The Rise in Fentanyl Overdoses
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to shake up the world, one of the many ripple effects is the rise in fentanyl overdoses. The thing is
Jennell Maze is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her MSW from the University of Southern California. Her career has granted her the opportunity to promote well-being for individuals, families, and communities. With over 18 years of experience, she has provided comprehensive outpatient, residential, and community-based services. Her therapeutic practice has focused on trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, relationship dynamics, personality disorders, substance use, and various addictions, with extensive knowledge of co-occurring conditions. Her interventions are anchored in resilience and strength-based models, fostering hope and opportunity.
Jennell’s training and certifications include Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Structural and Strategic Family Therapy, Crisis-Oriented Services, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and Polyvagal-informed approaches. Additionally, she collaborates with the Polyvagal Institute to support The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center, making it the first in the U.S. to complete the Polyvagal Institute Organizational Program and earn the designation of Polyvagal Informed.
Jennell also worked as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work for nearly ten years, teaching courses in Human Behavior and the Social Environment. Her approach to service is driven by ensuring a sense of belonging and connection, leading to countless opportunities to support individuals and families on their paths to recovery, acceptance, and change.
Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM is the Senior Medical Consultant for the Pain Recovery Program at The Pointe Malibu. Dr. Mel was a major force in developing the Las Vegas Recovery Center’s Chronic Pain Recovery Program. He is a Family Practitioner, certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
He is the author of A Day without Pain, revised edition (Central Recovery Press, 2011) and The Pain Antidote – Stop Suffering from Chronic Pain, Avoid Addiction to Painkillers, and Reclaim Your Life (DaCapo, 2015). Dr. Mel filmed a show for PBS on chronic pain, which aired around the country in 2016.
Michelle graduated with a BA in Science and a double major in Policy Studies from UCLA in 2000. Although she was recruited through UCLA athletics, she focused on her studies and social work. It was through her Policy studies that she fell in love with social work and realized that working with people was her passion. From tutoring inner-city Latino kids in a second language to volunteering at MS clinics, to walking the streets of Ground Zero, she knew that being hands-on was her calling. These days, Michelle remains very active, as being involved in health and wellness is what keeps her anchored.