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Meet The Team

Core Recovery is a Behavioral Health Outpatient Facility that is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services to provide intensive outpatient programming (IOP) and partial hospitalization programming (PHP). Core Recovery's licensed clinicians and behavioral health staff work collaboratively to ensure that each patient receives the personalized care that they deserve.

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Fulfilling a critical need with unparalleled recovery care and unmatched mental health expertise.

As mental health and recovery specialists, we understand how critical it is to get the help you need for a mental health or addiction. No matter what you’re faced with, we have one goal in mind—we are here to help you feel your best again.  

Our integrated care model brings together a team of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Counselors, Case Managers, and Behavioral Health Technicians to create a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan for each patient at our Phoenix, Arizona-based mental health facility.

If you need comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment to reach long-term sobriety, look no further than the team at Core Recovery. We are here to help you feel your best every step of the way—starting today.

Our Compassionate Leadership Team

Since 2013, Core Recovery has worked to fulfill the need for a comprehensive and patient-focused behavioral health treatment center in the Greater Phoenix Area. Led by Founder and Chairwoman Jillian Vanselow, Clinical Director Natalie Davis, and the executive leaders, the Core Recovery team takes a whole-person, integrated approach to treating mental health and addiction issues.

Jillian Vanselow

Jillian Vanselow

Founder & Chairwoman, EdD (ABD), MS
Natalie Davis

Natilie Davis

Clinical Director
Portrait of a beautiful african american businesswoman Portrait of a beautiful african american businesswoman

Cherry Irving

Practice Manager

Our Experienced & Caring Clinical Team

Our facility is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services as a Behavioral Health Outpatient Facility.

We have LegitScript certification, and we are an EMDR Institute-approved facility.

Glen Kriegsman

Glen Kriegsman

Clinician
Kristina Sheppard

Kristina Sheppard

Clinician

Laurie Roach

Clinician

Fred Smith

Clinician & Intake Specialist

Daniel Gast

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Carina Morina

Therapist, Eating Disorder Program
Barbara-Ann

Barbara-Ann Heerkens

Registered Dietitian
Matthew Oberg

Matthew Oberg

Admissions Coordinator
Izaebel Puerta

Izaebel Puerta

Patient Care Coordinator
Monique Torres

Monique Torres

Patient Care Coordinator

Larissa Acosta

Patient Care Coordinator
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Your Leading Behavioral Health Facility in AZ

Contact Us

Have questions? Want to schedule an appointment? Submit this form and a team member will contact you promptly.

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Get In Touch

(602) 810-1210
admin@corerecoveryaz.com
Phoenix Location

34225 N. 27th Drive, Suite #146, Building 5, Phoenix, AZ, 85085
Surprise Location

12691 W. Smokey Drive, Suite 127, Surprise, AZ 85378
Ahwatukee Location
(Coming Soon)

16515 S. 40th St, Ste. 119, Phoenix, AZ 85048

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Jillian Vanselow is known in her community as a loving leader. Her strong vision for building a healing environment that meets the needs of the whole individual continues to evolve in her journey as an addiction counselor. Graduating with honors, she received her Master’s in Addiction Counseling at Grand Canyon University. During this time she received addiction counseling experience in the public sector as a licensed substance abuse technician for a busy non-profit agency. Jillian specializes in biopsychosocial substance abuse assessments, treatment planning and development, psychoeducation, CBT, motivational interviewing, co-occurring disorders, and identifying cultural needs of special populations. She has provided care for the following populations: LGBT, DUI offenders, child custody, diversion program, possession of marijuana, domestic violence, sex offenders, federal, bureau of prisons, and private patients.

As an outreach community leader, she has coordinated events that helped organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Ujima House, Neighborhood Ministries, Bible study, Stand up for Kids, Andre House, Christmas Angles, and Family Outreach. Her years in outreach leadership have guided her in developing strong relationships within the community. She utilizes these relationships to develop connections that will provide the support and encouragement her patients need in their life long journey of recovery.

Jillian is an entrepreneur as well as philanthropist. Her love for helping others to live a life in balance is a life long journey. She is passionate about her patients as well as her family, friends, and community. Jillian continues to demonstrate her efforts to increase the well-being of humankind. Her energy is contagious and her loving spirit is motivational. She is committed to providing the best addiction care by integrating therapeutic strategies that address the specific needs of each individual

“I have a passionate life commitment and open heart for practicing addiction assessment, treatment, and recovery. My years of experience in facilitating individual, group, and family addiction treatment programs have given me insight into the core issues regarding addiction. It is my mission to understand my patient’s strengths, barriers, and issues in order to create a quality treatment approach that meets their specific needs. I offer a safe, confidential, and compassionate environment for therapeutic processing and healing. In addition to individualized treatment I feel very strongly about creating connections outside of treatment that will work to support and encourage a life of living in balance. Recovery is possible…I am here to help!”

Peace, Love, Hope.

