Michelle Hirschman, LCSW
Founder and Coach
Michelle is a clinical professional with extensive experience in adult mental health and addiction. Her career spans diverse settings, from treatment centers in California to Ho, a town in Ghana, West Africa, where she provided case management services in a psychiatric unit treating individuals with addiction and alcoholism. In Ghana, she also pioneered an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, educating local staff about the disease of addiction and sharing AA literature they had never seen before. Michelle’s international work continued in Vietnam, where she helped launch an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for those struggling with drug addiction.
Michelle’s journey into therapy began with a counseling internship as an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. During this time, she gained valuable experience in hospice work, psychiatric social work, and counseling at a transitional living home serving clients with co-occurring disorders. She earned her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in 1999.
Michelle’s career has followed a diverse and purpose-driven path—and that’s part of what makes her work so dynamic. She began on Capitol Hill, supporting Senators and nonprofits in legislative efforts focused on women’s issues, before transitioning to direct service work with individuals experiencing homelessness and chronic mental illness. From there, she moved into clinical roles in California treatment centers, supporting clients across all levels of care. Michelle also launched a nutritional consulting business, where she educated athletes, newly sober individuals, and those with eating disorders on the role of nutrition in recovery. Her contributions to the Suicide Prevention Center and her international work in Ghana and Vietnam—where she helped launch recovery programs and pioneered community-based addiction support—have further shaped her integrative, human-centered approach. These varied experiences reinforce her belief that healing is never one-size-fits-all, and that creativity, connection, and compassion are essential to lasting change.
Michelle also created the “My Sober Coach” concept, which is now part of the services offered by Hirschman Clinical. This coaching model was designed to bridge the gap between treatment and independent living, focusing on life skills development. The coach’s role is to empower clients, inspire them, and provide resources that help them find passion and purpose in their lives.
HCS also offers Creative Healing Assessments, designed to guide clients toward treatment plans that are both effective and aligned with their personal needs. These assessments combine traditional strategies with holistic modalities, connecting clients to reputable healers, programs, and resources that support wellness on every level—mind, body, and spirit.
Michelle launched the Creative Healing Podcast (on Spotify/Apple) in 2025 so that mental health professionals and her clients could become educated on holistic healers of all modalities and to have a resource directory with reputable referrals for people that are interested.
Inspired by her own experience of healing through movement, Michelle also founded Soulful Strides in 2025,a walking-based wellness initiative that blends mindfulness, community, and ritual. What began as solitary walks to soothe her own grief and anxiety, evolved into a shared space for grounded connection and personal transformation. She is now hosting free walks in KS, MO and CA and hopes to expand and inspire others to launch nationally.
Whether supporting someone fresh out of residential treatment or guiding a client toward creative healing paths they never considered, Michelle brings warmth, integrity, and soul to her work. Her clients often say they feel deeply seen, gently challenged, and truly supported—and that’s exactly the intention.
When she's not working, Michelle can be found walking in nature, hosting mindful events, spending time with her three teenage sons, or watching cooking shows with her husband.
Chris Jones, M.B.A.
Director of Operations & CA Coach
Chris graduated with his MBA in 2019 and has worked in the addiction industry in various capacities since 2012. Currently, Chris has been working independently as a group facilitator focusing on providing life skills, business, relapse prevention, process and spirituality classes across Los Angeles.
Outside of working in the treatment industry Chris is an accomplished musician having several albums on the itunes, amazon and billboard music charts. He has completed national tours, licensed music for tv and film and more. Chris is also an avid surfer and advocate for an active and healthy lifestyle.
Darcy Meehan, M.A.
Director of Outreach & CA Coach
Darcy Meehan is curious by nature and self-described as being a lifelong learner with adventure in her bones. Skilled at integrating wellness and balance into all areas of life, she specializes in the areas of healing addictive patterns, establishing wellness & balance, maintaining extended recovery and conscious life design. In her work with individuals and companies alike, whether in a therapeutic or consulting role, Darcy has been driven by personal connection and connecting people with who or what they
need.
Darcy received her Master of Counseling Psychology degree from John F. Kennedy University in Northern California and is trained as a Marriage & Family Therapist. She served as therapist to clients transitioning out of homelessness in Marin County before working in a small team as one of two on site therapists at an Executive Rehab Center. It was here that Darcy brought art as therapy, movement, meditation, family systems work and other creative practices to the healing community. She is also a certified yoga instructor, SMART Recovery facilitator, JourneyCircles(TM) & SoulCollage(TM)
facilitator, educator and entrepreneur.
With over 15 years of experience working in the realm of recovery, mindfulness and wellbeing, Darcy shares her expertise in healing, reinvention and recovery with clients worldwide. She has spoken on panels for National Eating Disorders Awareness campaigns and provided mentorship through many established organizations and
nonprofits, including National Association for University Women.
Knowing that healing does happen, even when it seems distant or impossible, Darcy is passionate about guiding others in their own unique healing journey where reclaiming what matters and feeling vibrantly alive is the norm. Darcy supports others in discovering their own unique path of healing through connecting with their bodies and
their minds.
