Dr. Sumen Virdee is a psychologist, clinical supervisor, educator, wellness facilitator and consultant. She has over two and a half decades of clinical training and expertise in wellness, trauma, addictive disorders, and mental health with an emphasis on mood and thought disorders. Dr. Virdee believes wellness should be practiced with an integrative approach and is mindful of modalities outside of usual talk therapy. She integrates modern science and holistic wisdom to support personal transformation and much needed systemic change.

Dr. Virdee provides clinical consultation and support as an advising psychologist and uses her knowledge and experience as a speaker and educator for organizations, schools and agencies to promote prevention, education, and advocacy. She works with community programs, behavioral health organizations, corporate and government organizations, and non-profit programs. Combined with her clinical background, Dr Virdee also coaches C-Suite level executives.

Dr. Virdee holds a doctorate and several master’s degrees in clinical psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Virdee works from a psychodynamic and object relations perspective, mixed with attachment styles and family systems. She also holds several certifications and training in Domestic Violence, IPNB, EMDR, ACT, NARM, IFS, Seeking Safety, TF-CBT and SE (Somatic Experiencing) and other wellness modalities.

Additionally, Dr. Virdee is certified in Neurodynamic Breathwork, Human Design, Reiki, Family Constellations, and is a certified Executive Coach, Holistic Coach and Meditation Practitioner.

Matthew Jarvis, a seasoned professional in the realm of sober living support, began his journey as a program manager at a renowned Los Angeles sober living. Since 2016, he has worked independently, providing interventions, case management, sober companioning, and coaching services. His academic pursuits have been marked by achievement and accolades, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with honors, and completing the Substance Abuse Counselor Program at Sober College. Currently, Matthew is furthering his studies at Antioch University Los Angeles, where he is pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology.

His unique and insightful perspectives recently earned him an invitation to present at a peer-reviewed panel discussion entitled “Intersectionality, Graduate Training Experiences, and the Balance of Art and Science in Psychology.”

Matthew’s authentic nature and calming presence are immediately palpable and significantly enhance the value of any treatment team. Matthew has a remarkable ability to establish trust, fostering nurturing environments that encourage stability and recovery. His experience extends to working on long-term and challenging treatment cases, collaborating with health care organizations, mediating intricate legal scenarios, and working with special needs trusts to ensure long-term positive outcomes.

On a personal note, Matthew celebrates 9 years of sobriety and remains active in his own recovery journey. Having faced his own struggles with addiction, he possesses a profound ability to empathize with others and share his personal experiences in a meaningful way. In his free time, Matthew enjoys engaging with his local community through music and art, relishing home-cooked meals, and reading voraciously along side his partner. Matthew finds his joy and energy through quality time spent with family and friends.

Amelia Webb is a dedicated and compassionate Case Manager specializing in Recovery Coaching services. With certifications from CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery) and registered with CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals), she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work in helping individuals on their journey to recovery.

Amelia's commitment to positively impacting the lives of those she serves is evident through her extensive experience. She has been an integral part of The Advocacy Group since its inception, contributing to the organization's mission of providing comprehensive support and advocacy.

One of Amelia's most impactful roles is that of a Recovery Coach and Sober Companion. She assists clients in seamlessly integrating their clinical support into their daily lives, helping them rediscover how to function independently while maintaining their commitment to sobriety. Amelia walks alongside her clients as they build lives free from the shackles of addiction, offering unwavering support and guidance throughout their journey to recovery.

In her role, Amelia offers personalized one-on-one care, catering to clients who are navigating the complexities of primary mental health issues, dual diagnoses, and Substance Use Disorders. Her approach involves a collaborative effort with clinical care teams to develop tailored care and treatment plans, ensuring that each client receives the support they need to achieve their recovery goals.

Amelia's clientele spans a wide range of backgrounds, from CEOs and entertainment professionals to parents seeking assistance in helping their teens  on the road to recovery. She understands that each person's journey is unique, and she strives to create a safe and nurturing space for clients to rebuild their lives on a solid foundation of recovery.

Amelia Webb's unwavering commitment to her client’s well-being and dedication to the principles of recovery make her an invaluable asset to addiction and mental health support. Her passion for helping individuals find hope and healing shines through in her work, making her a trusted ally in the journey toward lasting recovery and personal growth.

As a behavioral strategist and mental health consultant, Karen is a master at navigating relationships and creating solutions for families she partners with for their growth and healing. She has an approach and a philosophy of wellness that is integrative, and has a gentle but firm way of guiding and encouraging. Karen has the insight of inner and outer sustainability. Her unique background and skillset fuses both an internal and external wisdom which is at the core of her work.

As a behavioral health consultant, Karen is trained in the Trauma Resiliency Model Level 1, is a trained Interventionist, a Human Behavior Consultant, a Certified Recovery Coach. Certified Chopra Health Coach, a Life Coach and Nutrition Coach with a specialty in Plant Based and Ayurvedic Nutrition, she is trained in Amino Acid Therapy, Nutrigenomics, and Human Design. She has a thriving practice as a Vitality Coach which fuses her extensive training in a variety of modalities working from traditional approaches to spiritually-based alternatives. 

Prior to transitioning into behavioral health, Karen was a well-respected veteran in the entertainment industry as a producer and casting director for over 14 years. Her journey into Health Care started with her managing and overseeing daily operations in upscale urgent cares. She then went on to become a producer on A&E’s ‘Intervention’ where she handled treatment placement, and case management.

Her eclectic and diverse background has given her a level of expertise and made her a valuable resource in connecting clients and families to superior treatment and mental health services nationwide. She has cultivated a network of specialized seasoned professionals with highly ethical practices and philosophies which support her specialty of helping families navigate the treatment world.

Colleen Medlock is a writer and brand advisor who partners with Founder and CEO Lauren C. Brock on branding and marketing initiatives. She brings two decades of work in fundraising, marketing, and sales to The Advocacy Group, including a decade of political work in Washington, D.C. and 10 years in Los Angeles working in publishing and luxury goods.

In 2015, Colleen founded her own brand advisory consultancy to advise health and wellness industry clients on brand development and digital marketing. She has extensive experience in building and scaling entrepreneurial campaigns and ventures and developing personal brands.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Elisha Riggs Hall knows the journey of recovery from drugs and alcohol firsthand. As a woman with 19 years of sobriety and a mother of three young children, her gratitude for life is the foundation for her work in service. Elisha has worked in philanthropy for over twenty years. She developed and executed a strategy to shift the focus from national to local giving for an internationally renowned Los Angeles philanthropist, ensuring support for emerging non-profit organizations providing crisis services to local families in need.

A leader within the Los Angeles sober community, she is an active member in her 12 step program, having sponsored dozens of women in their recovery from drugs and alcohol. Elisha has spoken at panels at female prisons and recovery events all over Southern California. She has run groups for women in recovery and led mentoring programs for teen girls. She currently spends time working with Alexandria House, a local transitional housing for women and children Koreatown. Elisha's vision is to help foster a greater awareness of and perspective on the needs of the community.

April Aubery relishes in her title of “Anchor Mom” for The Advocacy Group Project's free weekly online parent support group.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, her family has experienced alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness. To understand these diseases better, April has spent the last two and a half decades learning about co-dependent behaviors, boundary setting, enabling, communication, self-care and detaching with love. She believes education is the key to this understanding.

She is happily married thirty years to her second husband, Dennis, and her two sons are sober. April is quick to credit all the people along her journey who helped her when she needed it most. She is now dedicated to helping others with loved ones caught in this disease survive and thrive. Her belief is one cannot do this alone.