Dave and his family set roots in Nevada over 20 years ago, and he has dedicated those years to serving children and families in need. He was the Program Director of Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions, for several years before returning to graduate school. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Phoenix and immediately went on to achieve his Masters of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Reno. While furthering his education, Dave served at Washoe County Juvenile Services where he led educational and counseling sessions, trained probation officers, aided in program evaluation, and held the position of the Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinator. It was during his time working with adjudicated youth when Dave truly realized the purpose of his life’s work.

Prior to starting True North, Dave dedicated close to a decade helping children and families at Willow Springs Center where he created, implemented, and managed a multitude of successful programs, including the Dialectal Behavioral Therapy Program. His success led him to become the Director of Clinical Services for the entire hospital (residential and outpatient). While he enjoyed his time serving others at Willow Springs Center, Dave always has a desire to establish his own comprehensive treatment center with the intention of meeting the specific needs of children and families within his own community. He is continuously collaborating with his colleagues to provide innovative and accessible treatment services within the Great Basin.

He has been involved with the Washoe County Mental Health Consortium, the Washoe County Child Fatality Review Committee, and continues his strong working relationships with Washoe County Juvenile Services, Washoe County Social Services., and the Washoe County School District. He is an adjunct professor with The University of Reno, Nevada School of Social Work and was recently nominated by the ECHO Project in representing First Episode Psychosis Team. He has presented at numerous professional conferences and institutes, and is an active member of the National Association of Social Work in a leadership role. Dave is also trained and certified in DBT, CISM, CPI, and CPR (just in case:). He also supervises many clinical interns pursuing careers in both the social work and substance abuse professions, as he believes in a growth mindset. Dave is constantly working towards raising the bar in the behavioral health profession and leading his team in serving others to the highest caliber.

As a Behavior Analyst, Calli is adept at discovering why a child engages in a specific behavior. She understands and can visualize the bigger picture in treatment. She is able to create and implement specific plans that cater to improved social interactions, increased academic skills and enhanced emotional well being for a child/teenager. She also works closely with parents in providing them the knowledge and skills they need in supporting their child.

Calli earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. After gaining several years experience in working with children in a multitude of different settings, Calli earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology specializing in Applied Behavior at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Returning home to Nevada, she has spent the past seven years working as a Behavior Analyst throughout the Great Basin. Calli is Board Certified in Behavior Analysis and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Calli brings with her a wide range of experiences, which lend themselves to her natural ability to connect with children and adolescents in a nurturing and compassionate manner.  She has served children and families at Willow Springs Center, Sierra Regional Center of Sparks, Maple Star Specialized Foster Care, Turning Point School, and the Early Childhood Autism Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She brings these experiences and more to True North Treatment Center.

Sarah earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno where she focused on working with children and families. She has spent a significant amount of time working with the Washoe County School District’s Early Head Start Program, the State of Nevada Welfare Programs, as well as serving as an evaluator for substance abuse prevention programs throughout the 12 Western states.  Sarah is extremely knowledgeable in helping families navigate resources to receive the best assistance and support possible for their individual circumstances.

Sarah is a professionally trained Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBT), and prior to coming to True North Treatment Center, she was the Lead DBT Therapist at Willow Springs Center.  One of Sarah’s greatest strengths is her ability to help adolescents over come numerous afflictions and difficulties with interpersonal relationships through the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).  Her passion and dedication to her clients in helping them to cope with daily challenges is outstanding.

Crystal has also spent time as an adjunct profession at the University of Nevada, Reno teaching courses within the Social Work Program. She is passionate about giving back to her profession and values a growth mindset in working with other professionals. Crystal serves as a clinical supervisor for social workers who have earned their Masters of Social Work and are beginning their professional career.  She also continues her education on a regular basis so that she can keep current with best practices and continue to grow as a clinician.

Crystal earned her Bachelor of Social Work at University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she also received her Masters of Social work. While she has worked at many agencies throughout Nevada, most of her work has been focused here in Northern Nevada. She has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, treating anxiety and depression, crisis intervention and Solution Focused Therapy.  Having had the opportunity to work in both inpatient and outpatient settings she is able to adapt to the therapeutic needs of her clients.

Crystal is grounded in child and adolescent development and specializes in helping children and families work through adversity. True North Treatment Center is fortunate to have Crystal on our team, as she brings a level of professionalism and expertise to our agency. She is also has a wonderful sense of humor and is a joy to be around.

As the oldest of 7 children, Joel has always led by example and had a love for education. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Master of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Reno. Joel has spent the last several years working as an Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator for the University of Nevada, Reno where he worked closely to assist elementary, middle, and high school students learn how to access higher education. He specifically took an interest in helping first-generation college students like himself navigate their way through the college process. He has worked in an inpatient setting at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in the Med/Surg, Telemetry, and Behavioral Health units as a patient safety advocate/sitter. Joel has also worked in crisis intervention at the Crisis Support Services of Nevada for over a year. Joel spent the last year at True North Treatment Center during his master’s internship working with a variety of individual clients and therapeutic groups. He is eager to incorporate all his experiences combined with new knowledge to better serve this unique population.

Dr. Parra earned his M.D. through University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine where he continued on to complete his Psychiatry Residency and eventually, his Child and Adolescent Fellowship. This is this unique specialization that distinguishes him among his colleagues. He is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is know within the Northern Nevada community as being of the highest caliber in regard to his practice. Dr. Parra has worked with many local agencies within the Great Basin such as Willow Springs Residential Treatment Center, West Hills Hospital, Reno Behavioral Health Care Hospital, and within the Department of Corrections for adults. He is also trained in Dialectible Behavior Therapy (DBT) allowing him to support the continuity of therapeutic intervention with his clients who are involved in this modality of treatment.

