Event Registration

Resident & Family Member Alumni are cordially invited to

the Sierra Tucson Alumni Retreat, S.T.A.R. 30!

"Embrace the Miracles"

Celebrating 30 Years of Reconnecting & Renewing Our Recovery

Alumni Retreat Schedule

Hotel Accommodations

All Retreat activities, with the exception of Friday afternoon's activities, will be held at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, which has extended discounted rates of $149.00 per night plus tax for single or double occupancy and $169.00 per night plus tax triple or quad occupancy until September 27, 2017. Reservations received after September 27, 2017, are subject to availability at the Resort’s prevailing rate.

To receive the discounted rate, you can either make your reservation online or contact the Westward Look Group Reservation Specialist Hilary Lietz at (520) 917-2465 to make a reservation and be sure to let her know that you are with the Sierra Tucson Annual Retreat to get the special discounted rate. Westward Look Will Sell Out, so it is a good idea to reserve your room as soon as possible! When making reservations, also ask about the cancellation policy so as not to be charged a night's stay if you need to cancel.

A 10% discount is available on spa services. It is highly recommended that you book your spa services as soon as possible to ensure availability. Be sure to mention that you are with the Sierra Tucson Annual Retreat to receive the discounted rate.

Please note that there will NOT be shuttle/bus service between other hotels and Westward Look; you will need to provide your own transportation.

Transportation options from the Tucson International Airport

Arizona Stagecoach at 520-889-1000 or www.AZstagecoach.com

Integrity Transportation at 520-733-1849 or www.IntegrityTucson.com

Sierra Tucson Registration

Online Alumni Retreat Registration will begin on July 1, 2017.

The Retreat cost is $250 per person. This includes workshops, presentations, entertainment, meals from Thursday reception through Sunday brunch, transportation Friday to and from Sierra Tucson, and gift bags to take home.

If you have questions, please contact Alumni Relations Manager Tim McLeod at 866-638-1650 or AlumniCoordinator@SierraTucson.com.

Thursday Night Opening Ceremony

Native American Welcoming Ceremony and Exhibition Hoop Dance with Tony Redhouse

Tony Redhouse will present a Native American ceremony to open up the 30th annual Sierra Tucson Alumni Retreat. As a Native American consultant and practitioner, he will guide participants – as individuals and as a group – setting their intentions through traditional prayer to receive wisdom, inspiration, and healing during this gathering.

As an award-winning recording artist, he will use the voice, the drum, and the flute to guide them into meditation where they return to the simplicity and beauty of who they are in this season of life.

He will then present a colorful Hoop Dance, which symbolically represents how each of our “circles of life” are interconnected and how we can create memorable designs for our lives during this retreat.

About Tony Redhouse: Tony Redhouse is an extraordinary Native American speaker and spiritual teacher. Imagine colorful and mesmerizing Native American Dance, stories, music, and audience participation in a dynamic speaking program. Mr. Redhouse brings a personal, positive, and provocative interactive presentation to inspire all types of audiences. He has shared uplifting messages with the Dept. of Justice "Victims of Crime on Reservations," Montana tribal communities, National Alliance for Grieving Children, SW College of Behavioral Health, Dr. Oz, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and is featured in Marilyn Schlitz and Deepak Chopra's film documentary, "Death Makes Life Possible." He is often remembered for his motivational and compassionate delivery of insightful messages on a variety of topics including life transitions, health and wellness, maintaining balance in our "circle of life," grief, divorce, loss, addiction recovery, eating disorders, Native American spirituality, and coping with trauma.

Friday Morning Workshop

Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D.
“British Cycling and Mental Health: What marginal gains have to say about achieving the unimaginable”

Life is a never-ending series of achieving things that we sometimes think are impossible. How we go about that journey can make all the difference in the world. Kevin will talk about some very practical ways to view our situation, things to do to help keep us moving, and things to avoid because they are not going to get the results we want. “I continue to be amazed at how little things, almost always unexpected, can have a profound impact on our journey, on a particular season of our life.”

About Dr. Kevin Gilliland: Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D., is an expert in mental health, depression, and addiction. After working for more than two decades in health care as a clinical psychologist, Kevin became a pioneer of outpatient treatment as the CEO and executive director of Innovation360 (i360), a treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, family therapy and life development. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of Innovation360, which include staff management, program development, and coordinating client care with outside therapists and physicians, Kevin also works with individuals and couples seeking to improve their family and marriage relationships. His debut book, “Struggle Well, Live Well: 60 Ways to Navigate Life’s Good, Bad, and In-Between,” tackles Kevin’s approach on life, which aligns with his approach and advice for friends, family and clients. It serves as a roadmap to navigating through life’s inevitable struggles and how to overcome the simplest of obstacles, such as work/life balance, to heavier issues, such as mental illness or addiction.

Saturday Workshops

George Daranyi
“Power, Powerlessness and the Human Capacity for Transformation”

By the time treatment is concluded, most Sierra Tucson alumni have some clear ideas of who and what they were and are powerless over. But often, there remains confusion in recognizing and dealing with the distinction between powerlessness and the human capacity for transformation. This workshop will explore that distinction. It will begin with a deep inquiry into our former and current relationships with power and powerlessness. It will then explore the vast regions where all human beings, in spite of a lack of power, have capacity for lasting healing and transformation. George will show participants places where capacity still resides and how to gain access to it. He will facilitate the workshop using a variety of modalities, including experiential dialogue, poetry, literature and, as always, a few surprises.

Using his 29 plus years of experience in recovery, his 25 years of working with men and women in treatment centers, his legal experience and his facilitation of thousands of transformational experiences, George shares some of the key lessons and experiences he has had inside this topic, including some from his own life.

