Joe Koelzer, Co-Founder & CEO
Joe Koelzer is a co-founder of The Clearing. He has years of counseling experience and a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
After observing how depression and substance abuse impacted his wife’s life, Joe realized how broken our current system is for addiction and related mental health treatment. He witnessed firsthand how an evidence-based approach coupled with Spiritual Psychology saved Betsy and enabled her to gain control of her life.
In co-founding The Clearing, Joe realizes his dream of creating and sharing this innovative approach with others in a structured clinical setting. Joe holds no principle more highly than bringing this program forward for the Highest Good of All Concerned. Every aspect of this business is founded and implemented with this in mind.
Joe enjoys hiking, skiing, reading and his vast menagerie of rescue animals.
Education and Credentials:
- University of Texas, Austin, B.A., Finance, Accounting and General Business
- Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Executive Development Program
- University of Santa Monica, M.A, Spiritual Psychology
- University of Santa Monica, C.O.C., Consciousness Health and Healing
Betsy Koelzer, Co-Founder
VP of Operations
Betsy Koelzer is a co-founder and brings to The Clearing the practical, real-life experience as someone who has struggled with substance abuse. Her recovery was the inspiration and foundation of The Clearing’s successful Program.
Having actually been to traditional treatment twice, and loathing both internments with an undiminished intensity, Betsy is uncommonly motivated to bring this Program forward to fellow survivors.
Betsy also has years of counseling experience and completed the program at the University of Santa Monica. Irreverent yet spiritual, Betsy blends this into a unique pattern of counseling that is gentle, authentic, refreshing and healing.
In her free time, Betsy enjoys collecting speeding tickets, telling tall tales, reading, enjoying her good friends and watching The Rifleman.
Education and Credentials:
- University of Santa Monica, C.O.C., Spiritual Psychology
- University of Santa Monica, C.O.C., Consciousness Health and Healing
Dr. Barbara Mendrey, MD, Attending Physician
Dr. Barbara Mendrey is the Attending Physician of The Clearing and holds Board Certification in both Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine. She is an expert in the field of addiction treatment and has been treating patients who suffer with addiction since 2005.
In addition to helping people break free from addiction at The Clearing, Dr. Mendrey works with The Coleman Institute to provide accelerated detox from Opiates, Alcohol and Benzos. She uses proven methods to ease the pain of withdrawal and follows up with Medication Assisted Therapy to help maintain sobriety.
Her additional clinical interests include natural medicine and health promotion. She owns Northshore Family Practice and partners with Dr. Blake Myters, ND. They both work with detox patients by providing ongoing naturopathic medical care for patients in recovery.
Dr. Mendrey is a graduate of the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine. She completed her family practice residency through UCLA. When she is not in the clinic, you may find her battling weeds in the garden, spending time with the family and skiing in Montana.
Education and Credentials:
- Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine
Dr. Blake Myers, ND, Attending Physician
Dr. Myers, ND has been in private practice since 2014, and he started working in the area of accelerated medical detox and addiction support in early 2017 with Dr. Barbara Mendrey, MD. In addition to his role as an Attending Physician at The Clearing, he works with The Coleman Institute to provide accelerated detox from opiates, alcohol and benzos.
Dr. Myers has a naturopathic medicine practice at Northshore Family Practice, where he supports addiction recovery by addressing underlying health conditions and restoring balance to the system.
Dr. Myers views his job as a physician to help his patients heal and to restore health where it has waned. One of the primary ways he supports them is by removing obstacles, or road blocks, in the way of cure. Addiction and dependency to anything proves to be a major obstacle. While many times the addiction is not the foundational issue, the addiction needs to be taken out of the equation so that the core issues can be addressed.
Dr. Myers graduated from Bastyr University with a degree of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in 2014. Prior to that, he attained a B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University of Science and Technology in 2010. He was a combat medic in the US Army from 2003-2006, stationed in Ft. Benning, GA. He has study homeopathy extensively both at Bastyr University and with the New England School of Homeopathy.
Aside from medicine, he enjoys playing and recording music, surfing, fishing, and learning how to cook traditional dishes from around the globe. He is working currently to develop more robust detox protocols that ease the withdrawal process and improve recovery post detox.
Education and Credentials:
- Bastyr University, Naturopathic Medicine
Susan Eastland LICSW
Clinical Supervisor
James Meyers
Chemical Dependency Professional
Jo Anne Buchanan
Registered Nurse
Claire Atchley
Counselor
Brittney Deutsch
Counselor
Suzanne Stewart
Counselor
Heather Mueller
Meditation / Art Therapy
Ed Tucker
Tai Chi Instructor / Massage Therapist
Michael Zukin
Executive Chef
Maggie Lesoing
Purchasing / Customer Support
Jenny August
Administrative Manager
Adrienne Kaylor
Accounting Manager
Arlene Taylor
Facilities Support
Jake Wolowski
Technical Support
James Van't Slot
Information Technology
