Our Contracted Staff have:

• Advanced degrees and licenses/certificates in addictions treatment
• Minimum of 15 years experience in the addictions and mental health fields
• A non-judgmental, compassionate approach to helping that emphasizes accountability rather than blame.
• A substantial understanding of community resources and solid relationships with referral sources.

Eileen Dewey, MSW, LCSW-C Director/Owner
Eileen Dewey is the director and owner of Columbia Addictions Center. She oversees all clinical and administration activities of the center.

Eileen earned a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree at Shepherd College, West Virginia and her Master’s of Social Work from University of Maryland in 1987. She was certified as a licensed clinical social worker. Eileen has been in private practice since 1987.

With an extensive background in public and private program administration, Eileen has worked in criminal justice institutions, juvenile facilities, and several residential programs. She enjoys working with adolescent girls, women, and dual-diagnosed clients.

Cynthia Adams, MA, LCPC, LCADC
Cynthia Adams is a part-time contracted counselor at Columbia Addictions Center specializing in dual diagnosis and relapse prevention. She facilitates groups, individual, family, and couples therapy, with both adults and adolescents.

A native New Englander, Cynthia earned her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Massachusetts in 1985 and worked for six years as an artist and writer. She moved to Baltimore and earned her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology at Towson University in 1992. She went on to complete additional post-grad work at the University of Maryland, College Park, in Family Studies. In addition, she graduated from St. Elizabeth's Psychodrama internship program in 1993. She has worked in the addictions field for ten years.

Cynthia is licensed as both a clinical professional counselor and a clinical alcohol and drug counselor. Experienced in cognitive/behavioral, psychodynamic and expressive therapies, she uses various modalities in her work and believes her greatest strength lies in facilitating inter-communication among group members.

• Licensed alcohol and drug counselor
• Evaluations
• Certified Hypnotist
• Individual, Family and Group Counseling

Mike Green, MA
Mike Green combines his personal history, professional education, and clinical experience in his work here at Columbia Addictions Center. He brings passion and creativity to his work.

Mike grew up in New York City, then moved with his family to the Baltimore area to continue his education. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University in Philadelphia in 2000.

Mike has a wide variety of professional experiences including working in inpatient, outpatient and methadone maintenance facilities. He is most passionate about helping people think outside the box. He focuses on behavior, attitude and belief systems. Mike is a recovering person who has been clean 11 years.

Mike conducts individual, family, and couples counseling here at CAC. He runs several therapy groups as well as the 3-hour MVA education course for new drivers approved by the MVA. Mike conducts assessments and evaluations. He is available during weekdays and on most weekends.

Learn more about Mike Green in "Interview- Overcoming Addictions".

Dr. Rafael Alcantara Dr. Rafael has a long and distinguished career. He studied his career as a Medical Doctor in his native country of the Dominican Republic. He practiced medicine for 12 years prior to moving with his family to the Unites Sates. Since living in the Washington DC area, he has obtained numerous certifications and degrees. He is certified as a Maryland State Addictions Counselor from the National Assoc. of Drug and Alcohol Counselors. He has held a number of clinical and administrative positions throughout the substance abuse and mental health community. Dr. Rafael is the director of the Latino program at Columbia Addictions Center. He provides individual, group and family counseling. He conducts assessments for substance abuse, anger management, and domestic violence.

Erica Martin, B.S. Edu., MSW, LGSW Erica graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1995, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, and a minor in adolescent psychology. In 1996, she obtained a Master’s level certification in Special Education, after which time, she had spent many years working with severally emotionally and behaviorally disturbed teens in the inner city school systems. In 2001, Erica was employed as the Clinical Director of a group home for adolescent females, providing addictions counseling, individual and group therapy, and family supportive services. In 2005, she graduated magna cum laude from University of Maryland, with a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Social Work, and have since obtained multiple certifications in management and community organizing and employee assistance programming. Erica’s graduate internships included intensive training in gerontology at Charlestown Retirement Community, 2004, and in adult psychotherapy for the Department of Defense, 2005. Erica is a licensed psychotherapist (LGSW), who is also clinically trained and certified in Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CISM), and has worked extensively with both trauma and addiction. She previously conducted a five-year empirical research study on the prevalence of Bipolar Disorder in adolescents and most of her private practice is devoted to the treatment of mood disorders most prevalently found in women. Erica does believe that many conditions are often co-existing and produce compounding effects. Although much of her practice is devoted to adolescent and adult patients, she has treated a variety of problems, most commonly disorders of mood, anxiety, personality, and/or substance abuse. Click here to read more about Erica

Erin Gilbert, MSW, LGSW, LICSW Erin Gilbert began a career in marketing after graduating from Miami University in 1999. While later working at an advertising agency in New York City, she discovered a passion for working with teenagers when she volunteered as a mentor for at-risk youth in a program run by a local non-profit. In 2003, she moved to the Washington, D.C. area to pursue her Masters degree in Social Work, which she earned summa cum laude from the University of Maryland in 2005. Currently she is continuing her studies in a post-graduate training program examining psychodynamic psychotherapy. Since entering the field, Erin has provided individual, family and group therapies in a variety of settings including teen residential care, employee assistance programs and rehabilitation services for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. She has provided psychotherapy services within the educational system extending from elementary schools to the college campus, addressing an array of concerns such as addictions, anxiety, depression and grief. Erin also has treated suicidal, aggressive and severely disturbed clients with ages ranging across the lifespan, and intervened in crises when necessary. In addition to being a licensed psychotherapist, Erin is a trained yoga instructor, and she has presented seminars and workshops on an assortment of topics such as yoga basics, managing stress, sexual education for teenagers and detecting sexual abuse.

Larissa Viall Larissa is our Office Assistant and can generally be seen at CAC in the evenings and on weekends. She is currently working to attain her Bachelor Degree in Psychology at UMBC.

Melinda Whittemore Melinda is our new Office Manager. She comes to our practice with many years of experience in Health Care Management.