In Balance Young Adult
Staff Team
In Balance was founded in 1996 by Patrick and Betsy Barrasso, who still own and operate all of In Balance's programs. We opened In Balance Transitional Living in 2006 and have been thriving ever since. In Balance's Young Adult Services are ran by Tiffany Gallego and Daniel Barrasso. When people ask us, what makes our program different the answer is undoubtedly the people. From the Barrasso Family all the way to the overnight staff, we are a community and we are all invested. All of our life coaches are in their own recovery and they work here because the want to give back what they were given: a life free of drugs and alcohol and full of relationships, self confidence, success and happiness. Many of our staff are alumni which gives them the unique experience of having gone through this process already and the ability to relate with our current campus. Take a look at some of our staff below.
Daniel Barrasso, MSW
Executive Director
In Balance Young Adult Services
daniel.barrasso@inbalancecontinuum.com
520.370.5333
Daniel Barrasso has a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Social Work degree through Arizona State University. He joined the team many years ago with plenty of relevant life and work experience. He previously worked at In Balance during its early stages, when he was a teenager, as a life coach at In Balance Academy, a group facilitator at In Balance Intensive Outpatient and as a life coach for In Balance Transitional Living. He decided to take a three year hiatus after his undergraduate degree in which he worked for a nationally recognized leader in adult residential treatment, where he proved to be a vital member of their team. After becoming lead of their Intake department and garnering extensive professional experience he chose to come back to In Balance to further his career around 2012. Daniel is responsible for outreach and admissions for In Balance Transitional Living and for In Balance Sober Living, he is the Executive Director of the In Balance Young Adult Continuum and he is, what he loves the most, a therapist.
"I am extremely excited about my place at In Balance. I grew up with an intense passion to help others, whether that meant volunteering at the Children's Hospital, staying overnight at a homeless shelter every Thanksgiving or helping a stranger on the side of the road. I've always known that I wanted to make a significant impact on young peoples' lives specifically; I just didn't know how I wanted to do it. I started off my college career looking to get a degree in education, become a teacher and have the ability to make a positive change in my students. My career path took an unexpected turn when I was asked to come work at In Balance one summer in 2004. From the second I came into contact with the population we serve and the dream that is In Balance I absolutely, positively knew that I could not see myself doing anything other than this. I believe full heartedly in the vision of In Balance and am thrilled to be part of the team. I am married to my bestfriend Rachel, and have 2 kids: James and Ella. My favorite hobbies are basketball, biking, outdoorsy stuff."
Tiffany Gallego, LCSW
Clinical Director
In Balance Continuum of Care
Tiffany Gallego is the clinical director and a therapist at In Balance Continuum of Care. She carries a small case load, oversees the clinical operations of In Balance Living, supervises the clinical staff and residents' clinical progress and monitors all admissions. Tiffany started at the In Balance Intensive Outpatient Program in 1997. From there she helped with the planning and opening of In Balance Ranch Academy in 2002, serving as a milieu manager and primary therapist at the ranch. She received her Bachelor's in Special Education from the University of Arizona and Master's in Social Work from Arizona State University.
In 2006, Tiffany helped to develop the In Balance Transitional Living program. Tiffany and Patrick Barrasso, owner of In Balance, realized how difficult it was for young adults coming out of treatment to be thrown back into the same environment that got them into treatment in the first place. Often they would stumble in their recovery. It was Tiffany and Patrick's belief that this stumble was unnecessary. Transitional Living was the answer; it would provide a safe and recovery living environment that would allow residents to acclimate back into society at a manageable pace. They would be introduced to young people in recovery in the Tucson area, helping them to realize that their community of support goes far beyond anything they first realized. They could enroll in college classes, find a sponsor that would become essential to their growth, learn how to attain, maintain and succeed at a job. These individuals will achieve success and will take these accomplishments with them as they continue off on their life path.
Mitchell Hestad
Program Director
In Balance Young Adult
Mitchell Hestad is an alumni of In Balance Transitional Living then got hired on as a life coach in 2011. He is an active member of a 12 step fellowship, and has been sober since June 17th, 2010, sponsoring hundreds of young men since. After graduating the transitional living program Mitchell sought out employment at a local bakery while navigating the pitfalls of early recovery and independent living, before making the decision to pursue more meaningful work helping others. Mitch has spent every year since 2011 working his way up the staff team by showing his incredible work ethic, many proficiencies, great care and compassion for the clients and an intense passion for helping others; first being promoted to Operation's Director in 2019 and now culminating in him becoming the Program Director working directly with Daniel Barrasso, MSW to run the In Balance Young Adult programs. Besides work, Mitchell spends his time continuing his education, hiking, going to the gym, and riding his skateboard, and enjoying time with his wife. Mitchell has an unwavering commitment to fostering change and growth in the lives of the students of transitional living. Mitch's body of work includes tutoring, mentoring, and teaching life skills. His steadfast commitment is represented both on campus and around the Tucson community.