Mark Pirtle, DPT
“The Answer is Always Awareness”

Our thoughts become the story of our life. That personal narrative runs almost continuously, affecting our emotions and personal interactions. Left unexplored, this ongoing stream of thinking hardens into patterns of emotion and behavior. Sometimes it can even make us sick. This workshop is a guided exploration of your inner world and will teach you the skills you need to navigate your life with more careful, skillful awareness.

About Dr. Mark Pirtle: Dr. Mark Pirtle, a pioneer in integral thinking in stress relief and recovery, is a clinician, author, public speaker, filmmaker, and true “innerpreneur.” Mark connects the dots between science, wellness, and spirituality. He tirelessly updates his understanding of the latest science to help others change and heal. Combining the disciplines of neuroscience, living systems theory, and mindfulness meditation, he developed an evidence-based program for people suffering from stress-related conditions called Skillfully Aware®. He teaches meditation and mindfulness to empower clients to work through stress-related patterns including pain, strong emotions, and urges. Learn more at www.SkillfullyAware.com.

Phillip S. Mitchell, MA, MFT (CA), MAC
“The Spirit of Recovery”

Attendees of this workshop will explore the spirituality, healing, and awakening of recovery, and how the work we do in recovery is spiritual in nature. We will take a look at how the spirituality of recovery can serve us and others in our everyday lives, as well as enhance our recovery. We will delve into the recovery ‘power tool’ of forgiveness – for self and others; the role of honoring e-motion (energy in motion); how codependency is a spiritual, social, and personal disease; and how to access your spiritual knowing. In his presentation, Phillip S. Mitchell, MA, MFT (CA), MAC, spiritual consultant for Sierra Tucson’s Mood & Anxiety Program, will include quotes and stories from profound teachers.

About Phillip Mitchell: Phillip S. Mitchell, MA, MFT (CA), MAC, is a psychotherapist, lecturer, and author. He has worked in various capacities at Sierra Tucson since 1990, as well as a primary therapist for 20 years. He has more than 40 years of professional experience in the fields of mental health and recovery. Phillip now serves as a spiritual consultant and grief counselor at Sierra Tucson, and is passionate about offering these services. His book, “Breathe, Feel, Heal, Awaken: Living and Loving Your Heart's Path,” is available at Sierra Tucson’s bookstore, as well as online at Amazon.

David Cato, LCSW, TCT, SEP
“Strengthening Somatic Skills”

Attendees of this experiential workshop will receive practical skills for their recovery. Presenter David Cato, LCSW, TCT, SEP, will guide you through a detailed description of how the nervous system functions and how to be better attuned to it. You will learn how to strengthen your nervous system and feel more empowered in your recovery.

About David Cato: David Cato, LCSW, TCT, SEP, began working at Sierra Tucson in April of 2008 and has served in many roles, beginning in the mailroom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University and a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. David completed his master’s coursework through an internship at Sierra Tucson. He has worked with substance abuse, mood disorders, eating disorders, codependency, grief/loss, and trauma. David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and certified as a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) and a Transgender Care Therapist (TCT). Having previously been a clinician in multiple treatment programs at Sierra Tucson, David currently works as a program manager for Continuing Care & Connect365.

Mike Gaziano, MSW, LCSW (WI)
“Reflecting on Your Recovery Foundation of Change”

This presentation will help participants look at the stages of change since beginning their journey of recovery, reflecting on what foundational pieces they have in place and what they need to build on to secure a strong recovery base moving forward. In an interactive forum, we will look at what each participant brings to his or her recovery. We will help the individual to reflect on what is enhancing his or her strengths and how to proceed with his or her therapeutic inertia.

About Mike Gaziano: Mike Gaziano, MSW, LCSW (WI), was born and raised in the Midwest and chose Tucson, AZ for his undergraduate work in psychology. He is now a proud alumnus of the University of Arizona. He later received his master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois. Bringing over 25 years of clinical expertise to Sierra Tucson, Mike has worked in the Family Program since 2008 and was promoted to family program coordinator in April 2013. Soon thereafter, he was promoted to his current role as manager for the Family Program. He has worked in the private and public sectors as a social worker and is trained as a mediator and conflict resolution specialist. Mike has also provided his clinical skills to Pima County as a group facilitator for domestic violence classes.

Camille Drachman, MSW, LCSW, SEP
“Trauma and Recovery”

This workshop will explore trauma and how it impacts an individual’s physiology, including how it affects the nervous system. This interactive presentation will also include discussion around the fight-flight-freeze response. Participants will have an opportunity to expand their awareness into their own healing.

About Camille Drachman: Camille Drachman, MSW, LCSW, SEP, is currently serving as the associate clinical director at Sierra Tucson. Before assuming this role, she was the manager of integrative therapies of Somatic Experiencing® and EMDR. She is a licensed clinical social worker and Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Camille began working at Sierra Tucson in 2011 and has served as a primary therapist for the Mood & Anxiety and Trauma Recovery programs, as well as a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Camille speaks nationally on the physiology of healing and is passionate about helping others heal. She has worked in residential treatment for over 10 years, specializing in addiction, mood disorders, and trauma.

Saturday Evening Entertainment

Mark Lundholm

Clean and sober since 1988, Mark Lundholm has become the nation's premier clinical/comical/specialist in recovery humor. He has 11 comedy DVDs; Recovery… The Board Game; three top-rated clinical DVD series; the number-one-selling treatment series of all time, "Humor in Treatment;” the creator of the "Doing Good Group" for counselors and mental health professionals; and a true five-star rated clinical conference workshop presenter. Mark knows the game, wrote most of the rules, and has broken them all. He has almost no filter but always knows just what he can and can't say out loud. Like he says, "There is no WRONG way to do the right thing!"