Chris Loguidice
Founder & CEO
Chris moved to Malibu in the 80′s and settled in the canyons above the ocean. Since getting clean and sober, Chris’s interests have been many, and his passions great. A dedicated sportsman, fitness trainer, cyclist, licensed private pilot, Yogi, arborist, and environmental activist, Chris has undertaken a lifelong spiritual journey and is now leading the quest to help others in recovery. As he likes to say, “Well being is contagious.”
From the early days of his sobriety 25 years ago visiting institutions, jails, prisons, and hospitals carrying the message of hope, spiritual foundation, and Recovery… right up to today as he manifests his lifelong, altruistic desire to be the compassionate pioneer of a new treatment modality (and morality!), Chris has always had the courage to live his dream. He is honored to work with such an expert cadre of professionals, all of whom he has attracted and assembled to provide cutting-edge allopathic/alternative medicine treatments to those who continue to suffer — as Chris once did himself.
Cyndee Schiffer
Executive Director
Cyndee Schiffer’s experience is in her personal journey. Cyndee believes that one needs to bring passion to help others see…”it’s not who you are, it’s how you are.”
Her background includes being the mother of four grown children and involvement in recovery for several years. Cyndee Schiffer is a certified “Well Being” Sober Coach/Companion, as well as a nutritional, homeopathic and holistic healing counselor. She is also the co-founder of the Los Angeles based “School for Creative Arts”, the founder/producer of “Creative Camp” for children and the owner/chef of “4 Star Catering”.
Dr. Gayle Randall
MD
Dr. Gayle Randall is a celebrated physician in the field of internal medicine. She graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and went on to graduate
magna cum laude with her medical degree from the University of Nebraska. Since then she has worked tirelessly to improve her knowledge and expertise of the many differing medicinal
avenues to treat addiction. She has appeared as a guest on countless radio and television shows speaking on alternative forms of medicine. She has also been published in numerous medical and health publications, most recently in the January 2012 issue of USA Today.
In addition to her academic and professional success, Dr. Randall also volunteers her time with such organizations as the Native American Cultural Resources Advisory Committee. In the past she has volunteered at the Sioux and Winnebago Medical Clinics for tribal members in Nebraska and free medical clinics for veterans and the underprivileged in California. Her interests also include karate, in which she carries a black belt, hiking, archery, and horse riding.
Dr. James C. DeMarco
MD
Dr. James Demarco is a consultant at Journey Malibu and was instrumental in the creation of our recovery program. He is the president of the Hawaii Society of Addiction Medicine, and has been an M.D for over 30 years. His devotion to addiction medicine and research is as unrelenting as his passion for helping our clients on their road to recovery.
Curriculum Vitae
Spencer Figueroa, MFT Specializing in Family Addiction
Spencer Figueroa received his Bachelors from University of the Pacific and his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been treating clients since 2002.
Along with being a treating clinician at Journey’s Malibu, he is also the General Manager of Wilshire/Valley Therapy Centers in Los Angeles.
His areas of specialization include addiction, depression and anxiety. He is currently a member of the foundations group at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. He has a passion for utilizing contemporary approaches in his work with clients and feels privileged to be of service.
Dr. Farzin Yaghmaie
Dr. Yaghmaie is a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of mood, anxiety, and addiction issues. He completed his medical residency and psychiatric training at UCLA, where he was chief resident of the UCLA Integrative Substance Abuse Programs and the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Opiod Treatment Program. He has extensive training and experience in the evaluation of addiction, detoxification, and treatment of chemical dependency with medication and therapy. Dr. Yaghmaie has academic and research training form UC Berkeley, where he studied integrative biology and endocrinology. He has numerous professional publications and has been a sub-investigator researching medication development for the treatment of opiate and methamphetamine dependence.
Rohini Ross, MFT
Spiritual Psychotherapist
Rohini Ross is a licensed marriage and family therapist and spiritual psychotherapist. Rohini specializes in integrating practical spirituality with therapeutic work to promote transformational healing. She helps clients to quiet their mind and tap into their own resources through alternative techniques to help diminish anxiety and impulsivity. Rohini received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a Certificate in Consciousness, Health and Healing from the University of Santa Monica.
Andre Zitcer L.Ac.
Somatic Experiencing
Andre Zitcer L.Ac is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Yoga teacher. Originally from London England, Andre moved to LA many years ago and received his Masters Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the prestigious Emperor’s College in Santa Monica. Andre has specialized in working with Addiction, Stress and Trauma for many years, beginning with his own recovery. He was invited and given a scholarship to study Somatic Experiencing (SE) by Peter Levine the creator of SE. Andre believes that most addiction and pathology is rooted in some from of trauma..stuck energy that has to manifest, if not in a healthy way then through some form of pathology, emotional, physical or psychological. Treating the symptoms and causes to root out the inherent gift found in every pathology as we move along the journey of recovery to living a life of balanced and congruent vitality. “I am very excited to have been invited by Journey Malibu to co-create and implement the Holistic approach to this treatment center. ” We are spiritual beings having a human experience”.
