Join us!

WELCOME TO THE FIFTH ANNUAL EMERGENCE CONFERENCE
Wednesday, September 17 & Thursday, September 18
Are you ready to connect with the true paradigm shifters in behavioral health? Emergence is more than a conference—it’s a movement built on two powerful forces: groundbreaking innovation and authentic community connection. Over two transformative days, you’ll be inspired to take bold action, rediscover your purpose, and reignite your passion for both your work and your life. Year after year, attendees return not only for the dynamic content, but also for the lasting relationships they form with colleagues who share their values and vision.
 
What to expect:
250+ participants from across California and beyond
30 sponsoring organizations with 50+ representatives
14 thought-provoking presenters leading cutting-edge conversations
 
This is a rare opportunity for clinicians, researchers, wellness professionals, and seekers alike to exchange ideas, expand their knowledge, and explore innovative approaches to mental health, addiction recovery, and whole-person wellness.
 
Step into a space where thought leaders, change-makers, and passionate advocates gather to shape the future of behavioral health.
 
Learn more and register now:
 

OUR 2025 THEME:

“Healing is a Love Story”

Wednesday, September 17th and Thursday, September 18th

Marina del Rey Marriott: 4100 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Ticket Prices: 

Both Days: $299.95 – One Day: $199.95 – At the Door: $500

Our Presenters:

Your Hosts:

TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery expert, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and addiction treatment specialist who has helped countless people through his simple, yet powerful teachings. He is the creator of The Conscious Recovery Method, which is a groundbreaking and effective approach to viewing and treating addiction.

TJ serves as the Chief Wellness Officer of Monima Behavioral Health in San Diego, as well as the Head of Conscious Leadership at Reconstruction Unlimited, based in Beverly Hills and London. He is a featured thought-leader on wholehearted.org along with Brené Brown, Marianne Williamson, Dr. Gabor Maté, and Mark Lundholm, and was also given the honor of being ordained as an Agape minister by Dr. Michael Beckwith.

TJ is the author of the bestselling books, Conscious Being: Awakening to your True Nature, Conscious Recovery: A Fresh Perspective on Addiction, and Conscious Creation: 5 Steps to Embracing the Life of Your Dreams, as well as the co-author of their accompanying workbooks.

www.tjwoodward.com

Amy has a passion for helping individuals find freedom from active addiction and transform their lives for the better. Her education and professional experience span over 25 years including fields in K-12 education, community outreach, health and wellness, spiritual leadership, and conscious recovery coaching. She is a mother of four who has pioneered, led and participated in a wide array of missions involving conscious parenting and family crisis mentorship.

Emerging and healing from a family of generational addiction, trauma and mental health challenges has led her to a deep understanding and compassion of what recovery entails, and she now dedicates herself to supporting people on their path of healing. Amy has been a proponent of TJ’s work since being introduced in 2015 when Conscious Being was published and has witnessed the unfolding of the transformational experience contained within Conscious Recovery.

Amy’s sincerity and commitment are easily felt as she shares with you how to take your client’s personal recovery to the next level in their journey of self-discovery, healing and personal growth. It is her genuine desire to ensure that the Conscious Recovery experience is made accessible to all people in recovery.

Jeremy is a founder & CEO of Rehab Road Trips. With over a decade of experience in the behavioral health field, Jeremy has recognized a deep calling for the work he does in supporting others pursue their own healing & returning to their inherent wholeness. Jeremy specializes in media, marketing, and clinical work, and started his professional journey as a certified addictions counselor. Drawing inspiration from Joseph Campbell, his unique messaging style creates a more authentic and meaningful presence online for professionals and programs within the field. As an advocate for mental health and being in long term recovery for twelve years himself, Jeremy recognizes the importance of spreading the message of wholeness as opposed to brokenness, and is excited about ushering in a new paradigm both in how we support healing from addiction & the way our field communicates about what we do.