Lauren Impraim, MA, LPC
Clinical Director
In Balance Young Adult
Lauren was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated with her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University. Since 2006, she has been working in diverse settings including inpatient, outpatient, juvenile probation and adolescent residential.
Throughout her time in the clinical field, Lauren has learned the importance of allowing clients to grow in their own time, while holding space for their process. She promotes a safe and comfortable environment for clients and their families to work through past wounds and help in building resilience. She works from an empathetic and empowering approach. Lauren integrates Solution-focused, Shame-Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral and Strength-based interventions. She is also trained in Level 1- and Level 2 EMDR.
In her own time, Lauren finds herself involved in the 12-step recovery community. She is a sponsor and has a sponsor. Lauren is passionate about applying the tools she shares with others in her own life. She also enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Emily Mattimoe, MS, CTRS
Assistant Clinical Director
In Balance Young Adult
Emily has over 12 years of experience working with individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues. She has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient, residential, outpatient, camps, and schools. Emily received her Master of Science in Recreation Therapy from the University of Tennessee in 2008 and is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and HeartMath practitioner. Emily brings a body-focused, holistic approach in helping clients uncover their own intuitive wisdom for healing. Emily is able to meet the unique needs of each client by incorporating a wide variety of modalities including mindfulness, biofeedback, play, somatic skills, and art. Emily is a strong believer in the power of community. She has extensive experience in low ropes course and team building facilitation, as well as other experiential groups. She fosters a supportive and inclusive environment for all clients. If Emily had a superpower, it would be her compassion and empathy for others. Her bright and approachable demeanor brings a positive and healing energy to those in her presence.
Emily is also a Wilderness First Responder, and she loves to introduce people to the healing energy of nature. The outdoors play a vital role in her family life as well. You will find Emily, her husband, and two children spending their free time biking, rock climbing, and exploring the desert and mountains around Tucson.
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Guinevere Placer, LCSW
Primary Therapist
Guinevere studied social work at the University of Hawaii, received her bachelors of Social Work from Northern Arizona University, and her masters of Social Work from Arizona State University. Guinevere is an LCSW, a certified grief counselor, and a wilderness first responder. Her work experience includes working at Big Brothers Big Sisters for several years in Portland, OR, working as a hospice social worker for 10 years, and, most recently, she worked at a residential treatment facility for co-occurring disorders with teens and adults in Tucson for almost 15 years. She has facilitated the grief and loss group at In Balance for the past year.
Guinevere was born in Flagstaff, AZ. She is a wife and mother of 2, and enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, hiking, and traveling. She appreciates nature from the mountains to the desert to the beach.
JB Yewell, MPA, CAI, MSAC(c)
Primary Therapist
In Balance Young Adult
JB comes to In Balance with passion for recovery, and a first-hand experience alcoholism and addiction. After leaving behind a successful career in business and finance, JB shifted his focus to sharing the gift of recovery with others. He has spent the last few years working with residents and their families at a leading residential treatment center specializing in trauma and addiction. He is a Certified ARISE® Interventionist and has guided countless families through the process of recovery. In addition, JB holds a Master’s in Public Administration and is nearing completion of a Master’s in Addiction Counseling.
“Getting and staying sober was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It has also been the most rewarding! For years I struggled with alcoholism and eventually, heroin addiction. It took me to places I never thought I would be. For those on the outside, I had it all together; the beautiful family and a great job. On the inside, I was miserable and suffering. I didn’t know how to process traumatic events from my childhood, I was maladjusted to life.”
“What finally happened for me was nothing short of a miracle. After countless attempts at treatment and sobriety, I was finally given the gift of desperation. My family surrounded me with unending love and support. At that moment, I knew that my disease would provide one of two things: life or death. I chose life. I entered a program that allowed me time to rediscover myself. I learned how to cope with the issues that had been plaguing me for so long. I developed healthy, loving relationships. I was given one more opportunity at being the husband and father I was meant to be. I am living a life beyond my dreams. New doors have begun to open, for the first time in my entire life I feel free. Free to be the person I was meant to be. Free to be honest with myself and others. Finally free from the chains of trauma and addiction.”
In his free time, JB enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with his wife and children, travelling, and riding his Harley!
Rebecca Drake, MA,LAC
Primary Therapist
In Balance Young Adult
Rebecca was raised in Northern California and moved to Tucson in 2010. She received both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in rehabilitation and mental health counseling from the University of Arizona. Rebecca is an LAC and utilizes various therapeutic interventions and techniques, with an emphasis on the person centered and humanistic approaches. She tailors her treatment plans to best serve the individual needs of her clients. She loves working with both groups and individuals alike and finds both modalities to be uniquely rewarding. Rebecca has a passion for helping others, is a dog lover, and enjoys spending free time with her friends and family.
