Howard serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Innovation360 Austin team. He is involved in day-to-day operations, team-building and selecting and on-boarding Life Development staff.
He has a deep belief in Innovation360’s treatment model, as well as the people who work and coordinate client care at i360. Howard established the Austin team in order to build on the company’s successful business model.
After graduating from Southern Methodist University , Howard helped start Students in Recovery Peer Support groups for SMU and Texas Christian University (TCU). Prior to forming the Innovation360 Austin team, Howard was a essential member of the Life Development team in Dallas. His dedication to mental health and recovery stems from a personal conviction to fine-tune quality treatment for clients and their families.
FUN FACTS ABOUT HOWARD:
- Favorite quote: “Loyalty is a two-way street. If I’m asking for it from you, then you’re getting it from me.”
- Craziest college job: College. That was my craziest job.
- Show & Tell item: Freebord – snowboard the streets
- Biggest fear: Failure or a great white shark
- Greatest achievement: Establishing and being a part of Innovation 360 Austin
Elizabeth Devine is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and has provided metal health counseling for a wide range of individual and family issues to include confidence and motivation deficits, relationship and parenting challenges, mental illness, and substance use disorders. She has facilitated specialized work with child and adult victims of abuse as well as delivered intervention and education services to the perpetrators of violence. Elizabeth spent many years providing play therapy and family support to children in the foster system.
Elizabeth served as the Clinical Coordinator for the Betty Ford Center’s Children Program, offering support to children and families affected by addiction. She was also the Director of Treatment Services for a non-profit organization that provides both residential and outpatient services for individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Currently, Elizabeth provides organizational leadership in support of the mission and values of Innovation360. She also engages in assessments, counseling, and advocacy for clients and families. Elizabeth offers clinical supervision for the treatment team and speaks regularly in the community on issues related to wellness and mental health.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ELIZABETH:
- Favorite quote: I have two. “When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” – Shel Silverstein and “He who has a ‘why’ to live can bear almost any ‘how’.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
- Craziest college job: Organizing Mary Kay cosmetics for a lady with a pink car
- Show & Tell item: Travel photos
- Biggest fear: The girl in The Exorcist
- Greatest achievement: Motherhood, followed closely by successfully installing the light fixture in her room
- Favorite workout song: Whatever the yoga instructor is playing
SPECIALTIES:
- Mental health disorders
- Substance abuse
- Family & parenting challenges
- Deficits in confidence and motivation
- Domestic violence
- Child & young adult issues
- Trauma recovery support
- Eating disorders
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Families
- Children
- Young Adults
EDUCATION:
- Masters degree in Counseling
Contact Elizabeth at Devine@i360Austin.com
Nic Ballejo
Director of Life Development
Nic Ballejo has worked extensively in the treatment and recovery field providing direct client care, overseeing operations as well as developing and directing multiple recovery programs. Nic is responsible for maintaining the overall quality and performance of the Life Development team and continues to provide Life Development sessions to help men struggling with mental health disorders, chemical dependency and a variety of other emotional and spiritual challenges.
FUN FACTS ABOUT NIC:
- Favorite quote: “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” – Les Brown (He has some great inspirational speeches on YouTube.)
- Craziest college job: Bartender
- Show & Tell item: Ask me about bikes
- Biggest fear: Fear itself. (Cliché I know.)
- Greatest achievement: Sobriety and everything after
- Favorite workout song: “Weapon of Choice” by Fatboy Slim (Check out the music video.)
SPECIALTIES:
- Mental health disorders
- Substance abuse recovery
- Life Development
- Program development
POPULATION:
- Executives / Business Professionals
- Individuals
- Young Adults
- Adolescents
Contact Nic at Ballejo@i360Austin.com
Abi currently serves as a consultant and private practice clinician with Innovation360 Austin. She specializes in family-systems focused therapy in the treatment of substance abuse, process addictions and codependency.
