Wise Path Recovery Centers

 

MEET OUR TEAM

Meet the dedicated team at Wise Path Recovery Centers. Our compassionate professionals are committed to guiding you on your journey to recovery.

Morgantown, WV

  • Brad E. Pershing, MS, PRSS
    Brad E. Pershing, MS, PRSS
    Program Director
  • Gerod Buckhalter
    Gerod Buckhalter
    Program Supervisor & Community Relations
  • Tory Watring
    Tory Watring
    Alumni & Discharge Coordinator
  • Nicole King
    Nicole King
    Lead Clinical Therapist
  • Jonathan Hamrick
    Jonathan Hamrick
    Clinical Therapist
  • Olivia Higdon
    Olivia Higdon
    Clinical Therapist
  • Andrew White
    Andrew White
    Clinical Therapist
  • Mario Angel Oliverio
    Mario Angel Oliverio
      Clinical Therapist
  • Colleen Savage
    Colleen Savage
    Clinical Therapist
  • Crystal Cox
    Crystal Cox
    Behavioral Health Technician Supervisor

Williamson, WV

  • Brandon Kirk
    Brandon Kirk
    Program Director
  • Shaa Marcum
    Shaa Marcum
    Clinical Therapist
  • Alicia Varney
    Alicia Varney
    Clinical Therapist
  • Michelle Jervis
    Michelle Jervis
    Nurse Manager
  • Claudia (Shelly) Gibson
    Claudia (Shelly) Gibson
    Nurse Practitioner
  • Ashley Price
    Ashley Price
    Nurse Practitioner

Admissions

  • Teddi Grim
    Teddi Grim
    Lead Admissions Coordinator
  • Stephanie Klemp
    Stephanie Klemp
    Senior Admissions Coordinator

Business Development

  • Russell Wyatt
    Russell Wyatt
    Senior Outreach Coordinator
  • Dave Taylor II
    Dave Taylor II
    Outreach Coordinator
Brad E. Pershing, MS, PRSS
Program Director

Brad Pershing attended Marshall University on an academic scholarship, where he earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration and a M.S. degree in Healthcare Administration. In graduate school he co-authored a research project that was published in the peer reviewed accredited Permanente Journal of Medicine. Prior to Ascension Recovery Services, Brad worked in the substance use disorder industry specializing in peer recovery coaching and management. He held multiple positions at Recovery Point West Virginia, the same organization that established his own long-term recovery. He then progressed to the Administrative Office as the Community Outreach Coordinator, in which consistent networking strengthened his working knowledge of all facets involved in this line of work. His career experience and education have collectively developed him into a compassionate and motivated advocate in the recovery field.

Gerod Buckhalter
Program Supervisor & Community Relations

Gerod was born and raised in Dilliner, PA, and graduated high school at Mapletown Jr/Sr High School. He is a person in long-term recovery and was awarded the Global Challenge coin (highest possible honor) from the National Institute of Drug Abuse for his courage in becoming the first person ever to receive Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for addiction. Gerod has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, and in the Washington Post, telling the story of his journey through addiction and having the DBS procedure and what life looks like for him in recovery. Before coming to Wise Path Recovery Centers, Gerod worked for West Virginia Sober Living for the last four years serving as a certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) and their Recovery Housing Coordinator. Gerod is recently engaged to his beautiful fiancé, Ashley Riffle, and is the proud father to their daughter, Mabry.

Tory Watring
Alumni & Discharge Coordinator

Tory Watring, our Alumni & Discharge Coordinator, was born and raised in North Central West Virginia. She is an Internationally Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (ICPRSS). Tory has over five years of experience working with recovery residences, is a state-certified naloxone trainer, and is a founding executive member of the National Peer Recovery Alliance (NPRA) of the WV Chapter. She participates in the membership committee, ensuring that best practices in the field are part of her skillset.

Tory, who is in recovery, exemplifies making the most of second chances, and as a graduate of WVSL, she helps those with substance use disorder find a different trajectory toward health and wellness.