Keynote Speakers:

Sharon brings a broad range of experience to her role as the Chief Clinical Officer of La Ventana Treatment Program. She has over twenty years experience working with at-risk youth, couples, families, and adults in the field of mental health and addiction. She has worked at various rehabilitation centers with youth and adults struggling with issues of addiction and their underlying psychological causes. Sharon has worked as a trainer and operator on a crisis suicide hotline. Sharon has worked directly with the homeless population in assisting them in stabilizing severe and persistent mental health and substance dependence as well as gaining housing and employment. Sharon maintains a private practice in Westlake and is a Clinical Supervisor to registered interns working towards their licensure. Sharon’s approach is multi-modal: she addresses the biological, psychosocial, spiritual, and nutritional aspects of addiction and treatment.

Sharon earned her MS in Counseling with Distinction from California State University. She is a member of CAMFT, and a Co-Leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop in efforts to help young girls develop empowerment and leadership.

Jeremy is a founder & CEO of Rehab Road Trips. With over a decade of experience in the behavioral health field, Jeremy has recognized a deep calling for the work he does in supporting others pursue their own healing & returning to their inherent wholeness. Jeremy specializes in media, marketing, and clinical work, and started his professional journey as a certified addictions counselor. Drawing inspiration from Joseph Campbell, his unique messaging style creates a more authentic and meaningful presence online for professionals and programs within the field. As an advocate for mental health and being in long term recovery for twelve years himself, Jeremy recognizes the importance of spreading the message of wholeness as opposed to brokenness, and is excited about ushering in a new paradigm both in how we support healing from addiction & the way our field communicates about what we do.

Michael Castanon, Founder and CEO of Alter Behavioral Health, host of the Alter’d Life Podcast, and the visionary behind, Care Predictor. He has been a driving force in mental health services, focusing on evidence-based treatments and scientific advancements. He has a proven track record in developing successful behavioral healthcare businesses and is dedicated to creating innovative methods to improve success rates. His mission is to utilize data and strategies to build a leading mental healthcare platform.

Before entering behavioral healthcare, Michael spent over 20 years in executive roles in the financial sector, where he developed expertise in strategic growth. He applied these skills to assemble a skilled team at Alter Behavioral Health, propelling it to industry leadership.

Michael’s commitment extends to creating mental health resources like BeWellLine, a crisis hotline, and Mindfuli, a virtual platform connecting people to affordable counselors and therapists. Mindfuli, has facilitated over 130,000+ virtual care encounters. These initiatives have been supported by grants, including a $5M grant from the California Mental Health Services Authority.

Now leading Care Predictor, Michael aims to revolutionize behavioral healthcare by improving clinical performance prediction, hiring processes, and reducing bias, thus enhancing care quality and competitiveness in healthcare. He has been featured as an industry leader in Authority Magazine and a speaker at BHASE Behavioral Health Summit in 2023 & 2024.

Michael Castanon’s vision and leadership continue to transform lives, guiding clients away from addiction and mental health challenges, promising a brighter future in mental and behavioral health.

Her story reads like a heartbreaking novel, but it’s tragically true. Her father drowned when she was a little girl. Her mother, an alcoholic, took her own life when Lori Jean was a teenager. Her personal journey included abandonment, pain, challenging relationships, and isolation.

Lori Jean (LJ) was constantly boarding what she calls the “Crazy Train” of secretive, addictive, and self-sabotaging behavior to avoid uncomfortable situations in an attempt to desperately find peace. Her behavior left her feeling alone in the world.

 

When she finally understood how to approach relationships from a healthy perspective, her life started to change for the better. For the first time ever, she felt relational freedom.

Then she found the inner strength to not only turn her life around, but to start helping others by developing The PIVOT Process as a powerful method for identifying and overcoming the root causes of attachment problems to create healthier, happier lives.

She is now the acting CEO and Founder of PIVOT.

https://lorijean.com/

 

Experiential Presenters:

Kathleen Murphy, M.A., LMFT, LPC, is the founding Executive Clinical Director at Breathe Life Healing Centers and the architect of Breathe’s acclaimed Family Program, which she continues to lead. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Kathleen specializes in working with individuals facing substance use issues compounded by relational trauma. As a foundational member of the Breathe team, she has been instrumental in shaping its clinical programs since Day 1.

