About us

Life Recovery Center is an outpatient facility specializing in the treatment of problem gaming, substance use, and mental health for adolescents, adults, and families. Offering both in-office and online treatment services, we offer services throughout Indiana. Our comprehensive approach focuses on various aspects affecting the well-being of our clients, including psychological and emotional issues, social and family relationships, personal and professional goals, wellness, spirituality, and coping with trauma and life stressors.

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Awards and Recognition

2016 Outstanding Community Partner: Phylis Lan Lin Department of Social Work, University of Indianapolis
Three Best Rated – Best Addiction Treatment Centers in Indianapolis: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Our Mission

Life Recovery Center exists to help individuals and families find freedom in recovery by promoting growth, respect, and integrity through outpatient services addressing mental health and addiction issues.

Our Accreditations and Certifications

We are accredited by CARF International and certified by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Mental Health & Addiction (DMHA), the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), and the Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program (IPGAP).

CARF Poster
CARF English Card

Specialized Services

Life Recovery Center offers services designed to assist our clients in developing and maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle.

Our Leadership

Kelley Gardner
Kelley Gardner, LMFT, MBA

Vice President of Crisis and Clinical Services

  • Kelley Gardner, LMFT, MBA, is a behavioral health leader and clinician with more than 20 years of experience in crisis, outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community behavioral health services. He currently serves as Vice President of Clinical and Crisis Services at Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI), where he provides leadership for clinical programs, crisis services, and statewide behavioral health initiatives, including Indiana’s 988 crisis response system. He has more than 15 years of leadership experience across hospital, outpatient, residential, and community behavioral health settings and previously served as a Director of Operations for Sandra Eskenazi Mental House Center. Kelley has served on the Indiana Licensing Board/IPLA since 2018. He has served as a board member of the Indiana Counseling Association for one year and joined the NASCOD board in 2026. Throughout his career, Kelley has focused on improving access to behavioral health services, strengthening crisis systems, developing effective clinical programs, and advancing quality and operational excellence across Indiana’s behavioral health system.
NIki Angelaki
Niki Angelaki, MSW, LCSW, LCAC, ICOGS, BCPG

Director of Operations

  • Niki received her Master’s in Social Work from University of Southern Indiana after studying social work in her native country of Greece.  Niki became fascinated with addiction recovery as an intern and has been dedicated in offering best treatment practices for people seeking recovery since 2002.  Niki has also worked with schools, substance use prevention, children with developmental needs, adolescents with behavioral issues, and community education in Greece, England, and Peru.  Niki is inspired by the resiliency of survivors and the people’s ability to thrive despite terrible adversities.  Niki has received extensive training on various clinical models to treat trauma, substance use, and gambling, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor, and Certified International Co-Occurring Gambling Specialist.
Nicole Taylor
Dr. Nicole Taylor, PhD

Supervising Clinical Psychologist (HSPP)

  • Dr. Nicole Taylor is the supervising clinical psychologist (HSPP) for Emberwood Center since 2011. Dr. Taylor received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo in 1999, and is a professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis where she started her employment in 2000. Dr. Taylor’s clinical and research interests include topics such as substance use, coping with illness, training and supervision issues in graduate clinical psychology, women’s issues, psychology and primary care, factors related to medical compliance and non-compliance, behavioral health and prevention, psychoeducational assessment, ADHD assessment, and psychotherapy treatment outcome in psychology training clinics. Dr. Taylor teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and covers such courses as Life Span Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Tests and Measurements, Theories of Counseling, Foundation Skills of Psychotherapy, Supervision and Management, Ethics, Professional and Legal Issues, and Clinical Assessment.
Dr. Aaron Whiteman

Psychiatrist

Summer Mefford
Summer Mefford, ASMBC

Revenue Cycle Manager

  • Mrs. Summer Mefford has been with Life Recovery Center since 2015 and serves as the Practice Manager. She plays an integral role in helping to manage the day-to-day operations of our agency, including phone calls, scheduling, billing, and more. Summer holds an Associate of Science in Medical Billing and Coding (ASMBC) from Indiana Business College.
Leslie Bell
Leslie Bell

