Our Staff
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Founder and CEO Pete Linnett developed the Life Adjustment Team concept in 1977 in response to the need for effective community-based mobile outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation. Having worked in the mental health system for eight years as a psychiatric technician in New York and Los Angeles, it became obvious that the high rate of re-hospitalization was in part due to the lack of structure and support systems to help patients become stable, active, and productive once discharged from an inpatient setting. In 1988 Pete was hired by the UCLA Research Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation for a project to field test protocols of outpatient services delivery systems and in vivo skills training. Today the Life Adjustment Team implements state-of-the-art comprehensive outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment using evidence-based best practices. In the early nineties, Pete developed the LAT Method of outpatient treatment, combining the in-vivo skills training modules developed at UCLA and the fifteen years of experience in developing and implementing successful intervention and outpatient rehabilitation plans in the community. In 1991, Pete started the Westside Mental Health Provider Network. The goal of the Network is to help mental health service providers deliver the highest quality of care possible through networking and resource sharing. The Network began with six members and has grown to 300 members in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Orange County. |
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Doug's experience began very early in his life when his parents, Pete and Loraine Linnett, started the Life Adjustment Team the year before he was born. Growing up, Doug was often in the presence of patients and staff. Because of this, he grew up having acceptance, compassion, and a non-judgmental attitude towards those with mental illness. Thirty-four years later, Doug is still in touch with several former LAT patients who have successfully moved on from the Team. Doug's mission is to carry on the work his father started by having a positive and meaningful impact on the mental health community and those suffering with mental illness. As a young adult, Doug was already developing his administrative skills working summers at LAT while attending San Diego State University. After college, Doug was involved in several business endeavors, and in 2002 started his own company, Shoreline Advertising, where he managed marketing and advertising campaigns for small businesses in southern California. In 2008, Doug joined the Team full time to develop marketing plans and public relations programs to help with the expansion and awareness of the Life Adjustment Team. Doug's role as the President of the Life Adjustment Team is to oversee all operations. Doug puts a strong focus on building relationships within the mental health and substance abuse community's and to working with private practitioners and centers of excellence who have a like minded approach to mental health rehabilitation and recovery. Doug is also the President of the Mental Health Providers Network which was founded in 1991 to bring the mental health and substance abuse worlds together for the benefit of the treatment community and patients as a whole. Doug also serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI Los Angeles and enjoys helping NAMI with their fundraising efforts to support the invaluable impact NAMI has on families and individuals dealing with mental illness. Doug is a member of the ABL (Adaptive Business Leaders Group) which is comprised of president's and CEO's in the health care and technology fields. Doug is a member of the Conscious Leader Network which connects and supports businesses and business leaders of all generations who resonate with the idea of Leading Consciously and Living Consciously in all areas of life. The Conscious Leaders Network promotes new ways of being and doing business through aggregating transformational programs, resources, services and events. |
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With almost two decades of experience in the mental health industry, Cynthia Sampson serves as the Administrator of the Life Adjustment Team. Ms. Sampson began her work with the Team as an office manager, and within a few short years advanced to become the company chief administrative officer. Ms. Sampson was integral in the Team’s development from a small facility of approximately eight employees and twenty clients to an operation servicing upwards of 100 clients at any given time. In addition to her expertise in the area of new site development, Cynthia has vast knowledge and experience in office systems development, staff recruiting, human resources, and billing systems. She also serves as liaison with all third party payers (insurance companies and government agencies) and is responsible for servicing those contracts. Ms. Sampson is a founding member of the Mental Health Provider Network, an organization comprised of individuals working in mental health services to help providers deliver the highest quality of mental health care possible through networking and resource sharing. She is also an active member of the Women’s Association of Addiction Treatment, founded by a dedicated group of professionals in the treatment industry to provide a forum for airing new ideas, as well as educational and networking opportunities. She is also an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and serves on various committees within that organization. |
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Jamie serves as the intake director of the Life Adjustment Team as well as the director of family services. He has been with the Team since 1990. Jamie who has a Master and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, was the Director of Life Appreciation Training seminars during the 1980’s, running grief seminars throughout Canada and the United States. He has also served as the Director of Treatment at private locked hospitals and has a background in group therapy and public speaking. |