Kathleen integrates a range of therapeutic approaches, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and Interpersonal Neurobiology, alongside polemics and didactics. Her approach emphasizes psycho-education and experiential group processes informed by attachment theory and incorporates psychodrama techniques to help clients reframe and reclaim their sense of self within relationships.

Through her innovative methods, Kathleen empowers clients to heal from trauma, rebuild healthy connections, and foster personal growth.

 

Adrienne is a radical connector of human-ness, a truth excavator and an experiential group maverick. She is a creative healer, psychotherapist, dance movement therapist, meditation teacher, meaning maker that has always known there is more to experience than what is just right in front of her. Since she was little she was always fascinated by how people operate, how life works, and how relationships shift. She was the sensitive person in my family and was also the caretaker in her family whose salvation was found in helping others, playing pretend, dancing, being creative in her own world. Creativity, helping others and seeking truth has been not only a sacred place of respite but also connection to a higher source. 

Adrienne currently oversee Beyond IFS, a community for experiential therapists, spirit seekers, meaning makers, healers and coaches. This community enjoys & studies of Beyond IFS parts-work, a blend of experiential, somatic and spiritual practices. These somatic practices lead to powerful life-changing transformations for both clinicians and clients. she has been intuitively helping others to find their creative path towards healing for 20 years. In her free time she enjoys playing with her family & daughter, hiking and geeking out with friends on psychology, shamanic studies, meditation, IFS, movement, arts, comedy, and transformational arts.

Her life experiences and your life experiences are what co-create your healing, support and connection to purpose together. She has taken the best of what she has learned in her many professional trainings creative art therapy trainings, improvisation training and life experiences of recovering from PTSD, complex grief, disordered eating and co-dependency to give you the best methods that actually work. She has created a powerful combination of Somatic Arts & Parts-Work (IFS), creative meditations and spiritual guide work to connect you quickly with your authentic self, increase self-compassion and shift habitual patterns.

https://www.adrienneglasser.com/

 

Panelists:

Dr. Patrick Lockwood grew up in a small southern Missouri town, enculturated with classical southern and midwestern values like honesty, integrity, and the “neighborly” way of relating to people. He completed his B.A. in psychology at the University of Missouri, then moved to L.A. to earn his Doctorate of Psychology at TCSPP.

 

Dr. Lockwood has worked for non-profits, treatment centers, and has been a part of a number of startups over the past ten years. His background in community interventions began before he even graduated from the University of Missouri where he successfully co-authored a grant creating a virtual intervention to help parents on campus become more connected and develop a supportive community while working at Parentlink, a division of the university’s college of education.

Dr. Lockwood has trained with experts in the field of addiction treatment and has worked at every level of the treatment industry. He is currently an adjunct professor at California Lutheran University, teaching future clinicians about clinical skills, addiction, and research analysis. He also has a podcast on YouTube about topics related to mental health, wellness, psychology, and neuroscience called “the psychology checkup.” Finally, dr. Lockwood is the author of “the fear problem,” a book integrating the neuroscience and evolutionary psychology of our fear process to explain why we get triggered by politics and other “hot topics.”

Mell McCracken is the Executive Director of No Matter What Recovery, serving as the leader of the clinical treatment program and overseeing our sexualized drug use curriculum. 

Mell is a fierce advocate for healing and transformation through substance abuse counseling, sex addiction therapy, and treatment program development. They have nearly a decade of experience and extensive expertise in empowering individuals to overcome their struggles with addiction and navigate the complexities of chemsex in the rainbow community. 

Mell is nationally and internationally recognized as an LGBT+ educator, co-author, and treatment provider. They also serve as faculty member at the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Specialists. They are committed to uplifting voices and breaking stigmas, one conversation at a time, and have spent their career fighting for inclusivity and empowerment through chemsex education and LGBT+ activism. 

They are originally from Ojai, California and in their free time enjoy exploring their creative side through painting, writing, pottery, and making music. 