License Type: LASAC

License Number: LASAC-13339

Natalie Davis LCSW is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. She completed her graduate degree in the field of social services at Arizona State University Phoenix, Arizona in 2011. Natalie also completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Arizona State University the Glendale Arizona campus in 2008. As a member of the mental health community, she had the pleasure of acting as a Chief Clinical Officer, Clinical Director, Program Director and a field instructor for students pursuing degrees in the field of mental health at Grand Canyon University, Walden University and Northern Arizona University.

Natalie’s passion includes leading teams that provide patient centered care, supporting individual clinicians as they pursue their career goals to include the pursuit of independent licensure. Natalie has developed clinical based treatment programs to meet the needs of those impacted by trauma, life transitions, anxiety, and depression as well as populations with co-occurring mental health concerns such as depression and substance abuse.

Natalie has worked in a variety of treatment settings including outpatient, intensive outpatient, and inpatient. Natalie is skillful in helping people achieve an improved quality of life through the use of therapeutic modalities including such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). Natalie supports the delivery of services in a manner which is gender inclusive. She believes in developing a strong therapeutic alliance with clients, other care providers, family members. She is a supporter of a collaborative approach to health and well-being.

Natalie is native born to Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, listening to an eclectic array of music, and taking day trips throughout the State of Arizona.

Cherry has over a decade of experience in the social services sector, marked by a deep commitment to supporting diverse populations, including individuals struggling with mental health challenges, substance abuse, eating disorders. Cherry’s experience includes working in residential facilities, outpatient settings, and in organizations dedicated to assisting homeless youth. Cherry is also a veteran of the United States Military Intelligence Corps.

As Practice Manager, Cherry is dedicated to ensuring that Core Recovery remains a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all individuals seeking support for their mental health, addiction, and eating disorders. Her background, work experience, and deep empathy and passion for helping others allows her to cultivate an environment where both staff and clients feel valued and supported.

Cherry holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration. When she is not serving Core Recovery’s patients and staff, Cherry enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Glen completed his Master of Science degree in Addiction Studies at Capella University. Glen completed his clinical practicums and education in Las Vegas, NV with a strong focus on treating dual diagnosis patients. Glen excels at facilitating individual, group, and family counseling sessions utilizing motivational interviewing intervention methods, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family systems theory. Prior to Core Recovery, Glen has worked as a program therapist at a leading psychiatric hospital in Arizona treating patients who suffer from co-occurring disorders. Glen is in the process of obtaining his LASAC licensure. Glen’s passion is to treat each patient and family ethically and firmly believes that group cohesiveness is imperative to the success of mental health and/or addiction recovery. In his free time, he likes to read true crime or listen to Audible, watch movies, engage in the performing arts, volunteer in the community, and ride his bike.

Kristina has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in social work from Walden University. She has over 15 years of experience working in human services and is a member of the National Association of Social Work. Kristina is committed to supporting patients achieve their goal of recovery and healing. She believes in building strong relationships and creating a safe, non- judgmental space for patients to work on problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and enjoying the Arizona outdoors.

Laurie is a passionate and dedicated mental health professional, with extensive experience helping individuals with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Laurie excels in facilitating individual, group, and family counseling sessions, employing a variety of modalities, including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. She provides a non-judgmental setting that offers a safe place for individuals to process their emotions and heal.

Laurie is passionate about ensuring that individuals participating in Core Recovery’s programs receive high quality care in all individual, family, and group settings. Laurie is also an equine-assisted clinician, providing counseling sessions to individuals and families while using rescue horses as her guide to heal. During these sessions, she also utilizes a labyrinth meditation walk in for clients to be able to ground themselves, implement mindfulness, and process their emotions in a safe place. In her free time, you will find her riding her horse, Pickett, and spending time with her sons Brenden and Travis.

Laurie completed her Master of Science degree program in Clinical Psychology at Capella University.

Fred, or “Smitty” as his friends know him, has been working with recovering addicts and alcoholics for the last 36 years (he has been clean himself for over 36 years).  Fred primarily utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and he also believes deeply in the power of peer support. He is focused on working with Core Recovery patients through empathy and compassion, and he is guided by his deep desire to serve each and every patient he encounters.

Fred has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in addiction counseling. In his free time, he enjoys watercolor artistry, and uses art as a modality in his work.

Daniel is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with 12 years of experience in behavioral health. His experience spans in-patient and hospitalization settings as a Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, Shift Clinical Supervisor Nurse, Intake Director, and Nurse Practitioner.  Daniel incorporates these diverse experiences and perspectives—which include crisis-prevention, crisis-response, crisis-resolution, court-ordered evaluation, court-ordered treatment, involuntary psychiatric treatment, voluntary psychiatric treatment, substance abuse treatment, treatment and maintenance of eating disorders, treatment of acute & chronic mental health disorders across the lifespan—into the care he provides at Core Recovery.  Daniel emphasizes a collaborative, team-based approach to medication management and psychotherapies, including individual and group therapies.