Prior to moving to the hill country in 2011, Abi served as Clinical Director of the Center for Recovering Families – Houston for 21 years. She is a licensed clinician with both a Masters and Doctorate in Social Work, and a Certified Daring WayTM Facilitator. Her passion lies in providing clinical supervision, along with working with people in exploring family of origin dynamics, the development of survival defenses, embracing shame resilience, and healing the impact of overt or covert trauma through a relational framework.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ABI:
- Favorite quote: “Owning our story and loving ourselves through the process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” Brené Brown
- Craziest college job: Cleaning rat cages in the psychology lab
- Show & Tell item: My adorable Sheltie rescue, Judd
- Biggest fear: Public speaking
- Greatest achievement: Public speaking – and surviving!
- Favorite workout song: Rocky
SPECIALTIES:
- Addiction recovery
- Family Systems therapy
- Codependency
- Shame resilience
- Daring Way™ and Rising Strong™ Workshops
POPULATION:
- Adults
- Individuals
- Couples
- Family
EDUCATION:
- Bachelors degree in Psychology
- Masters and Doctorate degrees in Social Work
- Certified Group Psychotherapist
- Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator
Contact Abi at Williams@i360Austin.com
Pam Newton, MS, LCDC
Counselor, Educator & Consultant
Pam serves as a Counselor, Educator and Advisor for Innovation360 Austin.
She has over 30 years of experience developing and directing treatment programs for those challenged by addiction and/or mental illness. While working for Innovation360 Dallas for 7 years, she facilitated a group for women struggling with addiction/alcoholism, conducted family workshops, provided individual counseling to clients and served on the leadership team.
Pam was instrumental in bringing Innovation360 to Austin.
FUN FACTS ABOUT PAM:
- Favorite quote: “It’s easier to build a child that to repair a broken man.” – Fredrick Douglas
- Craziest college job: Washing laundry for juvenile detainees
- Show & Tell item: A video of my mom telling dirty jokes and her favorite Bible verses
- Favorite workout song: All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
SPECIALTIES:
- Addiction
- Women and families
- Adult children of alcoholics/addicts and/or mental illness
- Codependency
- Program development
POPULATION:
- Women
- Professionals
EDUCATION:
- Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology
- Masters degree in Human Relations and Communications
- Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC)
Laura Jones-Swann, M.Ed., LCDC, EMDR, CDWF
Counselor, Educator & Consultant
Laura has been working in the field of substance abuse and dependency for 25+ years. She holds a MEd., and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She spent 13 years teaching and counseling with the Center for the Study of Addiction at Texas Tech University, then moved to Austin in 1999 where she started the University of Texas at Austin Center for Students in Recovery.
She currently has a private practice in counseling and is adjunct faculty at The University of Texas School of Social Work and Seminary of the Southwest. Laura is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), is certified to administer and interpret the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) and is a Certified Daring Way Facilitator (CDWF). Her counseling philosophy emphasizes a holistic approach to life and recovery from addiction.
FUN FACTS ABOUT LAURA:
- Favorite quote: Trust God and let go!
- Craziest college job: Filling jelly donuts at a donut shop
- Show & Tell item: My 40’ RV – named Clifford the Big Brown Dog
- Biggest fear: Not doing all the things I would love to do because of fear, time or money
- Greatest achievement: Raising two beautiful daughters
- Favorite workout song: I have tons of them….right now it is Unwritten.
SPECIALTIES:
- University of Texas at Austin
- Seminary of the Southwest
- St. Edward’s University
- University High School
POPULATION:
- Assessing and supporting individuals with Substance Use issues
- Adults
- Families
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree in Education
- Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Trained in Eye Movement Destination Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator
- Texas Teacher Certification – All Level
- Certified Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) Administrator and Clinical Interpreter
Contact: lalaswann@gmail.com
Sabrina Beck, M.Ed., LPC, NCC
TX LPC #68070
Family Therapist
Sabrina earned a Bachelors Degree in both Psychology and Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta. She completed a Masters of Education in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University. Sabrina provided counseling services in a community counseling center, an employee assistance program and an adolescent treatment program for addiction.
Sabrina then spent 11 years working at Ridgeview Institute, a private non-profit psychiatric hospital & treatment center in Atlanta, GA, as the Family Program Coordinator. This role allowed Sabrina to help addiction and psychiatric patients, and their families, work toward recovery from the destructive influence of addiction and mental illness. Sabrina also offered education about family issues and recovery. She also ran a women’s abuse survivor group, a recovering professional’s aftercare group, family therapy groups and spouses’ groups, walking alongside courageous people who were working through these difficult and complex issues. Sabrina currently provides Family Therapy for i360 Austin and leads educational lectures and facilitates group therapy at other treatment centers in Austin.