Scott holds an associate degree in psychology as well as being a State, National, and Internationally Certified Peer Recovery Coach. He is a certified peer recovery supervisor and a NAADAC and APA member. Scott is pursuing his bachelor’s in human services, emphasizing SUD counseling. He uses his vast knowledge of the criminal justice system to help those from incarceration live their best life after coming home. He advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community and for the homeless and justice population. He uses his journey to inspire and bring hope to others. Scott founded Purple Mountain Recovery INC to bring hope to those in need and fill the void in the recovery world for the LGBTQIA+ community. Scott believes in using his own life experiences to meet people where they are as well as guide them on their journeys. Scott believes that a person is in recovery when they say they are.

https://www.purplemountainrecovery.org/

Dr. Angela Chanter, Psy.D.

Chief Clinical Officer | Clinical Psychologist | Advocate for Purpose-Driven Leadership

With more than two decades of experience as a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Angela Chanter is a distinguished leader in the field of behavioral health. As Chief Clinical Officer at Sierra Health + Wellness, she oversees trauma-informed, recovery-oriented programs that serve individuals navigating substance use disorders and complex mental health challenges. Her work is rooted in the belief that transformation begins with purpose—and is sustained by resilience, clarity, and connection.

A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Chanter has shaped the careers of emerging clinicians for nearly 20 years. She co-founded an adolescent outpatient substance abuse program grounded in compassion, accountability, and cross-sector collaboration with schools and the juvenile justice system. Her clinical leadership spans residential, outpatient, and community-based settings, and she has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Doctoral Program at Alliant University.

Guided by a systems-based and relational approach, Dr. Chanter has worked extensively with individuals, couples, and families facing the complexities of trauma, identity formation, parenting, high-conflict divorce, and life transitions. She is also recognized for her specialization in child custody evaluations and divorce mediation in high conflict cases.

At the core of her leadership philosophy lies a steadfast commitment to empowering others—especially women—to lead with purpose, integrity, and a bold curiosity for what is possible. A servant leader at heart, Dr. Chanter embodies the principle that the most enduring leadership is born from within—through self-awareness, service, and the unrelenting pursuit of meaningful impact.

Dr. Chanter works with children, adolescents, families and individuals using a relational and family systems approach. She has experience with diverse populations with issues relating to depression, trauma, divorce, parenting, grief, life transitions and relationship issues.

Dr. Chanter is the Senior Clinical Director for Sierra Health Centers / New Start Recovery Solutions

Founder and CEO of Alchemy House Sober Living Homes

Alchemy House is a treatment alternative catering to clients in all phases of recovery. Our treatment methodology stands alone.

In our experience, long-term recovery is not brought about in 30 to 90 days but rather by an enduring commitment to growth. Alchemy House is a long-term sober living rooted in the 12 steps of action. We provide heavy structure as well as individual and community involvement to bring long-term recovery to addicts and their families. To achieve this, Alchemy uses DBT-based techniques to help promote growth in recovery and development of life skills. Men that have struggled to achieve sobriety in the past are able to effectively end the tedious cycle of addiction and treatments for good by entering Alchemy House.
 

Director of Clinical Relations & Outreach: Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, Silicon Valley

Richa Sachdev Sandhu, M.S., is a mental health professional with extensive experience in clinical outreach, business development and case management. With a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, she has worked across diverse healthcare settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, schools, inpatient, and outpatient levels of care. Richa has a strong track record in program development, strategic partnerships and client assessment, and is known for her compassionate, culturally informed approach to care. As a first-generation Indian American, Richa brings a unique perspective to her work, rooted in both personal experience and professional expertise. Her journey in behavioral health has been shaped by a deep curiosity about human behavior and a commitment to supporting individuals from all walks of life. Richa is passionate about the intersection of identity, culture, and mental wellness, and continues to advocate for inclusive, person-centered care in every setting she serves.

Sonja Dahl is the CEO of Silicon Valley Recovery in San Jose, CA, a detox and residential substance use disorder facility she gratefully opened in 2021. She is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor with a Master of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice. With a career in addiction treatment spanning back to 2011, Sonja has extensive experience in nearly every facet of the field, including roles as Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Risk Management, as well as five years as a Counselor. Sonja’s most recent purpose is bringing an open heart to all things professional to create an authentic experience for both clients and staff. 