Matthew Hawe, LCSW
Primary Therapist
In Balance Young Adult
Matthew Hawe graduated from Arizona State University with a Master of Social Work. He has a diverse background working in behavioral health treating substance use and mental disorders. Since 2008, Matt has been assisting adults and adolescents address barriers to living an independent, functional life while learning coping mechanisms to combat the symptoms of their illness. Matt has been an active member in the Tucson recovery community by working a 12-step program, participating in fellowship, and dedicating himself to service work. Matt has witnessed the devastating impact of addiction on the addicted individual, the family system, and the community and has found purpose in devoting his life to the field of substance use disorders. Collaborating with young people who have addictions can be very challenging and overwhelming without an intentional approach. Working at In Balance Transitional Living, Matt has learned the importance of building relationships to the degree that a level of trust is established that enables these young men to be genuine in their journey of recovery. Matt is trained in Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT). The combination of these two modalities assists individuals in moving away from sustain talk and focuses on the factors that motivate them to make an adjustment regarding their disruptive behaviors and substance use. CBT offers a path to modify negative thinking patterns that affect emotions and behaviors. Matt was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and has an extensive knowledge of the surrounding area for hiking and camping. He has utilized his knowledge base and passion for the outdoors through leading the weekend hikes and camping expeditions at In Balance Transitional Living. The wilderness offers an environment to find solace while unplugging from the stresses of everyday life. John Muir lived a life of exploration as he advocated for the preservation of the wilderness. He stated, "everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike." The healing component of the wilderness combined with evidence based practice and the 12 steps is a method for a new way of living while recovering from the heartaches of addiction.
Lucas Joyal, MSW
Primary Therapist
In Balance Young Adult
Lucas Joyal graduated from Arizona State University with a Master of Social Work. He began working in the field of behavioral health in 2017 here at In Balance. Since then Lucas has grown a deep passion for working with young adults struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. He began his schooling in psychology and social work all while moving his way through in balance holding several roles and responsibilities. During this time, Lucas developed a deep understanding of how to connect with young adults at this phase of their development in both recovery and being a young male in today’s world. Lucas is in recovery himself and is an active member of the 12-step community here in Tucson. During his Master’s program, Lucas did his practicum in a high-acuity mental health in-patient treatment center. During this time Lucas became competent and confident working with high diversity populations with a large variety of presenting problems and diagnoses. He began practicing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and many other therapeutic modalities. He was under close supervision during this time all while continuing his graduate program and holding a shift at In Balance as he still wanted his valued contact and work with young adults. Aside from Lucas’s passionate work in the field and graduating Suma Cum Laude, he enjoys fitness, nutrition, hiking, creative outlets, and spending quality time with friends and family. Lucas is a strong believer strong rapport, healthy self-disclosure, and a humorous attitude as means of connecting with young adults and creating lasting change in these young men’s lives as they begin to learn how to navigate recovery and this special time in their lives.
Austin Aggins
Weekend Manager
In Balance Young Adult
Austin was born and raised in New York, where he started his journey in recovery at the age of 17 years old. While there, he cultivated a love for travel and the outdoors. Throughout his 20’s Austin lived and travelled abroad in places such as Germany and France. A few years ago Austin came back stateside, settling in Colorado for a few years. He then made his way to Tucson, working at In Balance Academy for 2 1/2 years. While at In Balance Academy, Austin took the boys out for many excursions, and he has brought this experience back to transitional living, where he loves taking the guys out hiking, fishing, and exploring. Austin is also active in the Arizona AA community and in his home group.
Michael D'Aloisio
Weekday Manager
In Balance Young Adult
I am a Life Coach at In Balance Transitional Living. I started my journey in Recovery March 20, 2009. During that time I met my Wife, had two beautiful children, and purchased a home. I owe everything I have today to being fully committed to working a 12 step program of Recovery. I am extremely honored to now have the opportunity to help carry the message of hope to the clients at In Balance. As a Life Coach I strive to help these young individuals create a solid foundation on which to build a fulfilling and meaningful life in sobriety. When I am home I spend a majority of my time playing with my five year old son and one year old daughter.
Sal Estrella
Weekday Manager
In Balance Young Adult
Sal Estrella is a certified recovery support specialist and a life Coach at In Balance Transitional Living. He started his journey to recovery from an opioid addiction on January, 2018. He has first hand experience with the destruction it can cause to the families of those suffering as well as the individual themselves. As a former athlete he incorporates physical activities such as football, hiking, and weight lifting into his work and personal life as a form of therapy. Sal has found a new passion in using his experiential knowledge of substance use disorders to not only improve his life but also the lives of those still struggling.
