Who We are
We have a profound passion for the first responder community and have built our retreats to specifically service this group. Our intensive retreats are designed to help first responders relieve trauma symptoms and PTSD, allowing participants to move into recovery. THRIVE’s first responder retreats are for active and retired first responders, EMS, corrections officers, civilian support personnel, and their families. We deal with a complex, traumatic world and many are suffering from PTSD while doing work to take care of us as society. We need to find a way to take care of them.
Thrive exists to provide complex trauma treatment and resources to first responders. Through our healing retreat and services, you, our frontline men and women, will find a safe, trusting, supportive environment within which you can finally exhale, breathe deep, and dive into the trauma, the history, stories, and feelings and put them in context to heal the stress responses. It is from here that we are able to heal our hearts and souls by changing the narrative. We honor your bravery and the work you do each day. THRIVE recognizes what it takes to be human, to feel, to help with all you’ve got, and to hurt when you experience difficult situations. When you heal the trauma that you carry from one workday to another, you will finally be free.
The Staff
Our professional staff have profound knowledge, education and skills to assist each client in accessing healing. Each member has experience working with trauma survivors, carries clinical credentials, and always create a safe, calming place for clients to feel protected and cared for during the program.
The breadth and depth of our staff experience ranges from licensed marriage and family therapists, yoga instructors, psychotherapy counselors, dietitians, recreation specialists, and EMDR trained clinicians. THRIVE requires that all staff carry the highest credentials in the field knowing that your life, health, and well-being depends on it.
With a team of the best and brightest in the field of trauma recovery, our staff are some of the most dedicated in the industry. Each person working at our retreat understands post-disaster responses and can influence a client’s ability to begin reacting in positive ways. Our program builds resilience and teaches new skills that relieve the strain and stress of living with the past in control. Our clinicians help to move clients into the present moment with consistent, compassionate guidance that allows clients to begin to feel whole again.
Randy Humphrey
Randy Humphrey has held the titles CEO and Director of Business Development in the past. In his current role he presents his knowledge of the treatment world and his vast expertise in relationship building, primarily with employer groups and 1st Responders, to expand his ability to help more people suffering from trauma and addiction find the treatment they deserve.
Deb Hughes
Deb Hughes, CAS, has a dynamic background in program and business development, strategic planning, and a tremendous foresight on execution and expansion. Her experience with dual diagnosis, eating disorder treatment, adolescent and adult programming, as well as a deep working knowledge of business development, transitional living, outpatient treatment programs, and IOP services provides her the opportunity to make an unsurpassed difference in the lives of clients.
Kathleen Murphy
Kathleen Murphy, M.A., LMFT, LPC, has built her career on more than 30 years of experience working with people suffering from substance abuse issues complicated by relational trauma. Kathleen makes use of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, IFS, AEDP, Interpersonal Neurobiology, polemics, and didactics. Her focus on psycho-education, and experiential group processes, heavily influenced by attachment theory as well as psychodramatic techniques, assist clients in reframing and reclaiming the self as a being in relationship.
Mackenzie Phillips
Mackenzie Phillips, RADT-1, brings a unique perspective to the work she does, shaped by her own deep battle with substance abuse and trauma. Her professional training and industry expertise combined perfectly position her to excel at working with families and clients to better identify with themselves and the path they are forging, towards a new life of healing, sobriety and well-being.
Ashlyn Lytwyn
Ashley Lytwyn, MS, RDN, earned her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Clinical Nutrition. She believes in the ability to make peace with food and your body, while dedicating her work to helping individuals ditch the diet mentality and learn to nourish the body, mind, and soul. Her primary work focuses on eating disorders, disordered eating, and chronic dieting.
Miguel Palacios
Miguel Palacios brings more than 15 years of experience and expertise to his management role. His extensive experience in public relations, community relations, media relations and event planning precede his current management role. Believing that success is not in the results but in the effort, Miguel exemplifies a professional profile whereby he exceeds in building relationships and accomplishing great tasks in his role.
Sasha Linssen
Sasha Linssen earned her master’s degree in Public Health and has a passion to help others who struggle with mental health concerns. She brings many years of experience in the non-profit field where her experience can help others that are in need. Her vast work with women, families and communities has allowed her to be more compassionate and understanding of other people. She exhibits a positive attitude, outlook and overall view on how to approach stressful situations. She strives to be the best and supportive person she can be and loves being able to help others.