Dr. Laura A. Fierro, PhD, LMFT
Clinical Director
Dr. Laura A. Fierro grew up in South Gate, California in a diverse family. From an early age she excelled academically which laid the foundation for her pursuit of knowledge. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpenteria, California. Shei has taught at the under graduate and graduate level at several institutions in Southern California. She has provided mental health services in Northern and Southern California. She volunteered to become one of the first emergency responders for the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019. Dr. Fierro has played an integral role in the development of several programs in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas. She has collaborated with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Los Angeles Police Department (LGBTQ) task force, the California Victims of Crime and Compensation Program, the John Henry Foundation, and several other organizations throughout her 32 year career. Dr. Fierro is an expert in Trauma Informed Care, Crisis/Harm Reduction, and Substance Abuse.
Approach to SUD – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with solution focused therapy, utilizing a trauma informed care lens.
Personal Quote – “Everyone deserves a chance in this world”.
Sandy Rosiles, BA, CADC III
Program Director
Sandy Rosiles’ work at Rise Wellness Center includes Compliance, Licensing, Quality Assurance, and Client Care.
Sandy’s multifarious background includes work as a paralegal and six years as a bail agent/court liaison. Soon after gaining her own sobriety in 2012, Sandy worked at New Beginnings Treatment Center where she worked with a dual diagnosis population. At the same time she did volunteer work with teens at Children Are Our Future where she counseled teenage girls placed in youth homes with issues including addiction, active probation, or removal from family by Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). It was working with these young women that inspired Sandy’s passion to help others with addiction, family problems, and legal issues. Since then, Sandy has had the opportunity to manage multiple SUD facilities at Residential Detox and IOP levels of care. Presently, she volunteers her time supporting the LGBTQIA as well as Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) communities.
Outside of a commitment to her continued work with recovery and community, Sandy is committed to health and fitness. When she can she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new hobbies, and traveling to new places. She also plans to soon begin her work on a master’s degree in social work.
Approach to SUD – “It is my duty to furnish our residents with a healthy recovery environment, that will help increase their odds for sustainable recovery. I belief that there is no textbook way to recovery, that is why my goal is to expose our residents to the array of recovery models available to them at Rise Wellness Center. With this realistic yet firm approach one can personalize each individuals treatment plan., because as long as there is breath there is hope.”
Personal Quote – “Raise your standards and the universe will meet you there” Emma Watson
Elvira Romero, RADT
Program Manager/Case Manager
Elvira began her career in culinary arts, providing healthy nutrition to residents in treatment. Although, she found a great reward providing healthy nutrition, she fell in love with the one on one interaction with the clients. That’s when she decided to pursue a CADC and further her education in addiction studies. Through this journey she discovered a strong advocacy for clients and the recovery industry. She strongly believes her strength is to encourage clients in their recovery journey, through relapse prevention, self-discovery, self-love, and independence by helping to find purpose.
Approach to SUD – “The overall goal of my work is to practice effective treatment approaches at Rise Wellness Center, for those individuals seeking help for substance use problems. To achieve this goal, I believe that it is critical to understand patterns in the clinical course of substance use disorders, as well as the ways in which people are successful in achieving change. Finding motivation and setting real achievable goals is always a priority for my clients”.
Personal Quote – “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou
Erick Rangel
Healthcare Manager
My Career started in 2009 when I realized I was tired of doing basic jobs that had no purpose in my life. I wanted more. I wanted a career doing something where I could make a difference and help people.. I enrolled into a vocational school for medical assistant, I completed and graduated in 2010. My first stepping stone in the medical field was working with disabled people. Two years later and with more experience a new opportunity came along in a hospital. I still felt like I needed something more, something with more purpose. I had a friend that worked in recovery and she told me about it and how it was a great opportunity for me and I would love it, since I’m a passionate person. I took the chance and I love it. I am very grateful and fortunate that I was led to work in an environment and for an employer and staff that genuinely cares about the physical, mental, and spiritual health of every client. I have been working in treatment for 2 years now and looking forward to many more years with RISE Wellness Center. My goal is to learn more about recovery, go back to school to further my career in the medical field and find an opportunity within the company so I can continue helping people.
Personal Quote- “I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”― Tupac Shakur
Kevin Ford
Group Exercise Instructor
Kevin is a Los Angeles native and father of two teenage sons. He is an active member of the Los Angeles recovery community and committed to being of service to those in search of a new way of life inside recovery. Kevin is certified as a Group Exercise Instructor with the American College of Sports Medicine and believes in bringing physical fitness to the treatment of addiction through yoga and other positive physical activities. He believes in a holistic approach to recovery. This is a body, mind and spiritual approach necessary in order to foster emotional sobriety. Kevin is involved in numerous charitable causes and plays many roles in the field of addiction treatment.
Pinaki Devaprakash, RADT
Resident Advisor
I’m Pinaki and I am a resident advisor here at Rise Wellness center. I got into the field of recovery through my own personal experience with drug and alcohol addiction that began when I was 15. Having been in many treatment centers as a client I got an idea of what works and what doesn’t and in my sobriety I began my career as a group facilitator running groups therapy sessions at various treatment centers while going to school for my CADC. I completed my classroom education for my CADC and am currently working on my internship towards being a certified substance abuse counselor.
My goal at Rise Wellness is to provide a client centered approach where I attempt to always keep the clients needs first and let them know that I have been where they are at and that I’m here to guide them along their recovery journey as an equal to them.
Jake Empero, RADT
Resident Advisor
Crystal Evans
I have always known that I wanted to work in the medical field and be involved with helping others. I first started working in the pharmacy and moved into recovery and sober living management. I love being able to help people see their full potential and what sobriety can offer them.