The ARC was first founded in November of 1999 by Dr. Mary Anne Fifield as a treatment option for drug and alcohol addiction. At the time, group and individual counseling were all that were offered.
However, over the next several years it became clear that - whereas there were many fine clinics treating chemical dependencies in the Bay Area of California - precious few were treating compulsive sexual behavior. So Dr. Fifield and her Advisory Board took time to reevaluate just what their focus and purpose was to be.
In May of 2004, the ARC became a 501.c.3, nonprofit corporation. By this time, Dr. Fifield's training as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) from Dr. Patrick Carnes was completed. Later she became a Supervisor for his program, IITAP (International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals), and began supervising local interns and clinicians in Northern California who were studying to become CSATs.
During the next several years, Dr. Fifield cobbled together a program to treat sex addicts and their partners from Dr. Carnes' and Pia Melody's fine material with the help of two interns, Daren Lowman and Invia Betjoseph. However, she was unsatisfied with the results.
Upon hearing of another program, she, Daren and Invia flew to Salt Lake City for the weekend and interviewed Dan Grey and Todd Olsen about their program, LifeSTARTM. Delighted in what they found, Dr. Fifield purchased the exclusive rights to use the Program in the Bay Area. In October 2005 LifeSTARTM Bay Area was launched.
In 2015 the Community Presbyterian Counseling Center (CPCC) in San Ramon joined forces with the Addiction Recovery Center as a LifeSTARTM Bay Area Program Affiliate.
CPCC is a large professional center staffed with over 20 therapists who are either licensed by the State of California to practice Marriage, Family and Child Therapy, interns who are working towards their required hours to become licensed, or trainees who
Dr. Mary Anne Fifield, DMFT, CAS, CSAT-S, LMFT
Founder and Executive Director of the ARC
are in their final year of a Masters program at an accredited university.
Today the Program continues to be honed and refined as the treatment field offers up new information about how to help individuals who struggle with sex addiction or hypersexual disorder, as well as their loved ones and families. Yet our commitment remains the same: to offer state-of-the-art treatment, showing the way out of the bondage of addiction.
Mary Anne is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who holds a Doctorate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. She is certified as an Addiction Specialist and Sex Addiction Therapist. She brings a commitment to individuals and families who have been impacted by the bondage of addiction. Mary Anne specializes in working with
all types of addiction issues including alcohol, drugs and sex. Mary Anne is the Founder and Clinical Director of the Addiction Recovery Center, a nonprofit treatment program for addicts and their partners. She was formerly an adjunct professor at three seminaries and is currently a sought after trainer, lecturer and consultant on addiction.
As the Clinical Director of the men’s addiction program at ARC, Invia facilitates different groups for men who struggle with compulsions and addictions of a sexual nature. He has experience helping individuals struggling with sexual addiction, depression, anxiety, self-image, shame and guilt, as well as couples who are experiencing emotional stress related to relationship conflict and extra-marital affairs. His extensive experience
includes the intensive "Every Man's Battle” weekends, part of the "New Life" organization dedicated to helping men deal with sexual addiction, as well as working for Santa Clara County Mental Health as a suicide and crisis counselor. He also has level I training in EMDR and is certified in Affect Centered Therapy providing trauma recovery for many of his clients. Invia is a member of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) and the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH).
Ed is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and received his Master’s degree from Bethany University in Clinical Psychology. Ed is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, he holds a specialized certification and accreditation through the California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. Ed uses evidenced based
treatment protocols including EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Ed is highly experienced in various addiction issues including internet pornography, substance and alcohol abuse, relapse prevention, treatment aftercare, anxiety, codependency, self-esteem, adult child of an alcholic issues and is available as an Interventionist for various addiction issues. Ed provides no cost treatment for problem gamblers and those affected by the problem gambling. Additionally, Ed Gresick is a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider.
Jerry is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Western Seminary, Santa Clara, CA. In addition to working with substance abuse and sex addiction issues, Jerry works with issues such as anger, depression, anxiety, codependency, self-esteem/self-worth, grief and loss, and family-of-origin issues. He works with individuals, couples, families, as well as with groups.
Jerry also works at the New Life Community Services residential drug and alcohol treatment facility in Santa Cruz where he counsels individuals and groups. He is a Registered Recovery Worker with the California Cerification Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors (#RW2271). Jerry is a member of CAMFT, the California Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors.
Christine is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Theological Seminary. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii and worked in the high-tech industry for 16 years. Christine has worked as a volunteer at a local Recovery Center for Women and taught classes on codependency. Her clinical
areas of interest are: addiction recovery, codependency, family-of-origin, marital and family therapy, individual counseling, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. In her leisure time Christine practices martial arts, road bikes, plays tennis, scuba dives and enjoys the outdoors.
Nancy McClymont is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern with an MS in Clinical Psychology from Bethany University, and a BS degree in Bible Theology and Counseling Psychology from William Jessup University. With a background in creative writing, musical theater, and church planting, she has learned how to work creatively and cooperatively to encourage, empower, and equip.
Nancy focuses on facilitating growth in those who are willing to put in the work. Traineeships have included South Hills Community Church, Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center, and the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. Nancy has a special interest in helping others overcome trauma and attachment issues along with depression, anxiety and conflict. Her approach utilizes experiential theories such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Gestalt Therapy. She is a member of CAMFT and AACC.