Our treatment team is committed to the idea that better outcomes result from integrating traditional treatment with science-based care. Our professional treatment team combines the best of both worlds, and includes many of the leaders in the field of addiction treatment and substance abuse rehabilitation.

To speak confidentially with a member of our team,
call our 24-hour information line at 888-777-9672 .

Advisors

World class addiction treatment doctors. Our alcohol rehab and drug rehab treatment process contracts several of the leading addiction physicians and medical doctors in the United States. Each of our proven clinical team is licensed (or retired from practice and devoted to teaching and advising) in California and many hold board certifications. Combining leading psychiatry and contracted addiction medicine doctors allows Summit Malibu to provide you or your loved one with highly respected and cutting edge treatment for drug addiction and/or alcoholism.

Professional Treatment Staff

Summit Malibu's treatment staff and affiliated specialists are some of the best people in the field of addiction treatment. Our experienced and licensed (or credentialed) professionals include psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapist counselors and mental health experts. Additionally, we are affiliated with independently contracted physicians who specialize in detoxification. Please look over our staff bios below.

William Oswald , Founder

Since the day Mr. Oswald achieved sobriety for himself, he has dedicated his life and career to helping others beat addiction, one day at a time. Through Lumax Mental Healthcare and later New Seasons Behavioral Health Center, Mr. Oswald has provided addiction treatment services to clients across all socioeconomic levels and has developed a unique approach to treatment that led him to develop the Summit Malibu treatment program.

Steven Booth , Founder

Steven earned a B.A. from the University of Santa Barbara, California in Economics. Before helping to co-found Summit Malibu and Avalon Ranch Steven worked in both private and public accounting. Like many others, Steven has seen first hand the destruction that addiction can inflict on family and friends. He has also witnessed the extraordinary changes that can be made when addicts receive the necessary treatment.

Shahla Modir, M.D, Independently Affiliated Physician

Shahla Modir, M.D completed residency training in Psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and sub-specialty training in Addiction Psychiatry at the UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Modir is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for Psychiatry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Modir has extensive training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Dr. Modir is a licensed buprenorphine provider.

Karen Hylen , Ph.D., Primary Therapist

Dr. Karen Hylen is a Primary Therapist at Summit Malibu and the facilitator of Summit's Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills training program. She received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, with a depth perspective, from Pacifica Graduate Institute, focusing her internship training on working with persons diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Karen has over 13 years experience providing therapy to individuals dually diagnosed with symptoms of both addiction and mental illness. She is adept at creating a validating environment that conveys acceptance, while aligning with the client in working toward the effective changes needed for sustained healing and recovery.

Lisa Powell, Ph.D., CADC II, Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Lisa Powell is a Clinical Psychologist at Summit Malibu and the facilitator of both the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills training program and the Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) program at Summit.  She received her doctorate degree in psychology from Capella University with a focus on family and addiction.  She went on to receive additional training in Brief Strategic Family Therapy at the University of Miami’s Family Studies Program, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavior Therapy 5 (MET/CBT5) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  Having witnessed the struggles of addicts seeking recovery, particularly with feelings of guilt and shame with respect to their families, Dr. Powell made the decision to specialize in understanding family dynamics and helping all family members heal from the massive affects of addiction and alcoholism.

Andrea Ellis, Clinical Assistant Supervisor

Andrea attended and graduated from Los Angeles Southwest College, with her ADN, Associate Degree in Register Nursing. Her number one priority at Summit Malibu is the clients and their recovery. She works closely with admissions and independently affiliated physicians to insure that the clients receive a thorough and safe admission, as well as, discharge. Her experience includes clinical out-patient care, acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, and detox treatment. Her passion is to assure that the clients at Summit Malibu understand that she is their advocate for recovery during treatment.

Marilyn O’Malley, CPCC , Certified Passion and Life Coach

Marilyn O’Malley, CPCC is a certified professional co-active coach trained with The Coaches Training Institute. She has been actively involved and practicing in the health profession for 25+ years. Other trainings include personal development, addiction, exercise, nutrition, preventive healthcare, bodywork, quantum physics, play, the mind, women's health and stress management.  She is a member of Recovery Coaches International.

Tony Bevacqua , Psy.D. Life Management Coach

Tony Bevacqua is a psychological consultant in private practice. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California San Diego in Sociology, his Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and did further post graduate studies at California Southern University. He is also an adjunct psychology instructor at Los Angeles Trade Tech College.
His web site can be seen here: Tony Bevacqua.

Scott Ackerman,  ACSW - Business Development

The first segment of Scott Ackerman's professional training began on the east coast where he earned his graduate degree in social work while working as a civil servant for many years with the Crisis Intervention office in Pennsylvania. After obtaining licensure, Mr. Ackerman practiced social work for a variety of organizations specializing in mental health treatment with selective populations, specifically the dually diagnosed. In the 1990's Mr. Ackerman was hired by a large hospital in the Philadelphia area to start up and develop an emergency psychiatric service to assess and treat people who presented in Emergency Rooms with an urgent need for care. This service quickly became very successful and in great demand not only locally but nationwide as hospitals were recognizing the increasing need to process substance abuse and psychiatric emergencies in the ER environment. Familial demands eventually required relocation to California where Mr. Ackerman then worked as Clinical Director of a private psychiatric center in Santa Barbara for the next seven years. He subsequently advanced his skills running programs and addressing and treating the multiple needs of the dual diagnosis population utilizing an assortment of individual as well as group formats. Mr. Ackerman is now incorporating his many years of experience, education and training to promote Summit Mallibu's exceptional treatment program and endeavors to enlighten the public and private sector on the many features and benefits the program has to offer.

Clinical Staff and Advisors

The most caring clinical staff in the industry. Summit Malibu has assembled a highly qualified and experienced team of clinical professionals to provide treatment and therapy during the course of you or your loved one's involvement in our drug rehab or alcohol rehab treatment program. Each professional is licensed and/or credentialed by the State of California; several having firsthand knowledge of addiction and recovery. This combination of knowledge, experience and sympathy provides our clinical staff with the specific understanding to give us a clear edge when it comes to treatment for you or your loved one.

To speak confidentially with a member of our team,
call our 24-hour information line at 888-777-9672 .

Disclaimer
To ensure the highest quality, individualized treatment services, and as required by the State of California's Residential Treatment Licensing Regulations, Summit Malibu clients individually contract with physicians for medical services.