In his free time, you can find Dr. Parra on the many trails in the area hiking, mountain bike riding and enjoying the all of the outdoor pursuits our area offers. In addition to being a distinguished psychiatrist, Dr. Parra  promotes a healthy lifestyle and sets a wonderful example for those around him with his positive outlook on living his best life.

Farren earned her Master’s of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno where she focused on working with children, families, and underserved populations throughout her studies.

later spending time as a classroom program director for children ages 7-12. Much of her experience also stems from teaching classes to teens about regulating emotions and anger and helping coach kids through negative thoughts.

Jessa received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Reno, Nevada and went on to pursue her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling Therapy from Capella University. She has spent the past decade working in a variety of settings and agencies focused on helping children and families.  She also has advanced trauma training and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.  Jessa has a desire to continue learning and often attends continuing education trainings that allow her to stay current and be able to implement best practices into her work with families.  She has also been involved in Rotary within her own community for many years focusing on working with youth services. Jessa is a very down to earth person and a joy to have at True North.

Angel earned her  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Nevada, Reno, and went on to complete her Masters of Science in Psychology from University of Phoenix. She recently returned to school and earned my Masters of Social Work from University of Nevada, Reno. She has spent time working at many local agencies throughout her career such as the Eddy House, Washoe County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, Maple Star of Nevada, Department of Children and Family Services, and Nevada Pediatric Psychiatry Solutions. Her professional experiences have instilled a passion in her and a desire to help promote mental health access and resources in Nevada, particularly within the rural areas. Her experiences in working with children, adolescents, and  adults from a variety of demographic backgrounds and mental health issues give her great knowledge  in helping others discover the best tools to create their desired narrative. She brings a youthful energy and a growth mindset to our team.

More info coming soon…

Patrice initially earned her Bachelor in English Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno. She was accepted into law school and ready to join the corporate world of law when she realized that her true passion was to help others.  She began working the field and went back to school to earn her Master of Science Psychology from University of Phoenix, and eventually went on to earn her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Nevada, Reno. She has spent time working with many different organizations such as Job Corp, China Springs Youth Camp, Women and Children’s Center of the Sierra, Safe Embrace, and many others. Patrice is also a professor at Truckee Meadows Community College within the Social Science Department specializing in teaching courses related to drug and alcohol abuse.  She is an advocate in keeping up with best practices and furthering her trainings and education within the profession.

Dr. Yiota earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University with majors in Mental Retardation and Education, and went on to earn her Masters in Education, in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. She additionally furthered her education through the University of Nevada, Reno earning her Masters in School Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy. She is also faith based and holds a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from Christian Bible Study. She adds a wealth of life experience to our team along with her clinical expertise she had gained throughout her professional career.

Born and raised in Las Vegas before making Northern Nevada her home, Kristen has been drawn to the helping professions throughout the duration of her life, and has wanted to give back to her community. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Social Work degrees at the University of Nevada, Reno, Kristen is able to engage in the work she is passionate about. Though she has experience in working with a variety of populations, including adults with developmental disorders and geriatric adults, Kristen has found she feels tremendously rewarded and humbled when working with children and adolescents. It was through her work at Willow Springs Center that she found her passion for working with children and adolescents and has committed to continue supporting this unique population.

Kristen’s value in knowledge and continuing education enables her to consistently grow and develop as a professional in order to best serve her clients. With her open-minded and curious nature, as well as a lively sense of humor, Kristen strives to create a safe space in which clients are able to engage in their work effectively.

Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno while volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada and coaching Cross Country and Track and Field at the high school level. E has always been involved in his community and drawn to the younger generations. He recently earned his Masters of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno. He interned at the UNR Family Medicine Center in which he helped to ensure physician’s patients were connected to community resources and services entitled to them. He also spent the past year interning at True North Treatment center, working with our clinical team where he provided significant clinical insights.  Mitchell found his passion to work with children and adolescents through his work experiences along with having a large family filled with young kids. He is well-versed in the development of children and the struggles they encounter long the way. He believes that everyone is an expert on their own lives, and his role is to help guide them towards where they want to belong through goal achievement.

Melina earned her associated Degree at the College of Southern Nevada and has spent time working in a variety of settings focused on working with others and helping to maintain a positive and supportive environment. She has worked at Willow Springs Center, as a lead mental health technician, where she was very successful in quickly building nurturing relationships with adolescents as they addressed their mental health issues. She is currently earning her Bachelor Degree in Social Work ,at the University of Nevada, Reno where she has been able to directly apply her education to her work within the IOP Program.

Erika earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and the University of Reno, Nevada and continued on to earn her Masters of Social Work. She has worked in a variety of agencies such as the Washoe County School District as part of the Communities in Schools Program, Kids Kottage, Mojave Mental Health, and was a part of the Fill the Bus (school supplies in a bus) Program. Erika also completed her internship at True North Treatment Center, and was an instrumental part of our Summer Camp program in working with young children struggling with severe behavioral challenges, trauma, and social awareness. She has also been part of our Intensive Outpatient Program, serving as a group facilitator, parent liaison, individual interventionist, as well as a program coordinator. Erika has always gone above and beyond as a professional and continues to raise the bar in her sincerity, work ethic, and strong belief in social work best practices. We are lucky to have Erika at True North!

While lately, Jen has devoted the majority of her time to her children and family, she has continued to stay involved in her profession and continues to help children and families work through life challenges within her community. As a mother, Jen can certainly relate to the many challenges of parenthood. Her experience in working with parents of troubled teens throughout her career allows her to offer much insight and perspective. As one of the owners of True North, and the Community Liaison, she is a great resource and would love to talk with you about any questions you may have regarding True North Treatment Center and the services we provide.