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Melissa Stevenson joined the Foundations Recovery Network team in 2014, becoming Director of Foundations San Diego in 2017. She began her career in the treatment field working with homeless veterans who were suffering from addiction and mental illness. Since that time, Stevenson has honed her skills in environments that include couples, families and groups, fostering health and recovery from co-occurring disorders. She has a strong commitment to helping those around her find healing, believing that recovery is always possible. Her extensive experience working with trauma, psychosis, depression, anxiety and addiction in both for-profit and nonprofit mental health programs includes stints as director at Foundations San Francisco, program director for a therapeutic community in San Diego and associate director for evidence-based programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Passionate About Helping Others

Melissa Stevenson grew up passionate about problem-solving and helping others. When it came time to choose a college major, psychology and counseling seemed like a great fit; she had always had an innate desire to facilitate healing and enrich other people’s lives. Growing up on a ranch in northern California, Stevenson spent much of her free time riding horses and participating in 4-H. She moved down to San Diego for college after being awarded a full-ride basketball scholarship. Stevenson then went on to earn her undergraduate degree in counseling and psychology from Christian Heritage College and

earned a master’s in counseling and psychology from Southern California Seminary. She finds her current position rewarding because of the emphasis placed on providing a safe place for individuals and families to find strength, healing and hope. When not busy working, Stevenson finds peace in nature and has a strong interest in nature photography. She says that discovering new spots to take pictures provides her a way to stay grounded while finding adventure at the same time. She also enjoys surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and she plays basketball and softball.

MelissaStevenson,LMFT 50226Director, Foundations San Diego

Melissa Stevenson

has a strong commitment to helping those

around her find healing, believing that recovery is always possible.

Foundat ionsSanDiego.com | 866-494-7787

Assisting the Rediscovery of IdentitySeeing it as her job to support individuals in their darkest hours, Melissa Stevenson believes in providing structure and guidance so lives can improve and individuals can discover who they are truly meant to be. Through addiction, many people lose their identity, or maybe they never truly formed that identity to begin with. One of the biggest gifts treatment provides is connection, helping people not only reconnect with themselves but find community with others.

Empowering individuals to rediscover or find themselves for the first time is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Stevenson feels privileged to be involved in the profound process of identity development of her clients. Helping people discover what makes them tick and the unique gifts and skills they bring to the table is energizing. She doesn’t ask anyone to do anything she is not already doing herself, walking alongside both staff and clients in this way. Stevenson’s approach is to meet individuals where they are, and it’s her desire and drive to help others become their true selves that makes her capable of facilitating real growth in other people’s lives.

About Foundations Recovery NetworkFoundations Recovery Network is recognized as the premier leader in integrated treatment for co-occurring addiction and mental health concerns. Our award-winning model combines evidence-based addiction treatment with innovative therapies for emotional and mental health to address co-occurring disorders effectively. Results demonstrate that FRN patients are more than twice as likely to maintain sobriety one year post-treatment as compared to those who attend traditional programs.

Melissa loves helping people discover what makes them tick and the unique gifts and skills that they bring to the table. Her desire is to help individuals become truly themselves.

About Foundations San DiegoFoundations San Diego offers integrated treatment and recovery support for the unique needs of individuals with co-occurring disorders. Serving patients both locally and nationwide, our distinctive outpatient treatment continuum offers evidence-based individual and group therapies, integrated educational curriculum, case management, medication management and adjunctive holistic approaches, including mindfulness-based practices, yoga, acupuncture and massage therapy. Foundations San Diego embraces diversity and the uniqueness of the individual. We have specialty groups

offering supportive therapy to the LGBT community, professionals and people of all backgrounds and cultures. We foster a safe, restorative and compassionate environment where you are encouraged to be your authentic self. Whoever you may be, you have a place at Foundations San Diego.