RJ Elizarraz founded Oak Forest Recovery after overcoming addiction, homelessness, and rebuilding his own life through recovery. His personal journey became the foundation for a program rooted in accountability, structure, and hope.
Today, RJ leads Oak Forest with a commitment to providing exceptional care for clients and clear guidance for families, while continuing to grow a recovery community built on compassion, integrity, and service.
Amy Van Daele is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Director at Oak Forest Recovery. She leads the clinical team with a relational, family-systems approach, ensuring every client receives individualized, compassionate care.
Amy specializes in addiction, trauma, family dynamics, and long-term healing. She is passionate about developing high-quality clinical programming while mentoring therapists and creating an environment where clients and families can heal together.
Dr. Robert Rymowicz provides psychiatric consultation for clients requiring additional mental health, medication, or addiction medicine support. Working alongside Oak Forest’s clinical team, he helps ensure clients with more complex needs receive comprehensive, individualized care throughout treatment.
Wilson Johnson, AMFT, provides compassionate, evidence-based care to clients navigating addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. His therapeutic approach integrates CBT, DBT, family systems, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
Wilson is committed to helping clients develop emotional resilience, deepen self-understanding, and build the skills needed for lasting recovery and meaningful change.
Jerry Spates has been a cornerstone of Oak Forest Recovery since the beginning. Drawing from years of long-term recovery, he provides spiritual guidance, family support, and mentorship to clients and their loved ones.
Through family education, monthly Family Support Dinners, and one-on-one guidance, Jerry helps families better understand recovery while offering hope, encouragement, and practical tools for healing. His wisdom and dedication continue to leave a lasting impact on the Oak Forest community.
Lindsey Scott is both an Oak Forest alumna and Primary Therapist, bringing together lived experience and clinical expertise to help clients heal. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is EMDR-trained, and is a Certified Personality Disorder Treatment Provider.
Lindsey specializes in helping clients navigate trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders with compassion, accountability, and evidence-based care. She believes recovery is about building a meaningful life, not simply achieving sobriety.
Financial Controller & Director of Human Resources
Since joining Oak Forest Recovery when it opened its first sober living home in 2017, Alina has helped shape the organization into what it is today. As Financial Controller and Director of Human Resources, she oversees the financial, administrative, and human resources operations that keep Oak Forest running smoothly.
While her work focuses on the business side of the organization, Alina believes people always come first. She takes pride in supporting both the team and the mission, helping create an environment where staff can thrive and clients receive exceptional care. Watching Oak Forest grow from a single home into a thriving treatment center has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.
Chris Hanna began his journey at Oak Forest Recovery as a client in the men’s sober living program. Through hard work, accountability, and a commitment to recovery, he grew into leadership roles before joining the admissions and business development team.
Today, Chris helps families navigate the admissions process while building relationships throughout the recovery community. Currently pursuing law school after earning his degree in Business Administration, he is passionate about helping others find the same opportunity for change that transformed his own life.
Summer McNabb leads Oak Forest Recovery’s marketing, social media, community outreach, and referral development efforts. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with families, clients, and community partners while sharing the stories that reflect the heart of Oak Forest.
Summer joined the team with a desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others and believes that authentic connections are at the center of recovery. Through community engagement, strategic partnerships, and storytelling, she is committed to helping more individuals and families find hope and support.
Peter began his recovery journey at Oak Forest as a client in the PHP program and men’s sober living. Inspired by the support he received, he progressed from client to lead technician and now serves as a Case Manager.
His firsthand understanding of recovery allows him to connect authentically with clients while helping them navigate treatment, build confidence, and create lasting change.
Lisa Cole brings compassion, resilience, and firsthand understanding to her role as Case Manager. After spending more than a decade working in healthcare as an X-ray technician, her own recovery journey inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others.
Today, Lisa helps clients navigate treatment, access resources, and overcome barriers to recovery while pursuing her own education as a substance abuse counselor. Her empathy and commitment to service make her an invaluable part of the Oak Forest team.
Walter Blackfox is a Qualified Mental Health Specialist (QMHS), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and mentor whose own recovery journey inspired his career in behavioral health.
With experience as a sober companion, mentor, and house manager, Walter combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to help clients build confidence, stability, and lasting recovery.
Bryan Luu is an Oak Forest alumnus whose recovery journey fuels his passion for helping others. After trying numerous treatment approaches, he found lasting sobriety through Oak Forest and the 12 Steps.
Today, Bryan serves as a mentor, sharing his experience, strength, and hope with clients as they begin their own recovery journeys. His authenticity and lived experience help clients see that lasting recovery is possible.
Krissy’s journey through recovery inspired a passion for helping others build lives rooted in stability and purpose. After joining Oak Forest as an overnight technician, her dedication and leadership led her to become Operations Manager.
With a background in psychology and criminal justice, along with ongoing work toward her CDAC certification, Krissy combines professional growth with lived experience. She is committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout their recovery.
Marc’s story is one of resilience and transformation. After experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and years of hardship, he found lasting recovery and a renewed sense of purpose through Oak Forest.
Today, Marc uses his life experience to mentor clients, demonstrating that change is possible regardless of someone’s past. His leadership, honesty, and dedication help create a safe and supportive environment for those beginning their recovery journey.
Sean Joynt is a RADT and mentor dedicated to helping clients find hope in recovery. Drawing from his own journey, he provides encouragement, accountability, and practical support as clients begin building healthier, more meaningful lives.
His compassionate approach and genuine understanding allow him to connect with clients in an authentic and impactful way.
Therapists and clinical leaders help guide treatment, family work, and mental health support.
Sober living and operations staff help clients build routine, accountability, and consistency.
Families receive guidance, updates, and support so they are not left outside the process.
The team helps clients prepare for life beyond treatment with structure, community, and continued connection.