Dr. Claudia Black is a renowned author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. In the mid-1970s, Claudia gave “voice” to both young and adult children from addictive homes, offering a framework for their healing. This cutting-edge work would be critical in creating the foundation for the codependency field and a greater understanding of the impact of family trauma.

Since that time, Dr. Black has continued to be a passionate leader in the field of addiction. She designs and presents training workshops and seminars to professional audiences in the field of family service, mental health, and addictive disorders. She has written more than 15 books, most notably It Will Never Happen to Me.

The recipient of numerous national awards, Dr. Black has been a keynote speaker on Capitol Hill and on Canada’s Parliament Hill. A Senior Fellow and clinical architect for the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows, she also serves on the advisory board for the National Association of Children of Alcoholics and the advisory council of the Moyer Foundation.

Dr. Whitney Howzell is a dynamic, highly motivated, and conscientious leader with a depth of knowledge and experience in social work, sociology, and sexology. A licensed social worker, Dr. Howzell holds master’s degrees in clinical social work, public health, and education, as well as a PhD in human sexuality studies. She also has extensive experience and training in gender-related issues, attachment, sexual orientation, relationship communication, and sexual trauma.

Much of Dr. Howzell’s work has centered on treating adolescents and families with behavioral and emotional issues, sexual compulsive behavior, sexual trauma, and couples with relational issues. She is an empathic therapist who is passionate about mental health, raising awareness about sexual health, and providing excellent patient care.

A Wickenburg, Arizona native, Mia Hackett earned her AAS in Nursing from Estrella Mountain Community College and has worked in the mental health field since the mid-2000s. From an early age, she says she was blessed to have special bonds with several amazing people who struggled with various mental health issues. She was always drawn to understand their diseases, and to provide comfort, respite, and help break the stigma of those conditions. As soon as she was able to, Hackett took the opportunity to learn and grow in this field. Today, her current role includes teaching, leading, and coaching nurses and behavioral health techs to provide the best possible care to everyone who come to Claudia Black Young Adult Center. She continues to find joy in developing a compassionate team who takes pride in providing hope. It’s also rewarding to see the life-changing transformation in the young adults she works with. Married with four children, two horses, and three dogs, Hackett is always on the move, finding little adventures to enjoy with her family and the critters. It usually includes something outdoors like hiking, kayaking, horse riding, farming, or exploring the beautiful state of Arizona.

Cuba native and board-certified psychiatrist Madelyn Rousku earned her medical degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in the Dominican Republic before continuing her medical education the United States. She wanted to be a psychiatrist from an early age, and Dr. Rousku has since worked in virtually every setting — inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient — and with clients of every degree of severity. She says she “absolutely adores” her current role at the Claudia Black Center, where she diagnostically conceptualizes every case as accurately as possible in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment plan and to ensure patient safety. Dr. Rousku champions a warm and open approach that focuses on nurturing the healing doctor-patient relationship and incorporating the invaluable input of CBC’s multidisciplinary team.

Dr. Rousku specializes in the treatment of young adults who have experienced a wide range of psychiatric concerns including substance use, eating issues, mood and, anxiety disorders, autism, sexual and gender identity, somatoform, personality disorders, psychosis, and trauma-related illness as well as extensive social problems and family conflicts. This wife and mother of two says she loves working with young people. “It’s a special feeling when you can shape a young life for the better and see them recover their zest for life, goals, family relations, and confidence in themselves, setting them on a path of psychological awareness they can forever draw benefits from.”

Dr. Jon Caldwell is a board-certified psychiatrist and clinical research investigator who specializes in the treatment of adults who are healing from relational trauma and addictive behaviors. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer of Meadows Behavioral Health and The Meadows. His theoretical perspectives are heavily influenced by his PhD training at the University of California at Davis, where he began researching how early childhood maltreatment and insecure attachment relationships affect cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. His clinical approach has become increasingly flavored by the timeless teachings of the contemplative traditions and by the daily practice of mindfulness. Dr. Caldwell has published a number of articles on child maltreatment, attachment theory, emotion regulation, and mindfulness. He is also a noted international speaker and trainer on these and other topics.