Douglas Cohen, MFT
CA Coach
I have a drive to work with people and help them enhance their lives. Special focus and training on the topics of addiction and mental health was sparked by my early professional experiences in places such as California Youth Authority Research Division and Planned Parenthood of Sacramento. It was here that I noticed growing populations with true needs and limited resources. I felt compelled to make a difference, so I needed to learn more about tools and resources so that I could best support them in creating new choices for themselves and implement social change. I decided to pursue a career in adolescent and adult psychology. In the years since, I have expanded my practice and worked with a wide range of disorders and diagnoses. I continue to take pride in and enjoy the opportunity to help people overcome the symptoms and behaviors they have struggled with all of their lives to find new meaning, stability and wellbeing. My strengths of empathy and compassion, as well as the ability to create real and lasting relationships with those I serve, has fueled my professional life from early on and continues to everyday.
Pam Alexis Cox, B.A., RADT
CA Coach
Pam Alexis Cox is a Substance Use Disorder counselor and sober coach who brings curiosity, presence, and a deep respect for the healing process into her work. With a culturally informed, mindfulness-based approach, she supports individuals navigating behavioral health concerns, recovery, and meaningful life transitions—meeting people where they are and honoring each person’s unique path.
Pam’s work is grounded in both clinical training and lived experience. She has facilitated groups across residential, outpatient, and community-based settings, integrating mindfulness, emotional regulation, spirituality, and sound healing as nervous-system–supportive practices. As a sound bath facilitator, she incorporates sound-based mindfulness as a grounding, restorative modality that complements traditional therapeutic approaches and supports regulation, self-awareness, and connection.
Pam completed her counseling certification through Tarzana Treatment Center College, where she was honored with the 2024 Albert Senella Award for leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the Substance Use Disorder community. She is an alumna of the University of Southern California and has pursued continued leadership development through programs such as the Catalyst: Empowered Leader Program with the Women’s Impact Alliance. Before entering the behavioral health field, Pam spent over a decade working in health, wellness, and community-centered organizations, including Whole Foods Market, experiences that shaped her values-driven, relational approach to care.
Pam believes recovery is not simply about stopping harmful behaviors, but about reconnecting—to self, to others, and to what matters most. She is passionate about raising belonging by creating nonjudgmental spaces where people feel seen, included, and supported in building lives that feel grounded, meaningful, and alive. Outside of work, she enjoys live music, sporting events, time near the ocean in Los Angeles, and cheering on her 10-year-old son as a goalkeeper. She shares life with her partner and their Pomeranian, Butter, and values practices that support a grounded and intentional life.
Michelle Waters-Butler, PsyD
CA Coach
Michelle Waters-Butler, PsyD, has over two decades of experience working with adolescents and adults facing complex psychological, behavioral, and interpersonal challenges. As a therapist and coach, she has provided direct care to individuals at every stage of their recovery journey across the full continuum of care.
Throughout her career, Michelle has served as an individual therapist in dual-diagnosis residential settings and in private practice; facilitated group therapy in residential and intensive outpatient programs; and provided individual and parent coaching through Hirschman Clinical Services across the Los Angeles area.
Michelle’s clinical and coaching work focuses on trauma and attachment-related disorders, substance use disorder recovery, codependency, and crisis management for high-risk populations. For more than ten years, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Polaris Teen Center, where she developed the clinical vision and designed a highly regarded residential treatment program serving high-risk adolescents and their families. Her work integrated didactic and family therapy–based modalities with innovative approaches such as Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and creative arts therapies.
As a coach and outpatient clinician, Michelle has supported post-treatment programming for thousands of clients by facilitating weekly relapse prevention groups, coordinating ongoing care, and developing outcome-tracking systems to strengthen long-term recovery. Across her various roles, she consistently combines hands-on clinical expertise with strategic leadership to advance safe, innovative, and effective treatment.
A lifelong Los Angeleno, Michelle is an active member of her community and is involved with several nonprofits focused on empowering at-risk youth in Los Angeles. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two teenage daughters, hanging out with their energetic dogs, and playing either tennis or pickleball.
Callista Poiter, M.S., MHP
St. Louis, MO Coach
Callista brings a holistic approach to healing, which draws from her experience as a scientific researcher, mental health practitioner and assistant instructor. She has worked with clients from all walks of life and emphasizes the value of bi-directional learning between client and clinician. Her coaching style encourages open communication and fosters an atmosphere of comfort and safety for vulnerability.
Callista received her Bachelor of Arts with a dual major in Health Sciences and Psychology from Hendrix College. She is a current masters-level student at Washington University in Saint Louis (WashU) School of Medicine in the Applied Health Behavior Research program, where she also serves as the Graduate Student Assistant.
Callista is driven to support her clients through guiding with action-oriented skills, facilitating growth and empowering progress, whatever that may look like for each unique individual.
Courteney Parry, B.A.
Integrated Operations Specialist
Courteney Parry is the founder of On the Horizon Services, a consulting practice dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations operate more efficiently, sustainably, and humanely. With a background spanning operations, program development, nonprofit management, and human-centered systems, Courteney specializes in building the behind-the-scenes structures that allow organizations to grow without losing sight of their values.
Her work sits at the intersection of strategy and execution—supporting organizations with operational systems, internal processes, program infrastructure, and cross-functional coordination. Courteney is especially passionate about supporting nonprofits, social impact organizations, and small businesses navigating growth, transition, or capacity challenges.
Known for her collaborative approach, Courteney partners closely with leaders and teams to design practical, scalable solutions that reduce burnout, improve clarity, and strengthen long-term impact. She helps organizations move from reactive operations to intentional, future-focused systems—so they can spend less time putting out fires and more time doing the work that matters most.