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Cari graduated with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling, from Loyola Marymount University in 1997. Her Bachelor's degree was earned in clinical psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She is licensed by the State of California as a marriage and family therapist. For the past 15 years, Cari has worked with dually diagnosed adults, children and families in various settings including drug rehabilitation, community mental health, foster agencies and independent practice. She has provided case management and therapy sessions as a supervisor, social worker and psychotherapist. She is currently a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She is also an active member of WAAT. Cari joined the Life Adjustment Team in 2007 as a case manager. As the clinical Director, Cari is responsible for supervising all case managers and the clients they oversee, providing direct clinical services, and developing relationships with other clinicians and families. |
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Jana graduated with a BA in Liberal Studies from California State University, Stanislaus in 2003. Before coming to Life Adjustment Team, she worked as an early intervention specialist with children with special needs and speech delay, as well as, several years of administrative experience. Jana is also fluent in Spanish. As part of the Life Adjustment Team, Jana maintains and oversees the day to day functions of the office and works closely with the staff and clients. In her free time she enjoys staying active by playing softball, spinning, and hiking. |
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Ken is the Program Director with the Life Adjustment Team. Ken has been in the mental health field since 1986. He has worked in the private and public sector as well as inpatient and community-based settings. Ken has worked in Texas as a Program Director and in California as a Dual Diagnosis Coordinator at South Central Health and Rehab Programs, and Clinical Director and Administrator at La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center. Ken has a breadth of knowledge and experience in working with those that have severe and persistent mental illness as well as substance abuse issues. Ken obtained a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles Campus in 2001. In addition to his interest in psychology, Ken has also been a personal fitness trainer for 12 years and has worked with everyone from professional athletes to children and older adults. |
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Chris is a case manager for the Life Adjustment Team. The plans for his career took shape in 1986 when he began volunteering at a local hospital treating people with addiction. Inspired by the work, he pursued his education at UCLA and in 1988 acquired the necessary certifications to work in the field as a counselor. Over the next nine years he worked for inpatient addiction treatment facilities throughout Southern California. In 1996 he relocated to Eureka, California where he had the unique opportunity of being part of the staff developing a residential treatment program for Native American people. He acquired his counseling certification from Indian Alcohol Commission of California in 1997 (IADC II). He went on to receive his certification from the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors in 1998 (CADC II). He joined the Life Adjustment Team in 2002, utilizing his education and experience with clients having co-occurring disorders. |
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Randy has been working in the social service field for over 14 years. He attended UCLA, where he became certified as a Substance Abuse/Addiction Counselor in 2001 and as a Dual Diagnosis Counselor in 2004. An addiction specialist, registered with the Certification of Addiction Specialists (CAS), he often worked with individuals with co-occurring disorders. Randy saw the need to merge his addiction knowledge with an increased knowledge of psychiatric disorders and is currently attending the University of Phoenix where he will earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Randy began working as a case manager at the Life Adjustment Team in 2005. In recovery himself, Randy is passionate about helping others and giving back to the community and currently runs the Dual Diagnosis Group at Daniel’s Place in Santa Monica. |
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Jackie graduated from Antioch University, Los Angeles in 1996 with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. She has worked in the mental health field since 1992, beginning with a research assignment on parent-child communication about sexuality at UCLA’s NPI clinic. Since then, Jackie has gained experience working with a variety of cultures, ages, settings and illnesses. While in graduate school, Jackie spent her evenings riding along in LAPD’s domestic violence car, responding to domestic violence calls at homes and hospitals, providing crisis intervention and support; and spent her days providing one- to-one behavior modification in homes to children diagnosed with autism. After graduating, Jackie had internships where she provided individual and couples counseling in both a nonprofit clinic and at a private practice facility. Deciding to take her desire to help people out of the office and into the field, Jackie spent four years providing outreach services and advocating for homeless chronically mentally ill patients in California’s AB2034 program. It was that desire to integrate treatment into the community that led Jackie to join LAT as a case manager in August, 2007. |
