Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment

The Treatment Team

Morris Gelbart, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Morris Gelbart, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and has been practicing since 1976. He has expertise in alcohol and substance abuse, is certified by the American Psychological Association in the Treatment of Substance Abuse, and was one of the founders of the Torrance Memorial Chemical Dependency Program, now known as the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. He is presently the director of Gelbart & Associates, a multi disciplinary mental health group in the South Bay. Dr. Gelbart is a consultant to the California Medical Board Diversion Program and the California State Lawyers Assistance Program. He has wide experience in workplace violence and stress, managed care issues, chronic pain, and works with adolescents and adults, in individual, couple and group therapy. In addition, he treats anxiety, depressive disorders and relationships.

Robert Swift, M.D.
Medical Director
Robert Swift, M.D., has more than 20 years experience in the full-spectrum of family practice medicine and has specialized in the treatment of chemical dependency for much of his career. A graduate of the Georgetown University School of Medicine, Swift completed his family medicine residency at Georgetown and Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. In addition, during his career he has served as the assistant medical director of the Arlington Hospital Alcoholism Treatment Center and as the medical director of the Rio Grande Detoxification Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and he is a member of both the California Society and American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Greg Allen, Ph.D., M.F.T.
Program Director
Greg Allen, Ph.D., M.F.T., has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years specializing in teens, parents, adults, relationships, addictions and sports psychology. Formerly Greg was Clinical and Administrative Director of the Matrix/UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program, responsible for adult and adolescent outpatient substance abuse clinic. He is a clinical member of the American and California Associations of Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, Allen is the director of Freedom4U, a nonprofit youth organization, www.freedomcommunity.com. Allen is a graduate from the University of Delaware, Pepperdine University, and International College, Los Angeles.

Kim Nakae, M.F.C.
Clinical Coordinator
Kim Nakae is a marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years experience in counseling. He has been treating individuals, couples and families who have chemical dependency problems for the last 15 years. He is a clinical member of the American Association and the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. He was one of the founders of the Torrance Memorial Chemical Dependency Program, now known as the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. In addition, Nakae serves as the chair of the Diversion Evaluation Committee for the State of California Medical Board; and is a member of the California Medical Association's Liaison Committee for Physicians Diversion and the California Society of Addiction Medicine. In addition, he is a clinical provider for the Lawyers Assistance Program of the California State Bar and an adjunct faculty member of the Phillips Graduate Institute, Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Nakae currently serves as vice president of the board of directors for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the South Bay. Nakae earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Marquette University and master's degree in marriage, family and child therapy from the California Family Study Center.

Jean Carfagno, M.A.
Clinical Coordinator
Jean Carfagno has more than twenty years of experience as a therapist in chemical dependency in-patient, out-patient and private treatment settings. She has helped individuals, couples and families in dependent or addictive families. Carfagno serves as a primary therapist, alumni coordinator and utilization reviewer and is one of the original founders of the outpatient chemical dependency treatment program at Torrance Memorial. In addition to her work at Torrance Memorial, Carfagno is a member the Mission College faculty where she teaches the Addiction Studies Program. Active in community service, Carfagno is an elder in her church, a conciliator for the Los Angeles Center for Conflict Resolution and is a national director of alumni for the Mortar Board Honor Society. Carfagno holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Ohio State University; a master's degree in counseling psychology from Lindenwood University; and a certification in alcohol and drug counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles.

David Dawson, M.A., M.F.T, C.E.A.P., C.A.D.C.
Clinical Coordinator
David Dawson is a clinical coordinator for Torrance Memorial and also serves as director of admissions for the Vista Recovery Center in El Segundo. Dawson is noted as an original founder of the outpatient chemical dependency treatment program at Torrance Memorial. Certified as a employee assistance professional, Dawson also holds certifications from the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition, he earned a bachelor's degree from McKendree College in Lebanon, IL., and has more than thirty years of experience in the treatment of substance abuse.

Joanne Sprecher, C.A.D.C.
Primary Therapist
Joanne Sprecher is the primary adult therapist of the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. In addition, Joanne has extensive experience in managing sober living facilities for women. Currently, she is the Executive Director of a non-profit sober living house for women called "House of Miracles". She also assisted in developing and implementing the Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Breathe Freely Tobacco Cessation Program in which she also serves as a counselor. Joanne is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and participates in various support groups throughout the South Bay Community.

