Donna Doolen, M.Ed., LPC, has been working in the addiction field for over 10 years and with Avenues Recovery Center for over 2 years.  She started as a school intern with Addiction Recovery Resources and set her career roots with the company, finding gratitude and humility every day. She entered Recovery herself in 2005 and returned to graduate school at the University of New Orleans in 2007, earning her Masters of Education Degree in Counseling.  Since then, Donna has served as Primary Program Counselor, Residential Clinical Manager, Intensive Outpatient Director, RTP Lead Counselor, and, ultimately, Clinical Director of Townsend Recovery & Detox Center in New Orleans.

Donna’s previous career was in hospitality.  She earned a Bachelors degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism from the University of New Orleans. Donna evolved from managing boutique hotels to planning and hosting large scale events for thousands. Her catering and design skills led her to curate junkets for Caesars Palace and to travel extensively exploring culinary trends in other cities. Her decades of organizational skills and attention-to-detail enhance her management skills.

Donna has made it her ministry to serve the population and families that battle the disease of addiction. Many have called her God’s warrior on Earth. She volunteers in the community and started a Substance Abuse Ministry (SAM) in her church parish.

Susan Julius, MD, ABAM, ABFM, AAMRO, Medical Director, is a clinician, speaker, and teacher. She is board certified in Family and Addiction Medicine, as well as Physical Therapy, and holds a special degree in urine drug testing analysis. Dr. Julius studied Physical Therapy at Cleveland State University and attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio. She trained for two years in General Surgery, at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana and completed a Family Practice residency at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, in Jefferson, Louisiana.

Dr. Julius incorporated her background in these areas, along with her understanding of the biology of addiction and her personal journey in recovery, to treat patients and families with this disease for over ten years. She worked at Choices of Louisiana, a Methadone clinic, in La Place, Louisiana and was Medical Director for the City of New Orleans Homeless Clinic, and Townsend Clinic, in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. Currently, she is the Medical Director at Townsend Recovery Center, in New Orleans.
Dr. Julius has been an expert consultant and keynote speaker for American Addiction Centers and was featured on NBC News, Fox News, Baton Rouge Business Report, and New Orleans Happy Hour Podcast. She worked with the New Orleans Re-entry Program and is active in AA and served on the Local Action Committee for International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous. She is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Medical Review Officers. She lives in New Orleans with her husband and three dogs, and loves to swim, garden and operate her vacation rental.

Elizabeth Eure, FNP-C is a native of DeRidder, Louisiana and a resident of Donaldsonville. Liz graduated from Our Lady of the Lake College of Nursing and Allied Health with honors.  Her further education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loyola University, and a master’s of science in nursing with a specialty in family practice from Louisiana State University.

Liz has 25 years of emergency and urgent care experience and is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has practiced family medicine since 2010 and opened a private practice in a medically underserved area in Baton Rouge. Her contributions were instrumental in bringing quality healthcare back to the downtown Baton Rouge area. After just two years, she was presented the Louisiana Economic Development Small Business Excellence  State Award and the  Microbusiness Enterprise Corporation of Ascension Parish small business of the year award.  

Liz obtained her Suboxone Waiver in 2018. At the time, she was one of only 10 nurse practitioners in the state of Louisiana to obtain certification. She sold her private practice, began practicing addiction medicine in 2019, and joined the Avenues team in March of 2020.

Liz has 6 daughters, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Dr. Ricky Phillips is an Air Force veteran and has over 30 years of health care experience. Dr. Phillips’ many credentials include board certifications as a family nurse practitioner and an advanced practice addictions nurse. He is also licensed as an acupuncture detoxification specialist, is an internationally certified mindfulness meditation teacher, as well as a SMART Recovery facilitator.  

Dr. Phillips received his Associate of Science in Registered Nursing from Pensacola Community College, and  Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Loyola University New Orleans. Further feathers in his wide-ranging cap include a  Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chatham University Pittsburgh, and a Fellowship in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine through the Metabolic Medical Institute.  

Dr. Phillips’s expertise in academics and research has led to faculty appointments in the graduate nursing programs at both Loyola University New Orleans and Vanderbilt University, as well as  active involvement in clinical research as an investigator for over 75 clinical drug research trials. 

In life outside of his decorated healthcare career, Dr. Phillips is a certified fitness trainer by the International Sports Sciences Association. He has written several articles for and has been interviewed by local magazines as well as appeared on local news broadcasts, sharing his knowledge on wellness and nutrition. 

Britt Benson, PLPC, NCC, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington in 2011. After subsequently obtaining a paralegal studies certificate in 2012 from the same institution, Britt gained life-changing insight into the criminal justice system and developed a passion for helping justice-involved individuals. 

Britt earned her M. Ed. in Clinical Counseling from the University of New Orleans and became a National Certified Counselor in 2019. Britt completed her clinical internship at the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Juvenile Diversion Program, and gained post-grad experience as a counselor at the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Adult Diversion Program. Britt’s work within the criminal justice system has provided her with an acute appreciation for the many ways in which addiction touches her community and galvanized her commitment to helping it heal. 

Britt is dedicated to authentically and ethically serving individuals from diverse backgrounds who are struggling with mental health concerns, substance use disorders, and other chronic illness. Her existential theoretical approach to counseling provides clients a non-judgmental space to explore their experiences of the human condition, and empowers clients to turn toward life through interpersonal and intrapersonal skill development, connection, and meaning-making. Britt uses an intersectional framework to understand and collaboratively address challenges and strengths unique to each client. 

Originally hailing from Seattle, Washington, Britt enjoys travel, hiking, photography, and philosophy. She recharges by spending quality time with family and her goofy rescue greyhound, Lulu, whose antics are a constant reminder of the restorative power of laughter.

Caroline Caronna is a proud graduate of the Southern University of New Orleans School of Social Work in 2018. Caroline has worked in substance use treatment as an IOP counselor, in Admissions, and as a general chemical dependency Social Worker.  She has been an important member of the Avenues family since 2019.  

Her special interests include group dynamics and the important and restorative work that can be done in group and individual therapy as well as family counseling. When Caroline is not at Avenues with clients, she is the pet parent of a clingy chihuahua mix breed dog, Baba.  

Stephen Kessler, MHS, LPC, LAC, has been working in the addiction field since 2003. He began his career with Dr. Alphonse Kenison Roy at Addiction Recovery Resources where he worked in a variety of settings including as Primary Counselor in the programs of Intensive Outpatient, Residential Treatment, Continuing Care, and Intake and Assessments. After Hurricane Katrina, Stephen was promoted to the position of Residential Program Coordinator, a position he held for 12 years before being promoted to Clinical Director. In 2018, Stephen continued his work as Clinical Director with Avenues Recovery Center by overseeing both the Residential and IOP programs and supervising a staff of dedicated counselors. In 2019, Stephen began working in direct client care again due to missing direct interactions with patients. Stephen freely shares his experience and expertise by mentoring new counselors in the addiction field. Stephen uses a Cognitive Behavioral / REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) counseling approach to help patients to become aware of their distorted thinking and how it plays into their addictive mind. Stephen received his master’s degree is 2003 from LSU Health Science Center. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addiction Counselor. Stephen lives in Metairie with his wife, Melissa, and their two young daughters, Lucy and Reagan.