Nicole King
Lead Clinical Therapist

Nicole King is a Lead Clinical Therapist at Wise Path Recovery Center with 18 years of experience, helping individuals who struggle with substance abuse and mental health. Nicole uses her experience to help individuals gain the skills and tools needed for recovery and mental health.

By focusing on helping others with mental health and substance abuse, Nicole has been able to put her Bachelor of Psychology and Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling degrees she earned at West Virginia University to good use. Over the years, her strengths of working with individuals with substance abuse and mental health have garnered her the opportunity to see many of her clients gain long-term recovery and lead productive lives.

Jonathan Hamrick
Clinical Therapist

Jon Hamrick is an OBOT Clinical Therapist for Wise Path Recovery Centers in Cheat lake, WV. He is a part-time therapist and full-time graduate student in the MSW program at WVU. Jon provides individual therapy for MAT and general outpatient clients. He began his career in counseling by working at Academy Programs and Valley Healthcare in Fairmont WV. Jon is passionate about mental health and healing on a personal level. He is in long term recovery himself and enjoys being able to give back to his community. Jon believes in treating each client with a rounded approach by looking at their needs on a mental, physical, and spiritual level. He enjoys meeting clients where they are and empowering them to become successful in their recovery journey.

Olivia Higdon
Clinical Therapist

Olivia Higdon is a clinical therapist for Wise Path Recovery Centers, who received her Master of Social Work and Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University. She is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker, and her professional experience includes working with clients who struggle with substance use, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar and co-occurring disorders. Prior to working at Wise Path Recovery Centers, she had 10 years of experience working for the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at WVU Medicine in both inpatient and outpatient settings across various roles. Olivia is a certified trauma provider and a certified psychedelic assisted psychotherapy provider. She has a special passion for working with individuals who struggle with substance use and trauma, knowing first-hand how both battles are most often part of generational cycles that take special care and attention to overcome. Her approach to care involves providing support and safety to allow patients to explore curiosities about self openly to permit development and desire for more meaningful self-discovery, self-awareness, and reconnection to self and others. Leaning into self-curiosity and our ability to heal from within to gain a better understanding of self and build upon areas of strength during the transformation process.

Andrew White
Clinical Therapist

Andrew graduated from WVU 2001 in Sociology and Anthropology (BA) and WVU 2020 Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (MS). He has worked in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) where worked with groups and individuals with both mental health and substance use issues. He has a holistic overview and focus (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual). which goes hand in hand with the two therapeutic approaches he facilitates: DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Mindfulness and living in the present are huge aspects of each of these which include practices in meditation, breathwork, grounding skills, and using the present to refocus and adjust to life as it is now, in order to make for a better future.

Mario Angel Oliverio
  Clinical Therapist

Mario is a lifelong resident of West Virginia. He serves as a Clinical Therapist for the OBOT Program. He has 10 years of experience in the field. He specializes in Substance Abuse Disorder and Addiction. He has previous experience in Medication Assisted Treatment facilitating both individual and group counseling sessions.

Prior to coming to work for us Mario spent nearly 7 years in the State Prison System where he gained valuable knowledge in Case Management, Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Also, he has worked as a youth Counselor in the past role modeling appropriate behavior for youths.

Colleen Savage
Clinical Therapist

Colleen is a native of West Virginia and is a social worker by heart and education. She has a great interest in working with those who suffer from PTSD and recognizes that in working at Wise Path, she can do what she loves. In her 24-year career as a social worker, she has worked with many different populations and finds joy in helping anyone cope with symptoms of trauma. She has provided individual therapy in private practice and large agencies and has finally found her home at Wise Path Recovery. In her free time, Colleen enjoys camping with her family at the river and thrifting. Colleen is in a serious relationship and is a mother of three amazing kids. She is a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a fearless leader of empowering women to heal, achieve and claim ALL the good things this life has to offer. She looks forward to meeting you where you are on your journey!

