About Ohio Addiction Recovery Center

Wyatt is the Clinical Director at The Trails, leading our team of clinicians and shaping our clinical approach. He is a highly experienced clinician with dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from the Ohio State University. He is also a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory Endorsement (LISW-S). Before his role as Clinical Director, he held various positions in the mental health field, including case management, group therapy facilitation at a psychiatric hospital, and facilitation of an intensive outpatient treatment program. When asked about his clinical approach, he says “As a clinician, I believe in the power of collaboration with clients. A healthy therapeutic relationship is key to empowering clients to identify and overcome obstacles in their own lives. As a clinical director, I believe in servant leadership: trusting and empowering my clinical team by removing obstacles so that they can do their jobs efficiently, including staff in decision-making, and supporting them to trust their clinical judgment when it comes to the clients that they have come to know best.”

According to Wyatt, he has always been drawn to roles where he can help and support people. He says he chose the mental health field because “Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and mental health; millions more are impacted as they watch their family members and loved ones struggle. I chose to work in this field because I believe that effective treatment can change lives, empower people who feel helpless or lost, and bring hope back to individuals and communities. I feel great purpose and pride in what I do.”

What does he love about his current job? “What I like most is the people. Everyone here comes to work because we have the same mission. We are changing lives. I think that our work culture reflects the fact that we are here to help and support our clients, and we strive to have fun while doing it.”

Our Medical Director, Dr. Smith, brings an impressive resume and extensive background in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. At The Trails, she plays an integral role managing our medical and psychiatric services. This includes medical detox services, diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions, medication management, and more. In her career, she has held several leadership positions in the behavioral health field. She has also served as an auxiliary assistant professor of psychiatry at the Ohio State University Medical Center of Psychiatry and is published in various publications, such as Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, The Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health, and The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Dr. Smith earned her medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2002 and completed fellowships in forensic and community psychiatry.

Alexis is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and a dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from Ohio University and has been a nurse since 2016. She also holds a Master of Science in Family Practice Nursing and a post-graduate certificate in psychiatric nursing. With her years of experience, she is also skilled in various specialities such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Patient Safety, Acute Care, and Hospitals. As a Nurse Practitioner, Alexis diagnoses, treats, and prescribes medications for many health conditions, including underlying mental health disorders. At The Trails, Alexis plays a hands-on role ensuring the safety and adequate medical treatment of our clients. Being at the facility daily, all clients get to know Alexis very well during their time in treatment. She is the point of contact for any client medical concerns, prescriptions, medication side effects, detox symptoms, and more. Occasionally, clients come to us with other pre-existing or undiagnosed health concerns unrelated to mental health or addiction. Having a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner enables us to treat the whole person and ensure all of our clients are having their medical needs met while under our care or receiving referrals to outside specialists when necessary.

Prior to The Trails, Alexis worked at Ohio Addiction Recovery Center where she was a mental health nurse practitioner, diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Josh has been working in the addiction and mental health field since 2016. He and his team link The Trails with the recovery community and help build professional relationships with other healthcare providers. In his role, Josh collaborates with various agencies, hospitals, community liaisons, and treatment centers to amplify our impact throughout Ohio. Whether one of these entities could benefit from OARC’s services or needs resources outside of our scope, Josh’s vast knowledge of behavioral health solutions enable us to engage the community in a deeper capacity.

Josh is in addiction recovery and says his years of active addiction helped shape who he is today. He believes his experience with recovery has given him great insight on how to be most helpful to those struggling with substance use or other mental health conditions. In his own words, “I love my role because I get an opportunity to give back to the community. Even when we aren’t the best fit to treat someone, it’s rewarding when you can offer another solution.”