Revenue Cycle Analyst

  • Leslie Bell is the Data Entry and Quality Assurance Specialist at Emberwood Center.  Leslie has an eye for detail and takes pride in being thorough in her work.  She enters data regarding our services into specific data bases and audits our chart files for accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance with all our accreditation bodies and contracts.  Leslie’s previous work experience ranges from Corporate Law and Corrections to a variety of non-profit agencies. She has recently retired from Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana which she enjoyed thoroughly as she has a heart for helping those in need.
Barbara Cook
Barbara Cook, BA

Intake Coordinator and Scheduling Coordinator

  • Barbara Cook is part of the administrative team at Emberwood Center. She serves as the first point of contact for Emberwood Center and coordinates our clients’ intakes.  She provides customer service working closely with the director, therapists, and clients providing assistance in many different areas within the agency.  Barbara holds a BA in English from IUPUI and has over 20 years of customer service experience.  She has a passion for working with individuals suffering from the disease of addiction and making a difference.  Barbara joined the Emberwood Center team in 2021.
Jolene Hamilton
Jolene Hamilton, MA, LMHCA

Therapist

  • Experience: 1 year as an intern for Life Recovery Center, now an official employee as of May 2024
  • Specialty: Specializing in the treatment of substance use disorder and mental health
  • Approach: I take on a more diverse approach in figuring out what will work best for the needs of the individual; I try to utilize a combination of different elements from different approaches, including motivational interviewing, person-centered, strengths-based, CBT, and so on.
  • Philosophy: I believe in an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone can feel welcome and like they are truly cared for. It’s important to emphasize a non judgmental positive environment for clients to strive in.
  • Additional Info: I love to read and write, and I’m currently striving to strengthen my cooking skills and green thumb!
Olivia Johnson
Olivia Johnson, MSW, LSW

Therapist

  • Experience: 2+ years of experience
  • Specialty: Mental Health & Addictions
  • Bachelor of Arts from Hanover College with a Major in Sociology
  • Masters of Social Work from Indiana University – Purdue University
  • Approach: I pull from many different treatment approaches, including, but not limited to Motivational Interviewing, CBT, and DBT. I also place a large focus on strengths-based and the person-in-environment perspective. I often encourage clients to tune into the world around them and view each lived moment as an opportunity for learning.
  • Philosophy: My philosophy is based off of a motto I use with my group members: “Maximize positive outcomes, Minimize negative consequences”. I believe that these are words that have the ability to inform our interactions not only with substances, but with our relationships, at home, in the workplace, how we treat ourselves and those around us. However, as we all know saying this and doing it are two different things .The act of playing basketball is simply “putting the ball in the basket”, but somehow we are not all NBA or WNBA superstars (myself included). Practicing the motto is a lifelong journey that takes a commitment to improving oneself each and every day. Though daunting for many, it does not have to be boring or overly-difficult. It is a journey packed full of positive experiences that I believe we can use to lift ourselves up on a day-to-day basis in order to grow into the 2.0 version of ourselves. 
  • Additional Info: I enjoy fishing, binge watching horror movies, and spending time with my three guinea pigs whom I often partner with in my practice as a social worker.
  • I have been Safe Zone LGBTQ+ trained and have my gamblers awareness certificate from IPGAP through IUPUI. I am working to gain more experience with gamblers in recovery and am in the midst of completing my registration and certification through the Pet Partners program. My hope is to utilize AAI (animal assisted interventions) in order to create a safe space for clients looking to begin their recovery journey.
Larisa Barannikova
Larisa Barannikova, LMHCA, M.A.

Therapist

  • Larisa graduated from Indiana University in 2024 with a Master of Arts in Art Therapy.  Her prior experience in the mental health field includes inpatient residential substance use treatment at Volunteers of America, outpatient counseling at Centerstone, and crisis support at the Lafayette Crisis Center. Before pursuing her Master’s degree, Larisa worked as a language educator with both children and adults in Japan.
  • Specialization: Larisa works with children, adolescents, and adults seeking support for issues of mental health, relationships, life transitions, mood disorders, and substance use. Larisa is training on EMDR to process trauma, and is passionate about working with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
  • Approach: Larisa uses a trauma-informed and intersectional approach while drawing on a variety of techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness practices, and Motivational Interviewing. She regularly implements art-based practices to guide clients through unique, non-verbal methods to foster connection with self and expression of their inner world.
  • Philosophy: Larisa believes that with guidance and support, everyone can draw on their strengths and values to create positive changes in their lives.
Shanise Taylor
Shanise Taylor, MS
AIP/BIP Facilitator 
  • Experience: I worked 14 yrs with The Indiana Department of Child Services as a Family Case Manager and Assessment Supervisor. I worked 7yrs with Central Indiana Coalition On Aging. Other employment opportunities were with Bloom Assisted Living as a Business Office Manager. Went back to the State of Indiana, working at the Disability Determination Bureau, as a Claims Adjudicator.
  • Additional Info: My education is MA from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and BA from Marian University.
Amanda Adhami
Amanda Adhami, LCSW, ICOGS