Jamie Greene
Psychotherapist
Jamie Greene has been a psychotherapist and teacher for over 20 years and currently has a thriving business as a life coach and leadership trainer in Los Angeles. His specialties include addiction management, anxiety disorders, couples work, the art of negotiation, executive coaching and personal reinvention.
He gained his BSc in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine University in 1986 and his MA in Marriage & Family Therapy in 1989 and received his license as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 1992.
He fostered a loyal following in his classes on ‘Overcoming Fears, Phobias and Anxiety’, ‘Hidden Addictions’ and the ‘The Path To Reinvention’. It was through teaching that he was able to discover his true purpose – to generate impact in people’s lives by shifting their focus, unlocking their potential and transforming how they function in the world.
He has given lectures to thousands of parents, teachers and children and he leads groups weekly, as well as provides one-on-one coaching.
His Zen like approach to personal coaching combined with his British sense of humor and refreshing straight talk, has helped hundreds of adults, couples, executives and teams change their entire perspectives of work and life.
Jamie has reinvented the world of traditional psychotherapy with his company, “Off The Couch Consulting, Inc.”
He began his work on television in 2005 when he was cast as a real-life marriage therapist in the FOX show “Marriage 911″ and helped to save a marriage on the rocks in just one week. The couple is still thriving years later.
Jamie was most recently featured as Therapist and Life Coach to Brad Womack on Season 15 of “The Bachelor” on ABC.
Alexandra Carmel
Licensed Acupuncturist/Herbalist
Alexandra Carmel is a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist. She completed her Masters degree of Traditional Chinese Medicine here in Los Angeles at Yo San University. While working on her Masters, Alexandra started her work in the addiction and recovery industry as a yoga instructor for people in recovery. While closely working with individuals struggling with withdrawal, it occurred to her that acupuncture would be a great complimentary treatment for those in the recovery process. She observed how a clients discomfort interfered with their ability to fully participate in the recovery program. Alexandra believes that by reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms, the client can get the most out of their time in treatment, which in the long run will give them a better chance at sobriety. That’s why she developed an acupuncture treatment that has proven to reduce the discomfort from withdrawal and other conditions like chronic pain, depression, anxiety and insomnia. Alexandra has a passion for assisting each client in making a smooth, peaceful and long lasting sobriety.
Jeanet B. Hakim
Spiritual Psychologist
Jeanet B. Hakim is a seasoned Spiritual Psychologist, who was educated in England and emigrated to the United States in 1976, where she raised a family and earned a degree in early childhood development. Her knowledge in childhood education fueled her interest to pursue a career in emotional healing through hypnotherapy. She has developed unique spiritual healing methodologies, utilizing the wisdom of Eastern philosophies & Western metaphysics, to help people reclaim their spirit. This unique combination sets her apart from the rest. She has been in private practice since 1990, is a licensed hypnotherapist & certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner endorsed by the American Hypnosis Association since 2000.
Marla Mervis
Reiki instructor, Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor.
Marla is dedicated to empowering others to heal themselves spiritually,physically and emotionally. Her years as a traditional Usui Reiki Master with the Centre of Living Light has allowed her to introduce health and emotional well-being to many. Alongside her
Living Light Ministry of Spiritual Guidance & Healing, Marla is a Kundalini yoga teacher with a devoted Hatha practice. Marla’s enthusiasm & inspirational personality attracts many to her.
In addition to her skills as a massage therapist, Marla enthusiastically practices & teaches Reiki; hosting monthly community Reiki circles. As an artist, Marla’s on camera career has led her to numerous acting & hosting engagements, including the holistic healing talk shows,
Pathways to Health & Voice America’s Radio show Live! Love! Thrive!
Marla has been traveling the world filming her on-going project Transformational Travel.
Alexandra Cabri
Healing through the Arts
Alexandra Cabri is a long life fine artist, art teacher at Otis College of Art, a healer and Reiki master. She has co-created the Introspective Art Movement, developed an intuitive healing process known as ” harmonic imagery” where she uses images to help re-generate and re-balance her client’s lives. She also paints “Spiritual portraits”, fine art masterpieces that double as a symbolic revelation of a client’s own Soul. She has develloped a course titled ” Art & Spirit” which is the fruit of her experience as an artist, as a human being and as a healer. Her work speaks metaphorically through fundamental ancient archetypes and symbols. She discovered a way to encourage healing through this universal language. It became her mission to create an intimate relationship with the viewer where her vision could invite and invoke introspection. Cabri’s instincts have served her well, Respected institutions, such as the Ueno Museum in Tokyo and the Minister of Culture in Paris as well as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Spectrum and the San Diego Museum have exhibited her work. Alexandra continues to deepen her knowledge of energetic healing and to expand her practice while studying various methods of counseling and self-empowerment.
