About Us

Meet Kara, a case manager at Sanctuary Mental Health in Knoxville, TN. She has two years of experience with helping adults with problem - solving and utilizes great listening skills to connect with her clients personally. Kara is exceptional at being relatable with her clients, and interacting with them in a way that makes them feel more comfortable in a mental health setting. Kara's positive attitude and demeanor helps to spread positivity to those around her.

Meet Amer, he has had the privilege of starting his journey in the mental health industry with Centric as a Behavioral health technician in Florida. Surrounded by such a great team, along with a burning desire to be of service to this community, he has been able to continue to grow with the company as we've expanded. He was given the honor of moving to Tennessee when we launched our newest location, Sanctuary Mental Health and Wellness and currently manage the day - to - day operations at Sanctuary. Having been through his own battle with addiction and mental health, it only fuels the desire to be of service to every individual we encounter and allows us to truly make a bigger impact to provide greater chance at success.

Kris Houser, MD, is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, Dr. Houser graduated with a bachelor of science from Murray State University and earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1987. Dr. Houser completed his residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Houser has provided psychiatric care in various clinical settings since he arrived in Knoxville in July 1992. He treats clients with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, and addiction/substance abuse. Dr. Houser also serves as Chairman of the medical board of MedUltra CBD. In his free time, he enjoys making his children laugh and is an avid sports fan, especially for the University of Tennessee — Go VOLS!

Meet Stacy, Graduated from Lincoln Memorial University with Associates in Nursing. Stacy has over 10 years working as a Nurse in Mental and Behavioral Health in multiple supervisory and leadership roles including Correctional Nurse Administrator. Stacy was the 2016, recipient of Covenant Health Nurse Excellence award for Peninsula Behavioral Health. Stacy has an exemplary amount of experience working with those with mental illness, as well as dual diagnosis and addiction treatment. Stacy's passion for Nursing has always steered her to working with those suffering mental illness or those that are less fortunate or suffering from addiction. I've had pleasure to serve in the local community and many organizations over the years while advancing in my Nursing career. This is my passion!

Meet Alex, a seasoned mental health professional hailing from the vibrant community of South Florida. Alejandro embarked on his academic journey at Florida International University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Building on this foundation, he furthered his education at Barry University, obtaining a dual Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy. In the state of Florida, Mr. Castillo holds esteemed licenses as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC),Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and is recognized as a Master’s Level Certified Addictions Professional (MCAP). His expertise extends beyond the Sunshine State, with additional licensure in Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and in New Jersey as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Notably, in Florida, he also carries the certification of a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator (CRRA).With an impressive track record spanning over 24 years, Mr. Castillo has dedicated his career to the mental health field, specializing in working with both Substance Abuse primary and Dually diagnosed populations. His professional journey commenced in the non-profit sector, and over the years, he has navigated diverse settings, including Primary Mental Health, Detox, Adolescents, and Veteran-Based programs at both outpatient and residential levels of care. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Castillo has assumed various roles, from therapist and program coordinator to Clinical Supervisor and Director of Adult Services. With much experience and commitment to holistic mental health, Alejandro Castillo continues to positively impact individuals and communities, providing compassionate and effective counseling services.

Meet Dina, originally from Brooklyn, New York, Dina made the move to sunny south Florida in 2020 and quickly found her place in the world of mental health. After completing her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Barry University, she is now pursuing a PhD in Human Services with a focus on neuroscience. Dina’s passion for mental health is matched by her deep desire to make the world a better, kinder place. Compassionate and trauma-informed, she is dedicated to helping others heal and thrive.

Cecilia is originally from Argentina and has a long-standing history of working in psychology. She is dedicated to helping others on their recovery journeys. With a strong commitment to her career, she continuously expands her expertise in the treatment of substance abuse and mental health, demonstrating hard work and unwavering dedication every step of the way.

Meet Mike. He has decades of personal and professional experience in the field of mental health and works in an operational capacity in South Florida and Tennessee. Mike has the perfect blend of grit and compassion that allows him to immerse himself in the challenging field of mental health, decade after decade, without losing the love for what he does. Over his career, Mike has worked from Admissions to discharge, later transitioning into Senior Management. His unique abilities and experienced leadership inspires deep loyalty and trust of those around him - staff and clients alike. His superpower is in drawing the best out of people. This is evident when you watch him interact with those around him. His stabilizing leadership and guidance makes him an invaluable asset to his colleagues. His empathy and compassion makes clients feel cared for and comfortable, even the most difficult. Mike credits his own (often painful) journey in recovery for his amazing life and career. With almost 20 years clean and sober he understands intuitively what people need. You'll recognize him by his unmistakable Boston accent, his love for his family, and his freakish knowledge of all things New York Yankees.