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He has expertise in alcohol and substance abuse, is certified by the American Psychological Association in the Treatment of Substance Abuse, and was one of the founders of the Torrance Memorial Chemical Dependency Program, now known as the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. He is presently the director of Gelbart & Associates, a multi disciplinary mental health group in the South Bay. Dr. Gelbart is a consultant to the California Medical Board Diversion Program and the California State Lawyers Assistance Program. He has wide experience in workplace violence and stress, managed care issues, chronic pain, and works with adolescents and adults, in individual, couple and group therapy. In addition, he treats anxiety, depressive disorders and relationships. Robert Swift, M.D. Medical Director Robert Swift, M.D., has more than 20 years experience in the full-spectrum of family practice medicine and has specialized in the treatment of chemical dependency for much of his career. A graduate of the Georgetown University School of Medicine, Swift completed his family medicine residency at Georgetown and Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. In addition, during his career he has served as the assistant medical director of the Arlington Hospital Alcoholism Treatment Center and as the medical director of the Rio Grande Detoxification Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and he is a member of both the California Society and American Society of Addiction Medicine. Greg Allen, Ph.D., M.F.T. Program Director Greg Allen, Ph.D., M.F.T., has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years specializing in teens, parents, adults, relationships, addictions and sports psychology. Formerly Greg was Clinical and Administrative Director of the Matrix/UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program, responsible for adult and adolescent outpatient substance abuse clinic. He is a clinical member of the American and California Associations of Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, Allen is the director of Freedom4U, a nonprofit youth organization, www.freedomcommunity.com. Allen is a graduate from the University of Delaware, Pepperdine University, and International College, Los Angeles. Kim Nakae, M.F.C. Clinical Coordinator Kim Nakae is a marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years experience in counseling. He has been treating individuals, couples and families who have chemical dependency problems for the last 15 years. He is a clinical member of the American Association and the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. He was one of the founders of the Torrance Memorial Chemical Dependency Program, now known as the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. In addition, Nakae serves as the chair of the Diversion Evaluation Committee for the State of California Medical Board; and is a member of the California Medical Association's Liaison Committee for Physicians Diversion and the California Society of Addiction Medicine. In addition, he is a clinical provider for the Lawyers Assistance Program of the California State Bar and an adjunct faculty member of the Phillips Graduate Institute, Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Nakae currently serves as vice president of the board of directors for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the South Bay. Nakae earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Marquette University and master's degree in marriage, family and child therapy from the California Family Study Center. Jean Carfagno, M.A. Clinical Coordinator Jean Carfagno has more than twenty years of experience as a therapist in chemical dependency in-patient, out-patient and private treatment settings. She has helped individuals, couples and families in dependent or addictive families. Carfagno serves as a primary therapist, alumni coordinator and utilization reviewer and is one of the original founders of the outpatient chemical dependency treatment program at Torrance Memorial. In addition to her work at Torrance Memorial, Carfagno is a member the Mission College faculty where she teaches the Addiction Studies Program. Active in community service, Carfagno is an elder in her church, a conciliator for the Los Angeles Center for Conflict Resolution and is a national director of alumni for the Mortar Board Honor Society. Carfagno holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Ohio State University; a master's degree in counseling psychology from Lindenwood University; and a certification in alcohol and drug counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles. David Dawson, M.A., M.F.T, C.E.A.P., C.A.D.C. Clinical Coordinator David Dawson is a clinical coordinator for Torrance Memorial and also serves as director of admissions for the Vista Recovery Center in El Segundo. Dawson is noted as an original founder of the outpatient chemical dependency treatment program at Torrance Memorial. Certified as a employee assistance professional, Dawson also holds certifications from the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition, he earned a bachelor's degree from McKendree College in Lebanon, IL., and has more than thirty years of experience in the treatment of substance abuse. Joanne Sprecher, C.A.D.C. Primary Therapist Joanne Sprecher is the primary adult therapist of the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment. In addition, Joanne has extensive experience in managing sober living facilities for women. Currently, she is the Executive Director of a non-profit sober living house for women called "House of Miracles". She also assisted in developing and implementing the Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Breathe Freely Tobacco Cessation Program in which she also serves as a counselor. Joanne is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and participates in various support groups throughout the South Bay Community.
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