FUN FACTS ABOUT SABRINA:
- Favorite quote: And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin
- Craziest college job: Waxing gym floors and scraping gum off of bottoms of desks as a custodian at the local high school.
- Show & Tell item: The belts I am earning in the practice of Tae Kwan Do.
- Biggest fear: Fear itself! And heights!
- Greatest achievement: Professionally: Earning the trust of the members of my aftercare group.
- Favorite workout song: Maroon 5 “Sugar”
SPECIALTIES:
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Family Systems
- Abuse Survivors
- Recovering Professionals
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Families
- Young Adults
- Group Therapy
EDUCATION:
- BA in Psychology and Spanish
- M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling
- National Certified Counselor
Contact Sabrina at Beck@i360Austin.com
Austin Parsons, M.A., LPC
Therapist
Austin is a Licensed Professional Counselor that works with clients who find themselves in various crises whether they be relational, emotional, physical or spiritual. Austin’s goal in treatment is to come alongside clients and walk them through struggles that include mood disorders, conflict resolution, loss/grief, trauma, boundaries, delayed adolescence, addiction, spirituality, communication, identity, and personality disorders.
Austin has extensive experience in crisis intervention & case management, performing individual, family, & group therapy, as well as the management of an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Austin also works with a collaborative team that can be resources for medication and testing.
If you’re looking for lasting change, more fulfilling relationships, and meaningful connection, then let’s begin. Whatever brings you to therapy, there is hope. Together we will observe how the events in your life have formed deep rooted beliefs about how the world will respond to you. Austin believes that change happens in the context of relationships. Our therapeutic relationship will work to ease your distress and equip you towards transformation. We haven’t been promised not to experience pain in this life, but I believe we are not meant to experience it alone.
FUN FACTS ABOUT AUSTIN:
- Favorite quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- Craziest college job: Walking backwards and telling people about my awesome school.
- Show & Tell item: My dog, Ranger.
- Biggest fear: Creatures under the water that can attack me.
- Greatest achievement: I’ve never eaten Spam, followed by quitting hot dogs as of 2009.
- Favorite workout song: Titanium or Chandelier, or anything Sia really. (No shame)
SPECIALTIES:
- Mental health disorders
- Substance abuse
- Family & parenting challenges
- Relationships
- Spirituality
- Life Transitions
- Trauma recovery support
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Families
- Couples
- Young Adults
- Adults
- Elders
EDUCATION:
- Bachelors degree in Communication at Texas A&M University
- Masters degree in Counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary
Contact Austin at Parsons@i360Austin.com
Client Advocate
Vanessa is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and is supervised by Elizabeth Devine, M.Ed., LPC-S. She helped launch the i360 Austin office and provided support as the office coordinator. She currently facilitates assessments, provides counseling for individual clients, and serves as a client advocate for the clients and families of Innovation360 Austin.Vanessa practices from a multi-disciplinary approach and provides collaborative, strength-based counseling for individuals, families, and couples.
FUN FACTS ABOUT VANESSA:
- Favorite quote: “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” -Wendell Berry
- Craziest college job: Starbucks barista, I have fond memories of opening the store at 3 AM for Black Friday shoppers
- Show & Tell item: A handmade turkey costume I made for my nephew (with feathers!)
- Biggest fear: Being lost at sea
- Greatest achievement: Helping launch i360 Austin while completing my graduate coursework and counseling clients
- Favorite workout song: “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by JT
SPECIALTIES:
- Anxiety
- Relationship challenges
- Spiritual challenges
- Life Development
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Young Adults
- Women
EDUCATION:
- Masters in Educational Psychology
- Masters in Counseling
Contact Vanessa at Nering@i360Austin.com
Meredith Mormon – LMFT-Associate, under the supervision of Venus Rouhani, LPC-S, LMFT-S
Life Development / Client Advocate
Meredith Mormon is a graduate of St. Edwards University with a M.A. in Counseling Psychology. She also has a B.A. in Psychology/ Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. She is currently licensed as an LMFT-Associate and is working towards licensure as an LPC-I. Her goals while working with clients, which include families, couples and individuals, is to find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships. She believes that no single approach is right for every individual.
