Nina graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine where she received a BA in Psychology and Social Behavior. She went on to complete a Masters Degree in Social Work from USC, University of Southern California, with a sub-concentration in school social work and a PPS (Pupil Personnel Services) credential. She has worked in three school districts in Orange County (Orange, Irvine, and Saddleback) and three Universities: University of California, Irvine; California State University at Fullerton; and Concordia University, Irvine.

Leaving the school systems, Nina became a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor while working with battered and abused women and children at Human Options Domestic Violence Counseling Center. She has worked with Orange County Probation as a counselor and parent educator at Boundaries, an agency providing counseling and anger management for child abuse offenders. Nina moved on to become a Certified Loss and Grief counselor in her role as program director for Gary’s Place for Kids, a non-profit agency that provided bereavement support to children and their parents who had experienced the death of a significant loved one in their lives.

For the last 10 years, the focus of Nina’s work has been with dual diagnosis clients in various rehabilitation and drug and alcohol treatment centers. She takes great joy and gains great reward working with individuals and families whose lives have been destroyed by substance abuse and dependence. She became a Certified Personal Life Coach in her efforts to better support and sustain those who are choosing to walk the path of recovery through the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.She recently completed the requirements for her Master in Counseling Addictions from the Breining Institute.

Nina and her husband Roy live in Dana Point and are currently launching the last few of their nine children in their blended family.




Ron Israel, MA, LAADC, CADAC II
Ron Israel is a licensed addiction professional with 20 years experience in the mental health field. He earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Human Services at Cal State University Fullerton, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Management in Health Services. He is board certified in alcohol and drug abuse counseling, and is recognized as an Internationally Certified Addiction Counselor. Ron has worked in psychiatric hospitals, jails, and both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation treatment centers. He has been in private practice in south Orange County since 2000.

Ron is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a native Californian. He was a part of the original Jesus People Movement having been saved in 1970. Ron has four adult children and four grandchildren, and lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, with his wife Brenda of 36 years and their four year old Doberman Pinscher, Jaz. Ron has been in recovery for 27 years, and has dedicated his life to serving the individuals and their families still suffering from the pain of addiction.




David Brisbin, MDiv, LPPC, RASI
Dave has been working in ministry for over 18 years serving as worship leader, youth leader, associate pastor, and teaching pastor in churches in Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, and Dana Point, CA. With a BA from California State University Long Beach in English Lit/Creative Writing, he has taught school both at the elementary and under graduate levels. His Masters in Divinity was earned from Coastland University in San Juan Capistrano and was focused on pastoral counseling and Christian origins.

Dave is board certified by the American Association of Christian Counselors' International Board of Christian Counselors and is licensed as a professional pastoral counselor by the American Association of Christian Therapists. He has been working in the areas of individual and family counseling, grief and crisis counseling, drug and alcohol abuse, and spiritual mentoring for the past 8 years and is a co-founder of theeffect, a faith community and recovery ministry that has been in operation for the past 4 years.

Dave has been married to his wife, Marian, for 17 years, and they have four children--Caitlyn, Megan, Sean, and Brennan--with only the boys and two dogs still at home. Dave is the teaching pastor of theeffect and also the president of Children of The Americas, a non-profit organization working for the nutrition and education of children in Mexico and the US. He is also the author of the book The Fifth Way: On the Aramaic Way of Jesus with Passionate Common Sense.




Frank Billman, LPPC, RASI
Frank did his undergraduate study at Baylor University in Texas where he received a BA in Oral Communications. Feeling called to the ministry, he then studied for two years at Dallas Theological Seminary, getting a firm foundation in theology and education. Then abruptly switching gears away from ministry, he launched a career in retail management that continued until his own addiction issues forced him to become serious about recovery. Moving to California, completing treatment, and becoming deeply involved in the recovery community resparked Frank's desire to work in ministry begun years before. Coming full circle, Frank is now an ordained minister and has served as a recovery pastor at theeffect for the past three years.

Frank is board certified by the American Association of Christian Counselors' International Board of Christian Counselors as a biblical counselor. His passion is for people in recovery and he has dedicated his own recovery to helping those still suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.




Cornel J. Melia, PhD, LCPC
Dr. Corey Melia has served in pastoral roles in San Luis Obispo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. His great passion is to mentor people toward spiritual, psychological and physical health. He holds an earned Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Christian Counseling. He is Board Certified by the NCCA in Adolescent and Family Therapy. He is licensed with IBCC and the NBCT as a Clinical Supervisor for therapists and students. As a graduate student at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology, Corey was honored with the Baker Book Award for Outstanding Graduate in the field of Christian Education.

Dr. Melia is married to his high school sweetheart, Dorothy who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They have been married for 40 years and have two grown children, Craig and Carrie. The Melias are a surfing family. Both children have been professionally sponsored, traveling extensively with the sport. Corey and Dorothy enjoy their children and grandchildren. They have been seen consistently taking long walks on the San Clemente Beach Trail in the evening while debriefing the challenges of the day.