Sonja’s commitment to helping individuals struggling with substance use disorder and mental health illness continues to grow. She is laser-focused on client care and dedicated to the ethical provision of services. Sonja is passionate about implementing innovative ideas to create optimal conditions for success, extending this philosophy to her staff to ensure they thrive in their roles. Supporting helping professionals and clients together is her driving force, inspiring her to create unique, growth-fostering environments. Sonja firmly believes that a supported staff is the foundation upon which clients receive exceptional care in acute settings. This leads to a stronger team and thus clients who feel valued and heard during this early stage of recovery. Her skills in team development and compliance make her a dynamic director. Her compassion offers a genuine hands-on approach to executive leadership.

Our Spectacular Venue

Plan Your Trip

WHERE:

Marriott Marina del Rey

4100 Admiralty Way Marina del Rey, California 90292

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17th and Thursday, September 18th

 

TICKET PRICES:

Both Days: $299.95 – One Day: $199.95 – At the Door: $500

 

Space is limited to 300 people, so we recommend you register to secure your spot for this magnificent event.

Agenda

Day 1

Day 2:

CONFERENCE AGENDA: DAY ONE – Hosted by Amy Van Linge and TJ Woodward

8:30: Registration Table Opens

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM: Coffee, Pastries, and Networking/Connection Time

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome: Amy Van Linge and TJ Woodward

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Keynote Talk: “Healing IS a Love Story” by Sharon Volner, Chief Clinical Officer at La Ventana Treatment Programs

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: 30-Minute Networking/Connection Time

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion: “Moving Beyond the Fight: A Call for Healing Within the LGBTQ+ Community” – Facilitated by TJ Woodward

  • Mell McCracken, Executive Director at No Matter What Recovery
  • Dr. Patrick Lockwood, Co-Founder of the Conscious Recovery Institute, CEO of Lockwood Consulting Solutions & Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Scott Mosher-Ramirez, Founder & Executive Director at Purple Mountain
  • Nicole Simpson, Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer, Monima Behavioral Health

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch Served

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Experiential Presentation: “Expanding Perspectives: Reclaiming Inherent Worth and Value” by Kathleen Murphy, Family Program Clinical Consultant at Breathe Life Healing Center

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: 30-Minute Dessert/Networking/Connection Time

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Closing Keynote Talk: “Learning to Love Our Story” by Jeremy Miller, Co-founder of Emergence, Media Specialist, Sierra Health and Wellness

4:00 PM: Closing, Appreciation and Raffle: Amy Van Linge and TJ Woodward

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Sound Healing with Michele Garcia: A process circle to close with sharing experiences at end of day one to bring love and light connection

CONFERENCE AGENDA: DAY TWO – Hosted by Amy Van Linge and Jeremy Miller

8:30: Registration Table Opens

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM: Coffee, Pastries, and Networking/Connection Time

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome: Amy Van Linge and TJ Woodward

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Keynote Talk: “The Healing Power of Love” by Michael Castanon, Founder and CEO: Alter Behavioral Health. Host: Alter’d Life Podcast

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: 30-Minute Networking/Connection Time

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion: “Loving the Parts We Were Told to Hide” – Facilitated by Jeremy Miller

  • Dr. Angela Chanter, Senior Clinical Director for Sierra Health and Wellness
  • Richa Sachdev, Director of Clinical Relations and Outreach – Silicon Valley Meadows Behavioral Healthcare
  • Sonja Dahl, Chief Executive Officer at Silicon Valley Recovery
  • Dano Goldman, Founder, Director and CEO at Alchemy House Sober Living Homes

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch Served

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Experiential Presentation: “Heart Warriors: Guiding Parts of Us Back to Love” by Adrienne Glasser, LCSW, RDMT, Healing Coach, Founder of Beyond IFS

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: 30-Minute Networking/Connection Time

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Closing Keynote Talk: Lori Jean Glass, “The Revolution is Relational: Own Your Story. Choose Love” by Founder of PIVOT, CRC, CPC, CBC.

4:00 PM: Closing, Appreciation and Raffle: Amy Van Linge and TJ Woodward

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: After Party! (Light food and drinks provided) Sponsored by Alter Behavioral Health and Care Predictor

2025 Platinum Sponsors

2025 Premier Sponsors

2025 Sponsors

Emergence Speakers

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