Vicky is a board certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She began her nursing career in healthcare by working in the intensive care unit, and then an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After realizing the mental health needs of both the patients and the families she served, she became a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Throughout her experience working with clients, she has developed a passion for those with dual diagnoses and specializes in helping individuals recognize the issues driving their substance use. This recognition has been crucial to the individual’s success in treatment. Vicky opened Diamond House Detox so that she can address these issues early on in a therapeutic environment to allow clients to transition to the next level in their recovery.
She maintains active status at Cedar Point Recovery, Akua Mind & Body, Valley Recovery, Woodland Hospital, Sierra Vista, and Psynergy Programs. Get to know more about Vicky here.
Steve Sugden, MD, MPH, earned his medical degree at University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT. He completed a Psychiatry Residency program at University of California, Davis in Sacramento, CA. More recently, he completed an MPH at University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Sugden is a Laughlin Fellow from the American College of Psychiatry and is board certified in Psychiatry by the ABPN and Addiction Medicine by the ABAM. His interests include addiction medicine, military and veteran medicine, and education. He worked in residential, inpatient, private practice settings, and Veteran Affairs in Texas, North Carolina and Sacramento.
Sofia has had over 10 years’ experience working as an office manager. She has also been recognized for providing great customer service and has always been a team player. Sofia has been with Diamond House Detox since the day they opened in January 2017. Sofia started out as drug and alcohol counselor and is now Diamond House Detox’s Office Manager and Admissions Coordinator. Sofia is one of the first point of contact that families or clients talk to when wanting to come into treatment. Sofia has had her own personal experience of losing a loved one to substance use, and that experience is why she has decided to work for Diamond House and continue to help families and clients in need of treatment.
Liza received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. She then went on to earn a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, specialization in Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. Liza is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Texas. She is moved to Sacramento, California two years ago and is currently in the process of completing her requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in California. Presently, she is registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).
Liza has over 10 years of experience treating children, adolescents, and adults in various setting such as residential treatment centers, schools, hospitals, community mental health, and criminal justice system and ranges of concerns. Having worked with individuals with mental and behavioral health issues, trauma, and addictions, Liza is familiar with the potential setbacks such disorders can cause. Liza is committed to and passionate about empowering individuals to live a meaningful and purposeful life by instilling hope and encouraging individuals to use their strengths as a resource in overcoming adversities in their personal lives.
Nicole is a drug and alcohol counselor with Diamond House Detox. She graduated from Intercoast College of Sacramento with a 4.0 grade point average and was awarded the Presidential Award. She is currently preparing for certification with CCAPP as a CADC I. Nicole began her career with Diamond House Detox as an intern while in school and has been a vital part of the team since 2017. She facilitates Diamond House Alumni Program by checking in weekly with alumni and setting up our special alumni speaker meetings that are held weekly. Nicole’s personal experience living with a loved one struggling with substance abuse is the reason why she has dedicated her career in helping others struggling with addiction and mental health. She has a passion for helping those in the early stages of recovery and enjoys working in our detox. In her spare time Nicole values spending time with family and she is known for her love of Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
Mimi had always wanted to be a nurse to help those in need. She did not begin her nursing path until after completing her Bachelor’s degree in psychology at UC Merced in 2014. She became an LVN in 2017 and began working at a skilled nursing facility for a year before starting at Diamond House Detox. She had not had any experience in working within the substance abuse field, but quickly became intrigued and loved helping clients during the most vulnerable time of their lives. She is compassionate caregiver and enjoys working with clients in the detox setting. She is attentive to their needs and encourages those to continue with their recovery after detox.
Sarena Singh grew up in Elk Grove, California. She attended Elk Grove High School, finishing up with high honors. Following up with an Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology. After working with children with learning disabilities, Sarena wanted to pursue her academic career in helping populations that are underserved. Sarena achieved her Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2021. Diamond House Detox signed on Sarena as an official APCC, Clinical therapist, after beginning her internship in 2020. From here, Sarena began accumulating her experience at the Diamond House Detox program, residential facilities, and outpatient services. Sarena has been training in EMDR therapy to better serve client’s in overcoming their trauma. Sarena’s calling is to continue accumulating experience in the field of helping those that are underserved and misunderstood by the majority of the population.
Fen has been a licensed psychiatric technician since 2014 and has been with Diamond House since 2019. Fen knew she wanted to be in the medical field at a young age, always caring for others. She took special interested in the psychiatric field wanting to help those who are often over looked or marginalized due to stigma. Working in a psychiatric hospital prior to Diamond House, Fen saw how mental illness and addiction often go hand in hand. That’s what drew her to Diamond House. Diamond house take a holistic approach to addiction, treating the mental health issues that often lead to substance use. Fen hopes to further her education and continue to help clients at a high standard.
Clare Brown has been in the behavioral health community for over 12 years. She was a Treatment Placement Specialist for over 11 years placing adolescents and adults for eating disorders, mental health, and substance abuse disorders., chair for Sacramento and East Bay WAAT for over 10 years, one of the founders of Spotlight Sacramento bringing resources to the community from all over California.
Currently at Diamond House Detox as Director of Marketing & Business Development where she is committed to bringing awareness to the disease of addiction and helping individuals and families navigate treatment options. Clare brings a patient-focused approach to her role, providing hope and strength to those who are ready for change. Clare has over 25 years in her own recovery and helping others get sober.
Karen brings over 15 years experience in the healthcare field, and has been with Diamond House as a Licensed Vocational Nurse since 2019. With experience working with seniors, adults, children, and developmentally disabled individuals, Karen takes pride in her ability to communicate with and care for a multitude of populations. Within the recovery community, her goal is to fully support the client in their journey for sobriety and ensure that their needs are met. She considers it an opportunity and privilege to impact change in peoples lives at Diamond House.
Andrea has been in the SUDT field for the past seven years. It has always been in her nature to help others. Her first career was as a director of a private school, and she retired after 20 years. Through her own journey of recovery, she became passionate about helping others recover. After taking on a role as a counselor at the residential level, she decided to make this her life’s journey. She holds a CADC II certification and is completing her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Today she oversees Diamond’s very rich program and counseling staff, as well as providing client support. She is the proud owner of a therapy dog, a Frenchie named Diamond (of course). She has been know to have a love for the color pink and loves anything that sparkles!
