Our Staff
Being on the cutting edge of improving addiction treatment has allowed Serenity to attract a professional staff at the top of their game. The Serenity medical, psychiatric and psycho-therapeutic staff are amongst the best in their fields and are well known nationwide by reputation and through media and academic publications. We strive for excellence when it comes to our treatment methods and management styles, so our staff is comprised of the most experienced and advanced addiction recovery professionals.
Dr. Shilati has served as an international ambassador and participant in two separate medical and relief expeditions overseas in Iran and Africa; working directly with victims of natural disasters and HIV/AIDS. Most recently she was asked to develop a self-sustaining integrative mental health program for Swazi youth in the kingdom of Swaziland. She has lectured at various university settings including California State University Northridge, Pepperdine University, California Lutheran University, and Oxnard College. She has been asked to present at conferences and workshops on a variety of topics including Teenage Suicide, Dual-Diagnosis, Family Process and Addiction.
Previously, Doctor Shilati was a co-owner and program developer at Vantage Point Recovery and Counseling Center, an Outpatient facility located in Westlake Village, CA. Doctor Shilati now serves as Chief Operating Officer at Serenity Recovery Center in order to provide leadership and oversight to this dynamic and influential residential treatment program which specializes in co-occurring disorders. She is known for her ethics and prides herself on integrating the most cutting edge evidence based and holistic interventions for treatment.
Dr. Modir’s field of study ranges from the scientific to the holistic. Trained in Psychiatry at UCLA/Harbor Hospital with a subspecialty in addiction psychiatry at the UCLA Hospital Medical Center, she has a considerable background in clinical research and Dialectical Behavioral Training – even in Aryuveda, Buddhist Meditation, and Acupuncture. Dr. Modir brings a unique understanding and world-class skills in addiction treatment and therapy. Young and promising, Dr. Modir is a force to be reckoned with in the field of addiction psychiatry and treatment.
Born in Michigan, raised throughout childhood outside of Denver, Colorado and then on to Southern California before entering UCLA, has been working in the field of addiction since entering graduate school at California School of Professional Psychology where he obtained his doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1988. After 14 years of working with adolescents in residential treatment settings, which included directing programs in drug abuse treatment as well as in childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse and trauma, and adolescent sexual offending behavior, Dr. Stahlhuth went into private practice in Thousand Oaks, California in 1995. There, he continues to work with teens as well as adults and their families in the areas of addiction and trauma. Additionally, during the last five years, Dr. Stahlhuth continued his work in treating addiction and trauma at Passages, an adult addiction treatment center in Malibu, before moving to Serenity in July of 2009. During a period spanning 29 years, Dr. Stahlhuth has also specialized in conducting psychological assessments both on an in-patient basis and in residential and outpatient settings, experience which has its foundation in several years of graduate study in psycho-diagnostic assessment, graduate teaching assistantships, internships and work at agencies specializing in psych-diagnostic assessment
Dr. Mandel is a talented psychologist and relationship expert, which is also the famous author of Your Boss is Not Your Mother: Eight Steps to Eliminating Office Drama and Creating Positive Relationships at Work (Agate, 2006) and Healing the Sensitive Heart: How to Stop Getting Hurt, Build Your Inner Strength, and Find the Love You Deserve (Adams Media, 2003, and Airleaf Publishing, 2005).
Also a public speaker and media expert with 20 years of experience, her specialization lies in adult relationships and treating anxiety, stress, addictions, childhood abuse, and other similar concerns. Another expertise worth noting is Dr. Mandel’s exceptional talent in counseling individuals going through the stages of divorce, infidelity, and who are dealing with loss.
Ms. McLauchlin started her psychology career working extensively with the mentally ill, homeless population in NYC where she received her BS at New York University. She established meditation and drama therapy groups at Bellevue Hospital’s program for homeless men. Through her research, clinical and personal experience, she has developed a thorough understanding of, and compassion for people dealing with eating disorders and addictions. She utilizes CBT approaches to assist clients understand and ameliorate their depression and anxiety. Her previous clinical experience includes the California State University, Los Angeles therapy clinic, where she received her MS in Marriage & Family Therapy. She counseled couples, adults, teens and children. She served as the therapist for an on-campus program for academically gifted teens entering college.
Audrey Hope is a Spiritual Intuitive Healer and Addiction Expert with many gifts of insight, perception and healing. Audrey served for 8 years as Director/Counselor of Spiritual Counseling at a popular rehabilitation center in Malibu. Her revolutionary techniques of transformation have been applauded by people from all walks of life, and from all around the world.