Daniel’s success as a psychiatric provider stems from his ability to communicate with patients, identify holistic treatments plans, and tailor treatment plans specific to patients in collaboration with them and their families. He has worked with clients of all backgrounds across the lifespan. Daniel’s compassionate approach has allowed him to be successful in treating patients by advocating for the patient to help create realistic and holistic treatment goals/plans personalized to their lives.

Daniel is nationally certified though the ANCC and is certified through the Arizona State board of nursing. Daniel provides educational seminars to Peoria, Glendale, Phoenix, and Surprise police departments as well as Surprise, Peoria, and Sun City fire departments on methods to best aid in crisis situations when interacting with Maricopa County citizens with mental health conditions.

Daniel earned his Associate’s Degree in Nursing at Maricopa Community College, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northern Arizona University and his master’s degree as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from Walden University, and is currently formulating a dissertation for his Doctor of Nurse Practicing (DNP) degree.

Carina is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with extensive professional experience working with individuals with Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma, and Depression. Carina is a passionate and dedicated provider who employs a deeply personalized approach with each client she works with. She uses a variety of therapeutic modalities depending on patient and circumstance, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, motivational enhancement, mindfulness, and experiential therapy—all of which are geared toward helping clients gain a better understanding of the factors and influences that contribute to their eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

Carina’s goal for her clients is that—after working with clients to understand the causes and triggers of their eating disorder thoughts and behaviors—her clients gain the skills, tools, and consciousness necessary to adopt new ways of thinking about themselves and their bodies, and ultimately identify their true worth independent from their appearance and eating disorder.

Carina employs a strong trauma-informed and root-cause approach to eating disorder treatment, founded in her belief that treating the factors contributing to the disorder—rather than the outward symptoms—is essential to meaningful and sustained recovery. Carina believes that full recovery is not only possible but realizable, and each and every person is capable of finding a life completely free from their eating disorder.

Barbara-Ann is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about working with patients in Core Recovery’s eating disorder IOP/PHP programs and also integrating diet and nutrition counseling into Core Recovery’s mental health and substance use programs. Barbara-Ann has experience working with adults and adolescents. Most recently, she worked in the public school system in high-need areas. During the summer, she served as the Director of Specialized Curriculum for Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, where she led backpacking trips to support science and emotional learning.

When Barbara-Ann noticed the lack of preventative health and mental health support available to her students, she decided to obtain her Master of Public Health, and to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist while continuing to teach. While pursuing her Master’s Degree, she focused on Motivational Interviewing, a behavioral change therapy technique.

Since then, Barbara-Ann has worked for school systems promoting health and nutrition among at-risk populations throughout the state of Arizona. She also worked for Northern Arizona Healthcare as a clinical RDN, focusing on the behavioral health and pediatric floors, where she supported those with eating disorders and disordered eating patterns.

Barbara-Ann was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. She graduated with her B.Ed. in Science Education and her B.S. in Biology in 2018. She has a passion for teaching and nature. In her free time, Barbara-Ann enjoys being outdoors, with her dogs and gardening.

Matthew Oberg is a seasoned veteran in mental and behavioral health services, with a diverse background that spans various roles within the field. He currently serves as an Admissions Coordinator at Core Recovery, and has previously held the positions of Program Director, Behavioral Health Technician, and Case Manager in the greater Phoenix area.

Originally from Oakdale, Minnesota, Matthew relocated to Arizona in 2006. His career began in the automotive industry, but his passion for helping others led him to transition into mental and behavioral health services. Matthew has served in managerial roles at multiple outpatient recovery centers, utilizing his extensive experience to support individuals struggling with behavioral health and substance use issues. He has also served as the Program Director for a Native American Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), where he facilitated daily IOP groups, provided trauma-informed care, and helped clients discover their passions and purpose in life.

Matthew’s primary goal is to empower the clients and patients of Core Recovery to lead transformed and fulfilling lives. His dedication to improving the lives of those he works with is evident in every aspect of his work, from program management to direct patient care.

Izabel Puerta is currently a student at Arizona State University. She is studying to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology, after which she intends to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology to become a Neuropsychologist. At Core Recovery, Izabel is an integral part of the support system for Core’s patients, and continues to learn from working with Core Recovery’s clinicians and patients. In her free time, Izabel loves spending time with her family, friends, dogs, and cat. She is an Arizona native and is passionate about serving those in her community. She is excited to continue her growth as a mental health professional.

Monique is a Patient Care Coordinator at Core Recovery. She is passionate about assisting Core Recovery’s patients and their families. When she is not at Core, Monique is dedicated to continuing her education. Monique is a student at Rio Salado College and will be transferring to Temple University to complete her bachelor’s in communications. In her free time, she loves to play video games and spend time with her cats, Squidward and Dinky.

Larissa is a Patient Care Coordinator at Core Recovery, with over 8 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and their families. She is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Grand Canyon Christian University, and aspires to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. When she is not at work, Larissa likes spending time with her family, spoiling her Maltese puppy Nala, reading, and playing video games.

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