Therapist, Gambling (part-time)

  • Experience: Amanda received her Master’s in social work from IUPUI School of Social Work, with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions, and her bachelor’s in social work from Indiana University Bloomington (IUB).  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults and adolescents that struggle with issues of mental health and substance use, however in the past year she has been providing gambling treatment specifically.  Amanda began working in the addiction field as an intern and has over 6 years of experience working with adults and adolescents from diverse backgrounds.  Amanda has experience working  as a school counselor, and she continues to work as an adjunct instructor at IUB teaching substance use and diversity courses at the Bachelor and Master level.
  • Specialization: Amanda received extensive training in treating gambling addictions and is a Certified International Co-Occurring Gambling Specialist.  She holds certificates in Dialectal Behavioral Therapy and utilizes this as well as other evidence-based practices (including Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help individuals achieve their goals and live healthier lives.
  • Additional Info: Amanda is passionate about community service, social justice, building interfaith connections, and serving at her Mosque.
Jennifer DePriest, CPRC‑MH

Client Advocate

  • About me: Hi, I’m Jenn! I have an educational background in human services, recovery, and criminal justice, along with professional experience in mental health and substance use services, including case management and crisis intervention. Through both my training and lived experience in recovery, I understand the challenges that come with healing and change. I believe in walking alongside individuals, offering support, encouragement, and understanding as they grow. I’m passionate about helping others recognize their strength, because I truly believe every person is capable of creating meaningful change in their lives.
    Outside of work, I love spending time with my daughters, cheering on basketball, and soaking up the sunshine whenever I can. I enjoy being outdoors, trying new restaurants as a self-proclaimed foodie, and prioritizing self-care. I’m also a proud dog mom to a beagle and a St. Bernard who keep life fun, busy, and full of love.
Jennifer Bellah
Jennifer Bellah, CAPRC II

Peer Support Specialist, Client Advocate

  • Experience: Jennifer is a Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach I (CAPRC I) through ICAADA.  Jennifer’s personal recovery journey provides clients the perspective of lived experience.  After having gone through her own 8-year battle with addiction and getting her life back together, she is devoting herself to giving others that same chance.  Having been through the struggles of addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, she has a unique connection to those that are currently experiencing these themselves.  Jennifer has been with MHAI since February 2023.
  • Specialization: Jennifer focuses on our clients that struggle with substance use providing recovery support, skills training in many life areas, and educational groups in the various community agencies.  Jennifer connects our clients to needed resources, especially employment and housing.  Her connections in the community are extensive and very valuable to our clients.  Jennifer is passionate about helping incarcerated and recently released individuals and is currently working toward her CADAC I and NCPRSS certification as well as  specialized training for gambling issues.
  • Approach: Jennifer approaches her clients from a place of lived experience and personal recovery.  She aims at passing on the knowledge and support that was given herself during her recovery journey. Jennifer is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Diversity and constantly seeks to further her knowledge.  She promotes honesty and accountability in her journey with clients and provides emotional support every step of the way leading her clients through the 5D phases (Define, Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny) to improve their lives.
  • Philosophy: Jennifer’s philosophy is that everyone deserves a chance to recover and is passionate to show others that everyone can change.  She understands that asking for help is the hardest first step some will ever make and provides that safe place that those in recovery need in order to talk about their struggles and fears.  She also knows the struggle that lies ahead in the beginning of recovery and the support needed in multiple life areas.  Having experienced similar struggles, she is able to relate to what her clients are going through, provide valuable insights and make a plan based on each person’s needs and goals.
  • Additional Info: Jennifer’s passion to help others recover from addiction leads her to be very involved in the recovering community and volunteers for organizations that helped during her own journey.   She is also an avid baker and  has started a small business as a result of the lessons she received through Launch Hope Foundation in partnership with Butler University during her time in early recovery.
Liam Capel, LSW

Abi Owens, LMCHA