Ryan Carruthers is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in the State of Nebraska who has been practicing for over 18 years.  He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Studies from Capella University. Ryan is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has also worked as an adjunct professor at local colleges. Ryan has provided countless continuing education classes to other addiction counselors, mental health practitioners, and peer support specialists in the State of Nebraska on topics related to harm reduction, suicide prevention, and alternatives to the 12-step programs. He is also a Certified SMART Recovery facilitator, as he started Omaha's first SMART Recovery meeting.  Ryan has created programs for Education Courses, Outpatient Programming, Intensive Outpatient Programming, Adolescent/Family Education Courses, and Residential Curriculum. At the end of the 2007-08 school year, Ryan was awarded Millard Public School’s “Expanding Horizons” Award for “Making a difference by enhancing students learning of curriculum through practical experience in the school environment.” Ryan has held various positions with CenterPointe, in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been their Chief Clinical Officer for the last three years.