Our Speakers

Mark Zissman, PsyD, CADC is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified alcohol and drug counselor. He is currently the Clinical Director of Gateway Foundation, Lake County Residential and Outpatient Services.  He has extensive experience in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental health conditions, in both adolescent and adult populations. Dr. Zissman is passionate about helping remove barriers that prevent people from safely accessing treatment and participating in the change process.

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and the British Islands.

Melissa as Clinical Director and Co-founder of Healing Springs Ranch is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Art Therapist (A.T.R.) She has over 25 years of experience treating trauma and addictions. She has been the Executive Clinical Director at the Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma for 20 years. While in this position, Mrs. Caldwell Engle clinically managed three inpatient programs directed by Colin A. Ross M.D. where she was involved in the development, and implementation of the Trauma Model and its integration into the programs’ treatment milieu. She was actively involved in the development of the “Trauma Model Certification” process and co-presented with Dr. Ross. In addition to this administrative role, she also maintained her clinical skills by leading groups and providing individual therapy on the units.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Flowers has been one of the most familiar and respected names in the area of pain recovery, chronic pain and addiction. A leader in the field, his history in assessments and treatment of chronic pain and co-occurring addiction has led to an exceptionally distinguished career. He has developed and built many of the nation’s leading pain and addiction recovery programs within some of the most respected healthcare and addiction treatment centers in the country, successfully guiding teams in assessment, treatment planning and course of treatment. With fellowship training in behavioral pain management, Dr. Flowers completed clinical rotations at The University of Washington, The Rosomoff Comprehensive Center for Pain, The University of Miami and The Mayo Clinic.

Josefina Alvarez, PhD is Professor Emerita in the Department of Psychology at Adler University/Chicago Campus. Prior to retiring from full time teaching, she taught courses in multicultural psychology, community psychology, and the social determinants of mental health.

Dr. Helen Fisher, PhD. is a biological anthropologist, a member of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies in the Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, a Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, and Chief Scientific Advisor to Match.com.