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We are really impressed with the staff you've assembled here.
We seldom see this kind of quality in any program, much less in a rural area.
-- Inspector for the State Certifying Agency, 6/2008
The Courage to Change Ranch staff is comprised of trained professionals dedicated to helping heal addictive behaviors.
The level of care at the ranch exceeds state standards of staff-to-patient ratio, permitting us to give individual and personal attention to patients. Staff counselors have achieved high levels of state "Certified Addiction Counselor" (CAC), cognitive behavior, and pharmacology training and experience. In-service and cross training takes place throughout the year to keep the staff current on the latest therapies and education.
More than half of the staff members have been through alcohol and addiction recovery programs. Their integrity, dedication, and eagerness to work with others trapped in addiction behaviors are heartfelt. The Courage to Change Ranch program is non-judgmental, egalitarian, and supportive - showing respect for all who share our path of healing from addictive behaviors.
Addiction Experts
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Executive Director: Judith Ann Miller, Ph.D., CAC III
Judith Ann Miller Ph.D. is a dedicated family and domestic relations professional. Her background includes child and family investigation, participation in family court status conferences with pro se litigants, respondent attorneys, caseworkers, GALS, therapists, and families. Dr. Miller has a successful track record in dealing with family court matters in a variety of capacities including facilitator, mediator, and mental health specialist.
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Her skills include parenting time evaluation, domestic violence, restraining orders, developing shared-parenting plans, court reporting, facilitating and mediation. Dr. Miller's educational background is in family relations, child and human development, and community and human resources. She is committed to service in family courts.
In 2004, Dr. Miller founded Courage to Change Addiction Recovery Ranch. Her research related to addiction as a brain disease quickly became the foundation for the program that provides a scientific standard of care focusing on neurotransmitter recovery. Dr. Miller is a proponent of science-based holistic therapies and natural interventions to repair the damaged addicted brain. Now in its 7th year, the Courage to Change program is becoming nationally recognized as a leader in the neuro-immune-endocrine science of addiction recovery.
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Education
2009 - Certified Alcohol Addiction Counselor Level III
1999 to Present - Family Relations Services, Child and Family Investigator*, Parenting Coordinator, Special Master
1999 to 2002 - Advocate for Children CASA Program Coordinator
1981 - Ph.D., Human Development and Family Relations/Community and Human Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
1977 - M.S., Child Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
1971 - B.S., with Distinction; Home Economics Education/Human Development and Family Relations, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Clinical Supervisor: Mary Kaye Whittemore
AA/AS Medical and Chemical Dependency
CAC III
17 Years in AOD Field
Experience in Co-Occurring Facility
Whittemore is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those who are dependent on alcohol and drugs. She works diligently to create a therapeutic environment for all clients under her care.
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Whittemore is a staunch believer in the C2C program and states unequivocally that in all her years working at different treatment facilities in southern Colorado - she has never been part of a program where the staff works as a team with the client's best interest in mind. According to Whittemore, her experience is that incoming client's often leave other treatment programs in frustration - many within the first week of their stay. The C2C program is unique she says, because when clients arrive - they stay - they complete the program, and a high percentage maintain their sobriety. They understand that Courage to Change is unique. The science based holistic modalities resonate with their own needs and understanding of what it will take to break the cycle of addiction.
Over the past 17 years, Whittemore has been employed as:
- Clinical Supervisor at Peak Addiction Recovery Center in Cascade
- IOP/OP Special Connections Counselor - Crossroads Turning Point, Pueblo
- IOP/OP Counselor/Case Manager - Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Center, Colorado Springs
- Detox Counselor/Supervisor, Case Manager for Connect Care
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CAC II Therapist: Ross Hilzer
Hilzer is the co-founder of Courage to Change Ranches and recently celebrated 7 years in recovery. He holds a CAC II certification and is a dedicated counselor. Clients love his groups and occasionally he will hold individual sessions which he calls a "knee to knee".
One client said:
"He has a gentle way about being in your face."
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| Hillzer's greatest attribute is also his greatest fault in that he cares so much for the clients that it breaks his heart when they do not do well after they transition from the ranch. Hilzer has now dedicated his life to working with addicts in recovery. In his counseling sessions, he instills a message of hope and integrity to self and others. According to Ross, unless you are honest with your self - you cannot be honest with others. His desire is to attain a CAC III and to share his experience and the wisdom he has gained with others who have the courage to change. |
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Case Manager: Ted Ulibarri
He was supposed to be just another statistic. Just another drug addict/drug dealer and all around bad guy who was in and out of jail his entire life. Who quite frankly belonged there and didn't have a problem with it. The reality of it is he was real good at what he did and he enjoyed being that parasitic statistic. He had spent a life time doing and selling drugs - and it was all he knew.
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The thought never crossed his mind as to how he was hurting what he cared about most; second to his addiction of course, and that was his family. After all his addiction was his identity; just another statistic. All was going according to plan until the night he went to jail - but this time it was different - there would be no way out. A prison sentence was in order; he became a statistic in a more unforgiving reality.
My name is Ted and I did make that statistic - although the consequences of my addiction were not as severe. My goal and dedication is to tip the scales one person at a time until those stats are in favor of recovery and a new way of life. |
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