Justin Denenberg, our Director of Business Development, was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in New Jersey. After overcoming substance abuse and achieving sobriety in 2012, Justin entered the rehabilitation industry in 2013. His personal recovery journey fuels his passion for helping others. At Prevail Recovery Center, Justin uses his unique experiences to support clients and guide them through treatment, making him a vital part of our team.

Andrew Turner is from Bangor, Maine and struggled with addiction after being prescribed narcotics for a sports injury. Realizing he was in trouble, Andrew reached out to find his way back to a sober life. He moved to South Florida in 2013 in search of sobriety and stayed ever since. Andrew has dedicated his life to helping others who struggle with addiction and mental health illness and regularly goes above and beyond for anyone in need. He started working as a Behavioral Health Technician working up to various roles including case management, outreach and operations. He also has experience working with adolescents as a local outreach coordinator. Andrew believes every addict deserves a second chance at life and is dedicated to making that a reality.

Evan Prager, 33, is from East Meadow, NY. He found himself struggling with substance abuse early on in high school which followed him into adult hood addictions to drugs. Recognizing the need for change he sought the help of others for his sobriety and decided to dedicate his life to helping others find their own path to clean and sober living. Evan relocated to South, Florida and began working in the detox and rehabilitation industry. Evan has worked at multiple treatment centers in various roles from Admissions Director to Marketing Director increasing patient outreach all over South Florida. His desire in life is give other fellow addicts the tools to live a healthy sober life like him.

Meet Jessica, a case manager at Sanctuary Mental Health and Wellness Florida. She has two years of experience helping adults with problem-solving and utilizes great listening skills to connect with her clients personally. Jessica is exceptional at being relatable with her clients and interacting with them in a way that makes them feel more comfortable in a mental health setting. Jessica's positive attitude and demeanor helps to spread positivity to those around her.

Jessica is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her work in mental health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of West Florida and went on to complete her Master of Science in Psychology at Florida International University. Dedicated to helping others, Jessica focuses on supporting individuals in forming healthy connections, improving their mental health, and enhancing their interactions with the world around them.

Erkes A. Green is an experienced mental health professional, currently serving as the Lead Mental Health Technician (MHT) at Sanctuary Mental & Wellness, where he oversees daily operations, manages staff, and ensures high-quality patient care. Since January 2024, he has also been a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) at Prevail, contributing his expertise to a multidisciplinary team. With over 4 years of experience, Erkes excels in crisis intervention, patient advocacy, and therapeutic communication, and is known for his calm, empathetic approach in high-pressure situations.

Meet Sevenise, our Director of Nursing at Prevail Recovery Center. With a wealth of supervisory and managerial experience, Sevenise is a dedicated Registered Nurse who has cultivated her skills across various medical fields, with a special focus on mental health and addiction treatment. She is a proud alumna of West Coast University, where she earned her master's degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner, and an active member of the Florida Nurses Association. Sevenise is passionate about her profession, finding immense fulfillment in helping individuals conquer their most daunting challenges. At Prevail, our facility, and, most importantly, our tight-knit team of professionals, offer an exceptionally compassionate and respectful approach to care. Sevenise's expertise and extensive background play a crucial role in ensuring our patients undergo the detoxification process with both comfort and safety in mind. Outside of her professional life, you'll often find Sevenise exploring new destinations, keeping active at the gym, or whipping up delicious meals for her friends and family.

Meet Jennifer, our Administrative Assistant here at Prevail Recovery Center. She is a Florida native who has gained most of her experience from being in recovery herself. In early recovery she realized that she enjoys helping others and decided to get into the field. She is a dedicated and detailed oriented Administrative Assistant with over Eight years of experience in providing exceptional support in the recovery field. With a strong background in office management, she excels in organizing schedules, managing communications, and ensuring smooth operation of daily activities. In her spare time, she enjoys parenthood, taking care of her animals and traveling with her family.