There is a significant correlation between addiction and mental health. One could even argue that in order to understand addiction, you must have insight into a user’s mental state. Learn more about the connection between mental health and substance use disorders.
Most people think of meditation as a purely mental exercise, with a few added spiritual benefits thrown in for good measure. But believe it or not, meditation can actually be a very physical experience. This is especially true when one is engaged in a practice such as...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Sep 3, 2021
One of the most common coping mechanisms for social anxiety, and stress in general, is drinking. While alcohol might carry some legitimate benefits, there are plenty of reasons why relying on it is a bad idea. Read on to learn why using alcohol to cope with social...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on Aug 4, 2021
People really like marijuana. It’s one of the most popular recreational drugs in the world and has an estimated 55 million monthly users in the U.S. alone—a number that far outpaces the number of cigarette smokers (about 34 million) and is second only to alcohol...
Last updated Jul 24, 2023 | Published on May 5, 2018
When dealing with an alcohol or drug addiction, many drug addicts and alcoholics also struggle with a dual diagnosis. A dual diagnosis, also known as a co-occurring disorder, involves a concurrent presence of both of a substance use disorder and a mental health...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Apr 3, 2018
Poor self-image and mental health are heavily linked to addiction, so alcohol detox and mental health often go hand in hand. Studies show that children with poor self-image were 1.6 times more likely to be dependent on drugs when they grew up. It is also a cause of...
Last updated Jul 20, 2023 | Published on Mar 26, 2018
Anxiety can be very threatening to our daily lives. It's something that many people struggle to cope with. Oftentimes, anxiety comes as a package deal with alcohol addiction, fueling a desire to self-medicate by drinking as a coping mechanism that can quickly devolve...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Nov 23, 2016
They say the good thing about sobriety is that you get your feelings back. Of course, the bad thing about sobriety is that you get your feelings back. Emotions are not bad in and of themselves, but they can be difficult to manage. This becomes even harder after years...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Oct 20, 2016
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often seems to go hand-in-hand with addiction. This is especially true of addicts in the military, but PTSD is not exclusive to such individuals. Some addicts suffer traumatic abuse during childhood. Others suffer near-fatal...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Oct 3, 2016
There’s no shortage of people on this earth who suffer from a dangerously inflated sense of ego. Sometimes our ego tells us that we are better than others. Strangely, however, our ego sometimes manifests itself in negative ways. For instance, ego is what causes many...
Last updated Sep 28, 2023 | Published on Sep 6, 2016
Both addicts and codependents often find a need to do some serious soul-searching upon entering recovery. In doing so, we often learn that our problems started long before we initially thought they did. Quite often, some of our behavior patterns first presented...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on Jul 6, 2016
TRIGGER WARNING: As you may have guessed from the title, this article and some of its imagery may be difficult for some people to digest. Use your discretion in determining if this applies to you. If you are currently suffering abuse, call the National Domestic...
Last updated Jul 31, 2023 | Published on May 30, 2016
Today, America celebrated Memorial Day. Families all over the nation gathered together to honor both our surviving and fallen veterans. Some of these celebrations were quite joyous, revolving around a loved one who only recently returned from overseas. Others,...
Last updated Apr 26, 2023 | Published on Apr 20, 2016
It may sound strange to some people that treatment centers receive patients who are addicted to marijuana, but they most definitely exist. While many people defend cannabis as being non-addictive, there is no shortage of marijuana users who experience physical...
Last updated Aug 1, 2023 | Published on Mar 22, 2016
Today’s article is a little outside the box, but it should be fairly topical for those who had a chance to binge on the second season of Daredevil this weekend. This season of the popular Netflix series introduces a Marvel character by the name of Frank Castle, better...
Whether you or your family member is struggling with addiction, you are not alone in this journey. Explore our expansive addiction resources, including our guides for teens, parents, and spouses, as well as relatable recovery stories from Amethyst Alumni.
Laurel, as the Director of Corporate Compliance for USR, is responsible for ensuring that the facility follows all federal and state regulatory requirements, accreditation standards and industry best practices. Laurel has over twenty years’ experience in legal and regulatory affairs in both the public and private sectors. She attended the University of Kansas where she studied political science, and she is designated by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) as a Certified National Investigator and Inspector (CNII). Prior to joining Amethyst, she served as the Director of Enforcement for a state regulatory body.
Brie Rodriguez
Director of Human Resources
Brie joined the Amethyst Recovery team in 2017 as an HR assistant. Her over 15 years’ experience working in healthcare administration and management quickly launched her into a leadership role. Now serving as the Director of Human Resources since 2018, she leads our organization through the intricate requirements of recordkeeping, recruitment, staff development as well as compliance. While also directing all aspects of HR including payroll, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as licensing and accreditation standards.
Brie graduated as a high school valedictorian with a major in Health Technologies and continued her studies at Springfield Technical Community College with a focus on healthcare. She served in Operations and HR for a finance company for ten years, before returning to healthcare and eventually arriving at USR.
Brie works closely with the leadership team to develop and implement effective HR strategies that support our organization’s goals and values. As an HR professional, Brie’s primary focus is on ensuring that our organization attracts and retains the most talented and qualified individuals to help us fulfill our mission of providing compassionate care to those struggling with addiction. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those working in the substance abuse field, Brie is committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of others.
Brie is known for being compassionate and empathetic as well as for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive situations and find solutions that benefit everyone involved. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and their fur babies!
CORI BAIZA
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Cori’s key responsibilities include supervising financial operations, and daily financial reporting and account management. Cori’s goal is to ensure all patient’s needs are met in an accurate and timely manner. She is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator with The Florida Certification Board and licensed Notary Public in the state of Florida. Her experience includes accounting and finance training.
JOHN GAU
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
John’s key responsibilities include maintaining the day-to-day operations from both a clinical and housing perspective. John’s goal is to monitor every department to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place and client care is carried out effortlessly. John joined Amethyst as a behavioral health technician where he quickly developed strong personal relationships with the clients through support and guidance. John understands first hand the struggles of addiction and strives to provide a safe environment for clients. John is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator.
MARK GUDIM
DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES
Mark’s key responsibilities include handling day-to-day maintenance matters and oversees our Environment of Care management plan in conjunction with Joint Commission and DCF regulations. Mark’s goal is to provide a safe environment where distractions are minimized, and treatment is the primary focus for clients and staff alike. Mark received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is a licensed residential home inspector in the state of Florida and relates his unique experience of analyzing a property and/or housing condition to determining any necessary course of action at our facility.
Jeffrey M. Bishop, D.O.
Medical Director, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine
Dr. Jeffer M. Bishop was born and raised in Florida. He joined the U.S. Navy while attending the University of Nebraska for this undergraduate degree in Medicine. When he left the Navy, he went on to graduate from e Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985.
He worked in Family Medicine for 35 years before retiring from his practice. He then went on to be the Chief Medical Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center for an additional seven years until resigning from his position in 2013 and started Addiction Medicine.
He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.
Call our 24/7 helpline now to speak with an admission specialist.
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER
Amanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society.