psychology. He spent several years training at The Maple Center working with children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, Brian spent some time volunteering at The Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA where he worked with kids who had Schizophrenia in a physical therapy milieu. He spent several years volunteering at Vista Del Mar, where he counseled adolescents at the high school. He recently completed his educational requirements for his CADAC at LMU and is now working on obtaining the required hours for licensure. Brian is currently facilitating Breath Work groups in the field of Alcohol and Drug recovery. He is also leading adolescent and young adult groups in mental health facilities, and in meditation centers. Finally, Brian also works in private practice.
LINDSEY COOPER
Program Therapist
Her clinical training began at Airport Marina Counseling Service where she received in-depth psychodynamic training prior to immersing herself in comprehensive DBT. She is trained in the EAGALA model of equine therapy and Brainspotting. Lindsey is dedicated to her own growth as a professional as well as supporting others through conducting clinical trainings and presentations, participating in conference panels (NATSAP 2019), and advocacy work.
Lindsey uses an eclectic approach when working with clients, often incorporating DBT and mindfulness, narrative therapy, family systems, attachment-focused, and object-relations. She takes an empowerment approach when working with clients and believes that humans are always seeking to develop and heal.
SPENCER POSEY
Primary Therapist
In addition to serving as a Primary Therapist at The Lakehouse, he also enjoys the opportunities he has as a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at a local private practice.