Lisa Tomsak, DO is the Medical Director for the Royal Life Centers treatment network. Since 2016, Lisa has overseen the medical services at each of Royal Life Centers’ eight facilities, including The Haven detox facility. Board-certified in both internal and addiction medicine, Dr. Tomsak earned her D.O. from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Wilkes Barre University. As a doctor of osteopathic medicine, Lisa provides our guests with the full spectrum of medical care. Moreover, she takes a whole-person approach within her treatment plans to help prevent relapse and promote sustainable recovery practices. She has an unwavering passion for the field of substance abuse and her commitment is unmatched. Lisa Tomsak, DO has gone above and beyond to ensure the quality of our medical services and standards.
Alissa Pine works as a Behavioral Health Technician at The Haven Detox, a Lacey, Washington detox facility. Alissa’s decision to apply to Royal was based on her empathy and compassion for individuals seeking help. Growing up, Alissa witnessed her family struggling with addiction and struggling to get the help they required. As a result, she knows what it means to actually be there for friends and family that need support from an early age. When she first started working for Royal, Alissa had no idea what she was getting herself into. Since the beginning, she has witnessed every employee’s dedication to the guests in our programs. She believes that “Because We Care” is not only our slogan but the truth of everyone who works here. It is a mission in which we firmly believe.
Deangela Hume, LPN is one of our dedicated nurses at The Haven Detox, our medical detox clinic in Lacey. Deangela has over 6 years of experience as a nurse in a variety of settings. Her particular aim is to treat everyone in her care as if they were a member of her family. Her ambition is also to give back and assist others in becoming the best version of themselves. “Heaven knows we all need an advocate sometimes,” Deangela Hume says.
Jennifer Carte, a licensed practical nurse in Lacey, Washington, is one of our most amazing and loving LPNs. Jen is a registered nurse with over ten years of experience working in Royal Life Centers at The Haven. She has a diverse background that includes mental nursing and trauma care. Jen considers herself fortunate to be able to assist each of our guests in medical detox as they begin their recovery. Jennifer Carte gives great care to our clients and enjoys assisting them during the first stages of recovery.
Mary Ward is one of Royal Life Centers’ case managers at The Haven Detox in Lacey, Washington. Mary is a valuable asset to the organization because she is able to establish trust with guests while dealing with their difficulties, whether they be a legal, workplace, or aftercare-related, and she does so with passion and compassion. She works well with all of the other divisions in the facility and is a great team player. Her background in case management and compassion for our guests push her to settle any scenario, no matter how tough. In fact, Mary Ward’s dedication motivates her to solve situations that arise in any other department.
Cristy Fain, SUDPT is one of our therapists at The Haven in Lacey, Washington, for visitors undergoing detox and residential treatment. Cristy has worked for Royal Life Centers for over two years in a variety of capacities. She currently holds an associate’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP). For the past nine months, Cristy puts her experience to good use as a motivated Substance Use Disorder Professional trainee.
At The Haven Detox in Lacey, Washington, William McClain is one of our Group Facilitators for visitors going through detox. During the medical detox process, William aids our team of medical specialists by teaching our visitors important coping skills and education during the early stages of recovery. During group therapy, Will emphasizes the dangers of relapse and the significance of maintaining recovery throughout the recovery process. William carries out treatment programs and compassionately cares for our clients while working alongside our healthcare specialists. William McClain continues to demonstrate his commitment to both Royal Life Centers and our visitors.
Marguerite Christenson works at Royal Life Centers in Lacey, Washington as a SUDP-certified therapist. In 2003, she graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Family Studies. After, Marguerite obtained a LA MBA from the University of Phoenix. Following her education, she has worked in a number of therapy settings. Her main focus is on trauma-informed care with a client-centered approach. Clients use an eclectic toolbox of techniques alongside her during treatment, including Seeking Safety, Wellbriety, Resource Management, Community-Reinforcement, and Family Systems Theory. She assists our visitors at The Haven, our inpatient facility, and Sound Recovery, our 12-week aftercare program. When someone has that “Ah-ha” moment when it comes to SUD and its underlying difficulties, Marguerite Christenson is ecstatic.