David Balboa, MFA
Academic Advisor, Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
David Baboila has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona and has been sober since November 14th, 2021. He began working at In Balance in August of 2022 as a life coach and has since taken on the role of Academic Advisor. He assists clients with college applications, course planning, financial aid, college study skills, time management, and holds weekly check-in’s with clients who are enrolled in college classes to discuss individual progress and concerns.
Alongside working at In Balance, David is a professor of photography at the University of Arizona and Pima Community College. His experience in recovery and as an educator allows him to offer better guidance to students navigating their academic and personal journeys. He understands the challenges faced by young adults and utilizes his experience and knowledge to provide tailored support, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to succeed both academically and in recovery.
His passion for the intersection of recovery and academics stems from his own experience navigating the pitfalls and success of collegiate recovery as a sober member of the Augsburg Step Up program where he completed his undergraduate studies. Having overcome his own challenges, David is passionate about supporting others on their journey to recovery and strives to empower individuals to reclaim their lives and pursue their dreams.
Outside of work, David is a practicing artist, photographer, and creative consultant. He enjoys cooking, hiking, basketball, and roadtripping across the United States with his camera.
Cesar Teran
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Cesar is a life coach at both In Balance Transitional Living and In Balance Collegiate Living. After going through the In Balance Academy and In Balance Transitional Living as a client, Cesar made the decision to stay in the continuum as a life coach. As a member in 12 step recovery and a good samaritan Cesar has a huge interest in helping out young men find their own path. Cesar loves working in the social work field and has passion for addiction treatment. He is bilingual in English and in Spanish, and he is a great communicator.
Matthew Grattendick
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Matt Grattendick is an In Balance alumnus who is passionate about recovery and helping others build happy and fulfilling lives in sobriety. Matt is very active within the Tucson and Arizona recovery communities, serving on AA committees at the state level and sponsoring other men in the program. Enrolled at the University of Arizona pursuing a degree in psychology, Matt aspires to be a therapist after attending graduate school. Being a full-time student as well as a full-time employee, Matt spends what’s left of his free time at the gym or playing video games with his friends.
Courtney Blackwell
Recovery Specialist
In Balance Young Adult
Bio coming soon
Ethan Ten Grotenhuis
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Hi my name is Ethan and I am from Oakland, California. I originally came to In Balance as a client in late 2018. I am deeply grateful for this company and also have great aspirations for this line of work. I am currently going to school full time and working part time.
Connor Starkins
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Connor is a grateful alumni of the In Balance Collegiate Living Program. He is an active member of a 12-step fellowship, and has been sober since March 27th 2018. Since becoming an alumni of the program, Connor worked as a life coach at the In Balance Academy before moving on to become a life coach at both the In Balance Transitional and Collegiate Living programs. Connor is an alumni of pima Community College and is currently a student at the University of Arizona where he is pursuing majors in Psychology and PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law). When he is not busy with school, Connor enjoys watching/playing sports and making use of the fun things that Tucson and Southern Arizona have to offer. At work, Connor enjoys the opportunity to share with clients the lessons he has learned himself about sobriety, and living a sober life while still having fun.
Bobby Maldonado
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Bobby was born and raised and in San Jose California and moved out to Tucson in 2013 with my family as a teenager. I have had my own personal struggles with alcoholism and addiction since a young teenager after seeking treatment and going to three separate facilities I’m humbly just over a year sober and my life is dramatically change for the better. I'm extremely grateful for my connection to my higher power every facility and person who has helped and given me encouragement and support in my recovery, for 12 step recovery and my family. And am incredibly grateful to be able to share my experience to help others. In my journey I found great value and being able to still have a ton of fun sober and this has become one of the cornerstones of my sobriety. I am a father of two beautiful children and with my free time skate with my friends and am involved with the local skate shop and their skate team I have found a new passion for weightlifting and fitness I consider myself very blessed and grateful to God for my sobriety and what a gift it is to give it away back to those who need it.
Davis Gebhart
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
Davis is a Life Coach at both Collegiate and Transitional Living. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Davis began his journey in recovery on September 23rd of 2020. Davis is an In Balance alumni, having graduated from the Collegiate Living program in August of 2021. I’m his spare time, Davis enjoys playing basketball, spending time in the outdoors, and watching a myriad of different sports.
Davis began working for In Balance at the very end of September in 2021. Davis says he is, “grateful for the opportunity to pass on the things that the In Balance program and the Tucson AA community were able to give me.” Davis found that he has an affinity for working with others in their journey through recovery, and that in doing so he is learning just as much, if not more than, the guys he gets to work with.
Pierce Saunders
Life Coach
In Balance Young Adult
I’m a very active guy who enjoys lifting, running and being outside on a hike. I was born in a California and just recently moved back to Tucson from Colorado about a year and a half ago. I am very excited to be working with In Balance again after going through the program back in 2010. I have a real passion and drive to give back to the community that gave me what I have today.