Dr. Suaso established Desert Milagros in 2010 and has dedicated her career to providing programs and services that address the interconnecting relationship between mind, body, and spirit. She is a licensed professional therapist and has a doctorate in psychology with an emphasis in spirituality and consciousness studies. Dr. Suaso has worked for some of the leading treatment facilities in addiction, eating disorder and mental health recovery. With over 30 years in the field she brings maturity and compassion to the many challenges facing the behavioral health community. Today she oversees program development and the daily operations of Desert Milagros.

Kim received her Masters of Arts in Counseling from the University of New Mexico, following a career in the educational field. Kim is the Clinical Director for Desert Milagros and oversees the clinical team and the treatment programs at Desert Milagros. She is an innovative director who cares about the services provided to our patients and continues to develop each program to best address patient needs.

Kim has a therapeutic background in attachment theory, interpersonal biology, family systems, and trauma theory. She is a student of the Tapas Acupressure Technique and uses forms of energy psychology to help patients gain relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Tami received her Master's degree in counseling from Chapman University upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force. Tami works with teens in our Eating Disorder and Mental Health programs. Her therapeutic background includes trauma, conflict resolution, grief, and loss therapy, and providing treatment for those with severe mental illness. Her approach in therapy is from a strengths-based perspective. Tami is a board registered clinical supervisor.

Laura graduated with her Masters degree in Social Work from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and is a licensed clinical social worker. Her clinical background includes working in a variety of settings including Community Mental Health, Child Advocacy, Crisis Intervention, and Adult Partial Hospitalization Programs. Her therapeutic approach is person-centered and she focuses on helping each patient reach meaningful goals in their recovery process.

Laura is a member of the Eating Disorder Treatment team and provides group therapy for our adult patients.

Lorrene received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia Southern University. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and is the Program Manager for our trauma programs. She has experience working with different treatment issues including grief and loss, mood disorders, phobias, and severe mental illness. Lorrene is an Army veteran and brings the same dedication and commitment to her work at Desert Milagros.

Katee received her Masters in Social Work from Boise State University. She has a background in community nutrition, and counseling including trauma resolution, eating disorders, and recreational therapy. She has had several roles with Desert Milagros beginning as a counseling assistant where she assisted in all our groups and with all ages. After completing a year internship with us, she decided to stay with Desert Milagros and is now part of the clinical team. Katee facilitates groups in our Trauma program and facilitates intake interviews and assessments.

Katee's therapeutic approach is grounded in a person-centered and strengths-based perspective.

Alyssa graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and DTR in Tucson AZ. She has experience as a clinical nutritionist in a variety of settings including mental health, rehabilitation, and sports nutrition. Her role at Desert Milagros includes working with our teen and adult patients in their recovery from disordered eating, and assisting other patients in learning healthy eating and nutrition for well-being.

Katherine is a certified personal trainer holding advanced certifications in Corrective Exercise and Weight Management, emphasizing functional movement, through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. As a personal trainer, Katherine assists patients in regaining range of motion, improving life impairments through emphasizing integrated whole-body movements, balance and coordination, leading to better stability and mobility. Katherineworks with all patients throughout our programs and facilitates a specialized groups for the Binge Eating program and patients dealing with obesity related issues.

Katherine obtained her BA from the University of Washington. She holds the following certifications:

• CPT: American Council on Exercise
• CES: National Academy of Sports Medicine
• WLS: National Academy of Sports Medicine
• CAFS: Gray Institute
• COS: American Council on Exercise

Julie received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona as a Public Health Educator. She manages all billing and contract issues for Desert Milagros. Julie helps patients understand their insurance benefits and navigate the authorization process. She works directly with each of our patients to ensure that the financial part of enrollment goes smoothly. Additionally, she advocates for patients regarding insurance authorizations and treatment extensions.

Pauline is the first person patients see when entering the building. Her role is to help each person feel safe and welcomed to the clinic. She assists patients with their initial questions and their appointment scheduling. Pauline has worked in the behavioral health field for some time now and enjoys daily interactions with our patients. Additionally Pauline assists the administrative team to ensure that daily clerical and administrative needs are handled, and that the clinic has a warm and welcoming environment.

Isabella is our evening receptionist and assist patients with scheduling their appointments and handling any questions that they may have. She has an interest in becoming a therapist and is currently in pursuit of her degree in the Behavioral Health Field.

Charlotte assists in the office and the management of the clinic. She is responsible for coordinating special projects and ensuring that the staff and clinic have the supplies and tools needed to operate smoothly. She is endearingly referred to as Vice President of Miscellaneous.