Julia Holland
Musical Therapist
Julia Holland has been teaching voice and piano privately for over 12 years. She has a thriving private studio for all ages and levels in Malibu. She received the Music Educator of the Year award from the 2011 Malibu Music Awards and was recently nominated for Best Director of a Musical from the 2011 NAACP Theater Awards for her direction of John Michael LaChiusa’s The Wild Party at the Malibu Stage Company. She ran the vocal program at Pt. Dume Marine Science Elementary School for 6 years and is founder and co-director of Once Upon A Time Children’s Theater where she puts on full length Broadway musicals for youth. She is creator of the Eco Hero Kids, a touring group of kids who perform Julia’s original music that teaches children and their families how to become stewards of our earth. Julia is a seasoned performer in her own right and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Cal State Northridge.
Alexandra Joslin
Yoga Instructor
Alexandra Joslin has been studying yoga almost her entire life, as a professional dancer it was apart of her daily dedications. Practicing religiously for the last 8 years under such prestigious masters like; Brian Kest, Vytas, Sean Corne, Ashley Albrand, and prana/meditation under Annie Carpenter. Certified Yoga instructor and teacher at Yas in Venice, CA for the last year. Guest instructor at Lululemon Santa Monica, Muscle Milk retreats, Fit Sugar TV, and official yoga girl for the LA Marathon Roadrunners. Although, her heart is most connected with her students at Journey Malibu. Taking her students on the journey to feel and be in touch with there bodies again is one of the most powerful experiences she’s had in her teaching journey. Teaching the balance of harmony and self control through meditation and yoga is a powerful aspect of recovery. Yoga is a personal journey and we are all at a different place and it’s never too late to start now wherever you are in your life…
Dan Aronow, M.D.
CADCA, Addiction Specialist
Dan Aronow, M.D. is a certified CADCA and a licensed physician who has worked in the field of drug and alcohol counseling for over 3 years. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in biology in 1989 and obtained his medical degree at Texas Tech Medical School in 1994. He completed his residency in internal medicine in 1997 at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. In addition to counseling clients individually, he has also led his own anger management and relapse prevention groups and process groups. He has exceptional expertise in the area of addiction and the brain and has given seminars on this topic to other drug and alcohol counselors for continuing education.
Joe Maxwell
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Joe Maxwell has received an Associate of Arts degree and is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from Colorado State University. Jo has been a residential counselor for treatment centers that dealt with addiction and dual diagnosis, in the Malibu area, for the past 2 years. Joe Maxwell is very interested in the medical field and continuing his education, studying the disease of addiction. Joe has lived in Woodland Hills, CA for the past 2 years, and before that he lived in Fort Collins, CO for 12 years. Joe great up in Tucson, AZ until just after he graduated from high school in 1996. Joe Maxwell is extremely passionate about his work in the field of addiction. He loves being of service and making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Thomas Tophia
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Thomas Tophia was born and raised in Los Angeles California. He was once an addict himself and consequently, has a full understanding of what the clients are going through. Thomas has been clean for 8 years and would like to give back by helping those who are currently battling with addictions as he once did. Thomas is CAS certified and has been working in the field for the past 5 years at numerous facilities. He is currently going to school and working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Thomas would ultimately like to lobby for more funding for recovery in Washington.
Olaf Hartmann
Natural Healer
Olaf Hartmann has been a group facilitator and teacher since 1990. He teaches classes and workshops in Qi Gong, Yoga, Breathwork, Dance Alive, Tantra and Soundhealing. Locally, he teaches at the Yoga Co , Raksa, Poweryoga, Agape, Santa Monica College, Prisons, massage Schools,…, as well as internationally. Olaf travelled the world for more than 10 years, studying various Healing and Energy Arts with numerous masters and teachers all over.
Olaf has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2004 , specializing in Cranio Sacral, Reiki and Qi Gong healing. Olaf supports people from all walks of life in opening up their physical and energy body so that more of their Qi/ life force can flow through them- leading to health , vitality and an authentic Self–embodiment.
Randy Bruck
Massage Therapist
Randy is a masseuse, healer, artist, actor, photographer and didgeridoo player. He does a broad range of shamanic services, including: body and energy work, sound healing, space clearing and ritual smudging.
Danee Schiffer
Chef
Danee grew up in Malibu, and lives in Venice, CA. She is currently an art student and artist interested in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. She is a health food enthusiast and an occasional surfer. She is grateful to be able to help others grow into their full potential by developing a passion for living well. Danee is glad to pay the kindness that she has been shown in her life forward, and could not be more satisfied with her role in the Journey Malibu support system.
Gabriel Kook
Chef
Gabriel was born in Israel and has always had a passion for cooking. He traveled the world, learning new cooking techniques from each place he visitied, which he then combined to create his own personal style. He has a passion for living healthy and encourages others to do the same. Gabriel believes that eating healthy and exercising will boost a persons recovery and assist in improving one’s quality of life.