FUN FACTS ABOUT MEREDITH:
- Favorite quote: “Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” –Unknown
- Craziest college job: Jewelry Sales. I learned a lot.
- Show & Tell item: I played volleyball all through college. I now play sand volleyball every weekend.
- Biggest fear: Heights
- Greatest achievement: My daughter
- Favorite workout song: “Best of You”- Foo Fighters
SPECIALTIES:
- Relationship challenges
- Familial communications
- Depression and Anxiety
- Life Development
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Families
- Couples
- Young Adults
EDUCATION:
- Masters in Counseling (LMFT/LPC)
Contact Meredith at Mormon@i360Austin.com
Life Development Team Lead
Works in the practical application of therapeutic programs with individual clients. Typically excel with clients interested in exploring metaphysical experience and their place in the grander scheme of life. Worked with young life for many years working with young men entering the experience of life without immense parental direction. Navigating what it means to be a man for themselves and applying a narrative of their goals into a practical healthy lifestyle.
FUN FACTS ABOUT KELLY:
- Favorite quote: ” We are far too easily pleased…I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”- C.S. Lewis
- Craziest college job: Worked at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the Lemur and Butterfly exhibits
- Show & Tell item: A Book on Marine Mammals
- Biggest fear: Cockroaches…..and subduing the adventurer within
- Greatest achievement: I have a published Bioinformatics report on a fly gene, and a technical report published for Western Bluebird nestling development.
- Favorite workout song: Superhuman- Andy Mineo
SPECIALTIES:
- Spiritual Pursuits
POPULATION:
- Teenage and young adult males
- Individuals
- Groups
EDUCATION:
- B.S. In Evolutionary Biology at the University of New Mexico
- One year graduate work at Southern California Seminary
Contact Kelly at Hutchins@i360Austin.com
Brittany Biangone
Life Development
Brittany has a background working in residential substance abuse treatment with co-occurring disorders. Brittany has worked in various roles including recovery care technician, operations, and admissions. Her current role at Innovation360 is Life Development, with a specialty in recovery from drugs and alcohol. She has a passion for helping people, especially women struggling with mental health.
FUN FACTS ABOUT BRITTANY:
- Favorite quote: “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t. ” Thomas Edison
- Craziest college job: Body Piercer
- Show & Tell item: My sneaker collection
- Biggest fear: Being buried alive
- Greatest achievement: Sobriety
SPECIALTIES:
- Mental health disorders
- Substance abuse
POPULATION:
- Individuals
- Young Adults
EDUCATION:
- Currently pursuing a degree in chemical dependency counseling
Contact Brittany at Biangone@i360Austin.com
Administrative Coordinator
Caroline Currie has a background in residential recovery programs. Her true passion is helping others work through issues of substance abuse, self worth, and other mental health issues. She serves a number of roles for Innovation360 Austin, including Life Development, Administrative Coordinator, and Client Scheduler.
FUN FACTS ABOUT CAROLINE:
- Favorite quote: “Love has no expectations.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
- Craziest college job: Bartender
- Show & Tell item: I’m a photographer and develop my pictures in a darkroom
- Biggest fear: Cilantro
- Greatest achievement: Conquering the obstacles and fears in my life that I once thought were insurmountable
- Favorite workout song: “Never Scared” Bone Crusher
EDUCATION:
- Studied Art History at the University of Georgia
Contact Caroline at currie@i360austin.com
Jessica Lopez
Client Liason
Jessica Lopez is the Client Liaison at Innovation 360, in her role she has the privilege of navigating families through the initial steps of care. She has spent the majority of her professional career advocating for clients in the substance abuse field. In her free time, she loves spending quality time with her miniature dachshund, Bentley.
FUN FACTS ABOUT JESSICA:
- Favorite quote: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- Craziest college job: I had one job throughout college, and I loved it!
- Show & Tell item: A table or other piece of furniture I’ve built (woodworking)
- Biggest fear: Snakes
- Favorite workout song: “Dance Like This” by Wyclef Jean
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s in Psychology
- LCDC-intern
Contact Jessica at Lopez@i360Austin.com