Audrey’s Spiritual Addiction Counseling is a magical unique process that takes one beyond the rational, limited concepts of the mind, and the boundaries of traditional therapy into the deeper soul, where true healing takes place. The goal of the journey is nothing less than full transformation to affect change in the physical, emotional and spiritual body. Says, Audrey, “one must work with an alchemist, one who knows how to go down into the cave with you and solve the riddle of the soul, at the “root of the root of the root.” When you unlock the keys, transformation is possible, and life becomes a miracle of free creation.”
As the Director of Admissions I will be your first contact. I not only understand and have studied addiction, I have lived, overcome and witnessed first-hand its power. As a young man I fell victim to circumstances, some of which I could have avoided, that transpired into my downfall and near death in 2005. I have been sober since, and know what it takes to beat this thing. I can help you. There is no better feeling than watching the tears of pain and hurt, turn into tears of happiness and relief. I wish nothing more than for you to get your little boy or girl back, your husband or wife back, your mother or father, brother or sister, I wish nothing more than for you to get your life back.
Justin studied Addiction and Identity in New York with highly respected addiction specialist Jerome Levin at the New School, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has lectured at various schools and universities on the subjects of Culture and Addiction. He has extensive experience with personal advancement in recovery as a mentor, providing individualized guidance and motivation to clients of various special needs. Justin specializes in the development of physical wellness, spiritual awareness, and cognitive-behavioral functioning to support goal-oriented therapy. He is well-known in Los Angeles as a personal counselor and life coach for sober lifestyle integration. At Serenity, JJ provides one-on-one case management, systemic family education, and aftercare support. He also teaches a weekly group focusing on intention and self-realization. Justin is completing a second Masters with World University, in Counseling and Therapy, as well as Thanatology, while working towards an MFT.
Being on the cutting edge of improving addiction treatment has allowed Serenity to attract a professional staff at the top of their game. The Serenity medical, psychiatric and psycho-therapeutic staff are amongst the best in their fields and are well known nationwide by reputation and through media and academic publications. We strive for excellence when it comes to our treatment methods and management styles, so our staff is comprised of the most experienced and advanced addiction recovery professionals.
Dr. Sheila Shilati Psy.D
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Shilati has served as an international ambassador and participant in two separate medical and relief expeditions overseas in Iran and Africa; working directly with victims of natural disasters and HIV/AIDS. Most recently she was asked to develop a self-sustaining integrative mental health program for Swazi youth in the kingdom of Swaziland. She has lectured at various university settings including California State University Northridge, Pepperdine University, California Lutheran University, and Oxnard College. She has been asked to present at conferences and workshops on a variety of topics including Teenage Suicide, Dual-Diagnosis, Family Process and Addiction.
Previously, Doctor Shilati was a co-owner and program developer at Vantage Point Recovery and Counseling Center, an Outpatient facility located in Westlake Village, CA. Doctor Shilati now serves as Chief Operating Officer at Serenity Recovery Center in order to provide leadership and oversight to this dynamic and influential residential treatment program which specializes in co-occurring disorders. She is known for her ethics and prides herself on integrating the most cutting edge evidence based and holistic interventions for treatment.
Dr. David Martorano, M.D., Psychiatrist
Dr. David Martorano received his medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons before moving to Los Angeles to complete his training at UCLA’s prestigious Neuropsychiatric Institute. A recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Charles E. Richmond Award, Dr. Martorano is a recognized performer, public speaker, radio personality, and businessman who is still sought after for business consulting. He is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Medical Association. David Martorano holds a DATA 2000 waiver and is able to prescribe buprenorphine (subutex, suboxone) for opiate detoxification and maintenance. Dr. David Martorano is a psychiatrist trained in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. He is an expert in psychopharmacology (the use of medication to treat psychiatric illness). What sets him apart from many other psychiatrists is his extensive training and experience in the combination of targeted psychotherapies with or without medication, and he has completed additional training in ISTDP, CBT, DBT, IPT, in addition to Intra-Analytic Couples and Sex Therapy. Dr. Martorano specializes in treating depression, anxiety, addiction and helping couples with communication and intimacy issues.
Dr. Shahla Modir, M.D.
Dr. Modir’s field of study ranges from the scientific to the holistic. Trained in Psychiatry at UCLA/Harbor Hospital with a subspecialty in addiction psychiatry at the UCLA Hospital Medical Center, she has a considerable background in clinical research and Dialectical Behavioral Training – even in Aryuveda, Buddhist Meditation, and Acupuncture. Dr. Modir brings a unique understanding and world-class skills in addiction treatment and therapy. Young and promising, Dr. Modir is a force to be reckoned with in the field of addiction psychiatry and treatment.