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Mark graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Dominican College of San Rafael in 1995 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University of Sacramento in 1999. He earned his license in Clinical Social Work in 2005. Mark’s thesis in both his undergraduate and his graduate programs researched the aspects of parenting styles and the relationship to adult criminality. Mark interned as a juvenile probation officer at the Marin County Juvenile Probation Department as a Diversion Parole Officer, interned with the Vacaville Police Department as a Youth Services Counselor in the school system, and also interned as an outreach counselor at a Dropout Prevention Program at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento, CA. He began his professional career as a clinical social worker at Terkensha Associates working with children and families in outpatient therapy for four years. During this time, Mark was trained in Narrative Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, at which time he also trained colleagues and graduate students at Sacramento State University in these theoretical modalities. Mark moved to Santa Barbara, CA and served as a clinical case manager at the Devereux Foundation working with severely and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. Mark eventually moved to the mid-west where he was employed as the Program Coordinator and Behavior Specialist for the Special Education and Behavioral Disorder Program in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In time, Mark moved back to California and joined the Life Adjustment Team in 2008. |
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Kathleen joined the Team as a case manager in 2009. She attended Chapman University and Capella University obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Prior to joining the Life Adjustment Team she worked as a social worker at a psychiatric hospital for 8 years and has an extensive history working with individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders. Prior to working at the hospital, Kathleen provided one-to-one applied behavior analysis in the homes and schools of children diagnosed with autism/aspergers. Kathleen has been a member of the American Psychological Association since 2008. |
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Danette joined the Life Adjustment Team in 2009. Danette recently completed her graduate studies at California State University, Long Beach and was awarded a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in children, youth and families. Danette has worked in the mental health field providing rehabilitative and support services to older adults, youth and their families for over six years. In addition to her work at LAT, Danette continues to volunteer with agencies providing support to youth and young adults in underserved communities. |
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Suzanne graduated from Utah State University in Logan, Utah with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She earned a Master's Degree in Community Counseling from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. While at Utah State University, Suzanne received 40 hours of abuse advocacy training and served as an On-Call Domestic Violence Advocate. At Gonzaga University, Suzanne interned at a non-profit organization where she provided individual and couple's counseling. Suzanne did extensive research on eating disorders and presented at the WCA (Washington Counseling Association) conference on current treatment of eating disorders. Post graduate school, Suzanne worked with a diverse population of women with eating disorders and later with men and women with substance abuse issues. The majority of Suzanne's work has been in the substance abuse field working at a methadone clinic where she provided drug and alcohol counseling to heroin addicts. While working there, Suzanne received training in Methadone, Suboxone, Narcan, HIV and Hepatitis C. |
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Jessica received her Master's in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2008 and is actively pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She gained a broad range of experience working in community mental health centers throughout Los Angeles and Long Beach Counties, and also worked at Del Amo Hospital in both the inpatient and outpatient programs. Jessie's prior work with academic counseling and coaching of high school and college students led her to a more integrative approach to psychiatric treatment, and her desire to implement that model led her the Life Adjustment Team in 2012. Outside of her work with LAT, Jessie runs a private psychotherapy practice oriented toward teens and young adults in transition and spends time doing Pilates and hiking. |
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Robin Mohilner is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a passion and sense of purpose to help people thrive who are living with mental illness. After experiencing mania and depression at the age of sixteen and being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type 1, her identity dissolved. This was a hopeless and helpless time.In fact, her psychiatrist told her all the things she would never be in life. This angered Robin and she was determined to prove him wrong. Robin educated herself about the illness, how to prevent relapse, and how to cope and keep moving forward. As a result of extreme persistence, Robin graduated with her B.A. in psychology from UC Berkeley in 2002 and her Master’s Degree in Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute in 2006. Later she earned her license and now enjoys working with incredibly diverse populations and environments. Robin is proud to be a part of the LAT team and has her own small private practice. |
