Therapist Staff at the Council on Recovery in Houston, TX

Therapist, Clinical Director
Education: University of the Pacific & Arizona State University
Areas of specialization: Addiction & Recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Children’s Therapy, Family Systems
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Cheryl oversees The Council’s therapists and fellows at the Center for Recovering Families. She has clinical experience and extensive training in Addiction & Recovery, Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Children’s Therapy. Originally from Southern California, Cheryl worked for as the Mental Health Program Manager for a children’s counseling center prior to relocating to Houston in 2008. She worked for Cenpatico for two years before joining The Council on Recovery in 2010. In her free time, Cheryl enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Therapist, Manager of Clinical Admissions, Referrals, and Engagement
Education: University of Houston & University of Texas at Austin
Areas of specialization: Addiction & Recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy skills, Family Systems, grief, life transitions
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Keely O’Donnell, LCSW, has worked at The Council on Recovery for more than five years. She started as a Mary Bell Clinical Fellow before transitioning into a role as therapist and clinical intake coordinator. She facilitates substance abuse aftercare process group, and she previously facilitated the Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills group for the Healing Choices intensive outpatient program. Keely believes in the importance of cultivating self-compassion for where we have been and acceptance of where we are in order to grow and heal. As imperfect humans, we are all doing the best that we can with what we know, and it is possible to make transformative changes in the areas where our best is no longer serving us.

Family Therapist Education: University of Houston & Greenville University
Areas of specialization: Addiction and Recovery, Adult Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Systems, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Rachel is the Family Therapist for The Center for Recovering Families. Along with earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Houston, Rachel completed an internship and clinical fellowship with The Council on Recovery. Rachel also held a Master’s level internship with Child Advocates of Fort Bend. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Greenville University. In her free time, Rachel enjoys live music of all kinds and visiting the beach as much as possible.

Therapist Education: University of Houston & Auburn University
Areas of specialization: Addiction and Recovery, Adolescents and Young Adults
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Sarah is a Therapist at the Center for Recovering Families. She works with adults and adolescents who face challenges with addiction and negative mental health. Previously, she has worked in schools counseling middle and high school students. She holds a Masters degree from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston and a Bachelors degree in Global Studies from Auburn University. She spends her free time reading, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts.

Primary Treatment Therapist Education: University of Houston
Areas of specialization: Addiction & Recovery, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Nina Tahija, LCSW, LCDC, TCTSY-F is the Primary Treatment Therapist for the Center for Recovering Families at The Council on Recovery. Previously, she served as the Center’s Mary Bell Behavioral Health Clinical Fellow and as a Clinical Social Work Intern for Baylor Psychiatry Clinic. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is published in the Journal of Teaching in Social Work for her work on “Teaching and Learning During and After COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Social Work Classroom.” She is also a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F). In her free time, Nina enjoys reading books and connecting with nature.

Therapist Education: University of Houston, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Areas of specialization: Addiction and Recovery, Adolescents & Young Adults, Trauma, Daring Way
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Loni McFadden is a Therapist at the Center for Recovering Families. She is a Certified Daring Way facilitator and her focus is on shame, self-compassion, and empathy. She works with adults and adolescents who struggle with addiction. Previously, she was a Daring Way facility at The Women’s Home and Archway Academy. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Texas and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. She is a dog mom of a Yorkie and a maltipoo, and enjoys traveling in her free time.

Mary Bell Clinical Behavioral Health Fellow
Education: University of Houston, University of Houston - Downtown
Areas of specialization: Addiction and Recovery
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Camila Gonzalez Freire, LMSW, is the Mary Bell Clinical Behavioral Health Fellow for the Center for Recovering Families at the Council on Recovery. Previously, she interned at Memorial Hermann - TMC as a medical social worker where she provided clinical interventions and emotional support in ongoing consultations with patients. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown. Outside of work, Camila enjoys spending time with her loved ones, attending concerts, and going on walks with her dog.