Crystal Cox
Behavioral Health Technician Supervisor

Crystal Cox moved to Morgantown in 1992 from Greenbrier County, WV, to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree from both Fairmont State and WVU. She spent 25 years working in the medical field with over 12 years in outpatient behavioral health. In 2022, Crystal left that field to work admissions for an LTACH hospital. After 2 months, she realized that behavioral health and addiction is her true passion.

Now as a Behavioral Health Supervisor since opening day at Westover, she considers Wise Path home. Crystal loves being one of the first faces clients see when they walk through the doors. From day 1 until day 28, she considers it an honor to be part of their journey to recovery and the most rewarding job she has ever had.

Brandon Kirk
Program Director

Brandon is the Program Director at Wise Path Recovery Centers in Williamson, WV, where he provides strategic oversight and guidance to ensure patients receive the quality care and support they need. As someone in long-term recovery, Brandon sees working with others who are currently experiencing the same afflictions he once did as the ultimate reward. He believes the greatest gift he can offer to his patients is the inspiration to live a substance-free life.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and is currently pursuing certification as an Alcohol & Drug Counselor, alongside a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare.

Starting his career as a Behavioral Health Technician, Brandon previously served as a Supportive Counselor, Activities Director, and Program Coordinator before becoming our Program Director. He is also Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS).

Brandon’s favorite part of the job is networking—he loves connecting resources and affiliating local organizations into the program to provide a positive, enjoyable experience for our patients. He is deeply passionate about mental health and personal healing, and strongly advocates for the involvement of individuals in long-term recovery within the field to support others in overcoming addiction.

Shaa Marcum
Clinical Therapist

Shaa Lynn Marcum is a Clinical Therapist for Wise Path Recovery Center. She leads Intensive Outpatient Group Therapy and individual therapy sessions. She earned her BSW from West Virginia State University in 2011 and earned her MSW from Walden University in 2022. She is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker. Her professional experience includes working with clients who struggle with PTSD, anxiety, parenting issues, substance use, depression, and co-occurring disorders. Prior to working at Wise Path Recovery Centers, she has 12 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a social service agency setting. In her spare time, she loves spending time with my nieces and nephews, reading, traveling, and hanging with her dog Brandy. When asked about her approach to care, she shares “I meet the client where they are to provide support during challenging times, support the client in building self-awareness and acceptance so that change can happen.”

Alicia Varney
Clinical Therapist

Ali Varney brings nearly two decades of experience as a therapist specializing in substance abuse and mental health. Her career is marked by a profound dedication to supporting individuals through their recovery journeys, driven by a natural gift for communication and a deep-seated passion for helping others.

As a proud fur momma to two beloved dogs, Reese (age 18) and Myers (age 2), Ali extends her nurturing nature beyond her professional life. Her ability to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds is enhanced by her empathetic approach and genuine compassion.

Outside of her therapeutic work, Ali finds joy in socializing with friends and family, exploring new shopping experiences, traveling to enrich her perspectives, and embracing the simple pleasures that bring happiness to her life. Her commitment to personal fulfillment mirrors her dedication to empowering others towards healing and growth.

Michelle Jervis
Nurse Manager

Michelle Jervis is the RN manager for our Wise Path Recovery Williamson, WV location. She has been a nurse since 2014 with a background in medical/surgical, surgery and pediatrics. Michelle went to National University in Pikeville, KY for her associate’s degree in Science of Nursing. She is currently working on her master’s degree with a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner.  Michelle is excited and passionate about serving our community for addiction services.

Claudia (Shelly) Gibson
Nurse Practitioner

Claudia has a master’s degree in nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner of which she has been since 2018. She graduated from Ohio University Southern with my associate degree and obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing a year later. She has experience in several different areas of nursing, of which her favorite is substance use where she has more than two years’ experience. She most recently worked as a registered nurse at OVP Health Recovery Center, which is an inpatient recovery center that holds 80 beds.