Dr. Mark Stahlhuth, PhD
Clinical Director
Born in Michigan, raised throughout childhood outside of Denver, Colorado and then on to Southern California before entering UCLA, has been working in the field of addiction since entering graduate school at California School of Professional Psychology where he obtained his doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1988. After 14 years of working with adolescents in residential treatment settings, which included directing programs in drug abuse treatment as well as in childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse and trauma, and adolescent sexual offending behavior, Dr. Stahlhuth went into private practice in Thousand Oaks, California in 1995. There, he continues to work with teens as well as adults and their families in the areas of addiction and trauma. Additionally, during the last five years, Dr. Stahlhuth continued his work in treating addiction and trauma at Passages, an adult addiction treatment center in Malibu, before moving to Serenity in July of 2009. During a period spanning 29 years, Dr. Stahlhuth has also specialized in conducting psychological assessments both on an in-patient basis and in residential and outpatient settings, experience which has its foundation in several years of graduate study in psycho-diagnostic assessment, graduate teaching assistantships, internships and work at agencies specializing in psych-diagnostic assessment
Dr. Debra Mandel, PhD
Family Program Director
Dr. Mandel is a talented psychologist and relationship expert, which is also the famous author of Your Boss is Not Your Mother: Eight Steps to Eliminating Office Drama and Creating Positive Relationships at Work (Agate, 2006) and Healing the Sensitive Heart: How to Stop Getting Hurt, Build Your Inner Strength, and Find the Love You Deserve (Adams Media, 2003, and Airleaf Publishing, 2005).
Also a public speaker and media expert with 20 years of experience, her specialization lies in adult relationships and treating anxiety, stress, addictions, childhood abuse, and other similar concerns. Another expertise worth noting is Dr. Mandel’s exceptional talent in counseling individuals going through the stages of divorce, infidelity, and who are dealing with loss.
Laura McLauchlin, M.S.
Primary Therapist
Ms. McLauchlin started her psychology career working extensively with the mentally ill, homeless population in NYC where she received her BS at New York University. She established meditation and drama therapy groups at Bellevue Hospital’s program for homeless men. Through her research, clinical and personal experience, she has developed a thorough understanding of, and compassion for people dealing with eating disorders and addictions. She utilizes CBT approaches to assist clients understand and ameliorate their depression and anxiety. Her previous clinical experience includes the California State University, Los Angeles therapy clinic, where she received her MS in Marriage & Family Therapy. She counseled couples, adults, teens and children. She served as the therapist for an on-campus program for academically gifted teens entering college.
Audrey Hope
Spiritual Therapist
Audrey Hope is a Spiritual Intuitive Healer and Addiction Expert with many gifts of insight, perception and healing. Audrey served for 8 years as Director/Counselor of Spiritual Counseling at a popular rehabilitation center in Malibu. Her revolutionary techniques of transformation have been applauded by people from all walks of life, and from all around the world.
Audrey’s Spiritual Addiction Counseling is a magical unique process that takes one beyond the rational, limited concepts of the mind, and the boundaries of traditional therapy into the deeper soul, where true healing takes place. The goal of the journey is nothing less than full transformation to affect change in the physical, emotional and spiritual body. Says, Audrey, “one must work with an alchemist, one who knows how to go down into the cave with you and solve the riddle of the soul, at the “root of the root of the root.” When you unlock the keys, transformation is possible, and life becomes a miracle of free creation.”
Darryl Seskind
Director of Admissions
As the Director of Admissions I will be your first contact. I not only understand and have studied addiction, I have lived, overcome and witnessed first-hand its power. As a young man I fell victim to circumstances, some of which I could have avoided, that transpired into my downfall and near death in 2005. I have been sober since, and know what it takes to beat this thing. I can help you. There is no better feeling than watching the tears of pain and hurt, turn into tears of happiness and relief. I wish nothing more than for you to get your little boy or girl back, your husband or wife back, your mother or father, brother or sister, I wish nothing more than for you to get your life back.
Justin Leitstein, RASi
Associate Director
Justin studied Addiction and Identity in New York with highly respected addiction specialist Jerome Levin at the New School, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has lectured at various schools and universities on the subjects of Culture and Addiction. He has extensive experience with personal advancement in recovery as a mentor, providing individualized guidance and motivation to clients of various special needs. Justin specializes in the development of physical wellness, spiritual awareness, and cognitive-behavioral functioning to support goal-oriented therapy. He is well-known in Los Angeles as a personal counselor and life coach for sober lifestyle integration. At Serenity, JJ provides one-on-one case management, systemic family education, and aftercare support. He also teaches a weekly group focusing on intention and self-realization. Justin is completing a second Masters with World University, in Counseling and Therapy, as well as Thanatology, while working towards an MFT.
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