Kenneth Pimpleton is our Clinical Supervisor for The Haven and Sound Recovery, our treatment facility in Lacey, Washington. Within his role, he ensures that the clinical team at our Lacey detox and aftercare follows proper protocol. Following his start in the clinical field, Kenneth Pimpleton quickly rose through the ranks to become an associate counselor, case manager, and treatment director at Lakeside Kirkland’s outpatient clinic.
Later he went on to the role of training and development coordinator, a position he helped create. Kenneth graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Master’s of Social Work and a Certificate in Public Administration. In addition, he worked at Community Counseling Institute in Tacoma as a Program Evaluator and Manager. In fact, he currently teaches Human Services part-time at HCC and full-time at Tacoma Community College. Now, he works to make our Lacey facilities run smoothly, dedicating his time to the safety and comfortability of our guests.
Melissa Tarasoff-Hood is the energetic Director of Corporate Relations for our five Washington treatment facilities. She is in charge of our Lacey detox and aftercare facilities, as well as our Sumner detox and residential center. She also oversees the referral outreach services for our Spokane detox center and Mead aftercare facility.
Melissa began her career in the treatment sector in admissions and rapidly advanced to business development. She joined Royal Life Centers in Washington in 2019 and has dedicated her time to serving the community and treatment partners as a resource. Melissa serves and oversees our Washington offices as our Director of Corporate Relations. Her commitment has a positive impact on our guests, alumni, and the community at large. Melissa Tarasoff-Hood is a very positive individual who carries out our vision on a daily basis, and her true compassion shines through in all of her communications and outreach endeavors.
Gabriel Minchow is the Native American Program’s Cultural Specialist and the Outreach Representative for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. In 2019, he began working at Royal Life Centers as a Group Facilitator. His work with Royal originates as a full-time Alumni Coordinator and Employment Specialist in 2020. He is in charge of our Lacey locations, The Haven and Sound Recovery. Gabriel enjoys donning a variety of hats during the day in order to better serve the requirements of guests and community partners.
Gabriel Minchow earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University. He was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma intellectual honor society during this time. He earned his Master’s of Business Administration degree in 2019 after putting in a lot of effort. Gabe has thrived in a role that blends his financial skills with his understanding of recovery since joining Royal Life Centers.
Ashley Whitley is the program director for our Lacey, Washington centers – The Haven and Sound Recovery. She has a Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness (MSc), and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care. Currently, Ashley is working on a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Behavioral Health. Ashley Whitley has also earned certifications as a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) and a certified transcranial magnetic stimulation technician. Her background in addiction treatment includes work in clinical operations, technical training, outreach, and patient care, among other things.
She has also worked in human resources, admissions, marketing, information technology, finance, and the opening of new treatment centers. She works with a wide spectrum of specialists in this sector during her numerous responsibilities. Doctors, physicians, CEOs, business development teams, administrative employees, and experts are just a few of the people with whom she has worked.
Teresa Rorie has spent 14 years working in the field of chemical dependency. Teresa’s passion and devotion to the issue of substance misuse remain steadfast in her role as Regional Executive Director. She is in charge of our five treatment centers in the state of Washington in her capacity. Over the years, she has excelled in both education and her professional work. Additionally, she sees her life as a tribute to others she assists. She motivates Royal Life Centers’ visitors and inspires them on their road to sobriety and rehabilitation. Teresa Rorie is dependable, aspirational, and well-organized, thanks to her BA in Addiction Studies.
Teresa ensures that all programs function smoothly from beginning to end, as well as provides insight into best practices in the field of substance abuse. Furthermore, Teresa Rorie has had a positive impact on the lives of people in early recovery since 2008. Teresa Rorie is dependable, inspiring, and well-organized, ensuring that all activities operate smoothly from beginning to end. In fact, her life’s purpose is to assist others in recovering and resuming a life of fulfillment and hope. All of our Washington staff members appreciate her devotion and hard work, which helps Royal Life Centers provide the finest possible care to all of our guests.