Claudia has seen substance abuse in her own family, and this drives her passion to help those that struggle with substance abuse and to help them on the road to success. 

Ashley Price
Nurse Practitioner

Ashley is a dedicated Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner based at the Williamson, WV location. She earned her Master’s of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University in 2022 and holds active licenses to practice in both West Virginia and Kentucky.

With a heartfelt commitment to addressing substance use disorder, Ashley draws from personal experiences witnessing its profound effects on individuals and families. Her passion for making a difference in her community drives her professional endeavors, aiming to provide compassionate care and support to those in need.

Ashley looks forward to continuing her work in Williamson, WV, striving to foster positive outcomes and enhance the well-being of individuals facing substance use challenges. Her dedication to patient care and community impact underscores her role as a valued healthcare provider.

Teddi Grim
Lead Admissions Coordinator

Teddi Grim is the face our Centers as our Lead Admissions Coordinator. She was born, raised, and lived in the northern panhandle for most of her life and currently resides in Western PA near the WV border. She tells us she will always be a Mountaineer at heart.

She spent 22 years working in the medical field with more than 5 years in addiction medicine. The hospital-based treatment service she worked at for those years is where I found my passion for the industry. Now as the Lead Admissions Coordinator, she loves being the first voice that clients hear when they’re making that difficult phone call to seek help and being able to help them navigate their way into recovery. 

When she is not working, she loves camping, kayaking and traveling with her husband and two sons.  Most of her free time is spent being a sports mom and shuffling kids to and from practices and games, which she loves doing.

Stephanie Klemp
Senior Admissions Coordinator

Stephanie Klemp, originally from Northern California, is now a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia. She is a Senior Admissions Coordinator.

Stephanie also works with the Monongalia County Health Department’s Quick Response Team, Collegiate Recovery, Chess Health, and WVU Medicine. Stephanie is in the Professional Social Work program at West Virginia University with completed minors in Addiction Studies, Human Services, and Communications. She is an active member of Morgantown’s local recovery community and has a passion for helping others. She has dedicated her life to long-term recovery.

Russell Wyatt
Senior Outreach Coordinator

Russell is the Senior Outreach Coordinator for Wise Path Recovery Centers in West Virginia. He is a person in long-term recovery and has over a decade of experience in the addiction/recovery field. Russell spends his days traveling our great state building and fostering relationships with community partners to help people find wellness and recovery. He is dedicated to this mission, and he thinks that anyone suffering from substance misuse deserves the chance to recover and live a happy life. Russell previously worked as an outreach coordinator for American Addiction Centers before joining the Wise Path team. He also worked for West Virginia Sober Living/West Virginia Peers and was one of the first peer recovery support specialists in our area to become state certified and went on to help train and mentor many others in this role. He is a person who believes in second chances! Russell loves to spend his free time with friends and family. His hobbies include traveling, playing video games and other various things.

Dave Taylor II
Outreach Coordinator

Dave Taylor is the Outreach Coordinator for Wise Path Recovery Centers and has been in recovery since June 14, 2018. Dave’s journey into this field was inspired by a pivotal moment during his time in detox. A therapist once told him that he would one day work in the profession of helping others, a sentiment he initially dismissed as a compliment to his outgoing personality. However, that prediction proved true, and today, Dave thrives in his role, building meaningful connections and fostering hope in others.

Dave’s proudest accomplishment is earning the trust of families across West Virginia to find care for their loved ones. His goal is to continue his recovery journey, raise two compassionate children, and support others in their path to healing.

For Dave, work and life are deeply connected. He uses social media to show that recovery is not only possible but fun. He enjoys physical challenges like cardio, lawn work, and ice baths, believing that stepping outside comfort zones fosters growth.

Looking ahead, Dave’s goals are to continue his fulfilling journey in recovery, to raise two kind and compassionate children, and to support as many individuals as possible in finding hope and healing. He feels at home with Wise Path Recovery Centers and is committed to contributing to the organization’s ongoing growth and success.

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