Bakersfield Chemical Dependency Staff - Aspire Counseling Services

BAKERSFIELD ADDICTION STAFF

Jessica Cason

Executive Director (CADCII ICADC SUDCCII)

Jessica Cason is a Taft native who has been in the alcohol and drug counseling field since 2011. Due to struggling with alcoholism herself, Jessica has always had a passion for helping others in recovery, especially the young adult population. To this end, she completed the Drug and Alcohol Studies program at Cal State University Bakersfield in 2013 and currently holds the title of Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC-II) and Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC) under the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) and Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCCII-II) under the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) and is on the DUI provider list. Jessica has worked with diverse populations in both individual and group settings at a residential and intensive outpatient treatment level before joining the Aspire team. In the past Jessica has held the titles of Detox Program Manager, Partial Hospitalization Program Director, Intensive Outpatient Program Director and currently is the Executive Director of Aspire Counseling Services for Bakersfield. In Jessica’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their 5 children, participating in community recovery programs and sleeping in.

Lauren Kirk Murry

APCC, RADT, MA in Clinical Counseling

Lauren Kirk Murry moved to Bakersfield at age 10 and has enjoyed living in the Bakersfield community ever since. Lauren graduated with her BA from California State University, Bakersfield, and her MA in Clinical Counseling from California School of Professional Psychology. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and utilizes this training, as well as mindfulness and meditation, in her substance abuse work. Lauren has worked with children and adolescents in traditional social skills groups and utilized yoga for social and emotional skills groups. She is currently an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT). Lauren enjoys reading a good book, practicing yoga in the sunshine, spending time with her family at the beach, and doing her part to make the community more connected.

Krysten Fielder

Admissions Counselor (RADT)

Krysten Fielder is a Pismo Beach native who moved to Bakersfield in 2017. Krysten is an Aspire Counseling Services® alumnus who decided she wanted to give back by becoming a counselor and helping those still battling the disease of addiction after completing the Aspire program to treat her own alcoholism. Krysten completed the Drug and Alcohol Studies program at Cal State University Bakersfield in 2020. Krysten has been working with a variety of demographics in the community since 2018, but in 2020 began working in Admissions which puts her in contact with the families and protentional clients from the very beginning offering guidance, referrals, setting up appointments, consultations, and intakes. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and hanging out by the pool with her children.

Gage Horn

Admissions Counselor (CADCI)

Gage Horn is a native to Bakersfield CA. Gage is an Aspire Counseling Services alumnus who decided he wanted to give back by becoming a counselor to help those still battling addiction. Gage has been in the drug and alcohol counseling field since 2019. Gage Completed the CSUB Drug and Alcohol Studies program in 2020. In 2021 he became state certified as a CADC1. With ambition Gage began working in Admissions in 2021, which put him in contact with the families and potential clients from the very beginning, offering guidance, referrals, setting up appointments, consultations, and intakes. Gage enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and giving back to the community, spending his free time organizing events and supporting local meetings.

Rhyan Harris

SUD Counselor (BS in Human Services, SUDCC, CADC III, ICADC)

Rhyan Harris is a Bakersfield native who has been in the drug and alcohol counseling field since 2015, volunteering throughout his education with diverse populations before joining the Aspire team. Having dealt with his mother-in-law struggling with Alcoholism and her unfortunate passing away from her addiction, Rhyan has always had a passion for helping others in recovery and wanted to save others from losing loved ones from addiction.

Rhyan completed his Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with a minor in Child and Family Development in 2020. He is currently a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC III), Substance Abuse Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC), an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC).

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids and doing various family activities.

Charles Vancill

Substance Use Disorder Counselor (RADT)

Charles Vancill is a Bakersfield native. Before entering the addictions field, Charles worked in corrections (private and with the state for almost 15 years). Charles saw firsthand the effects drugs and alcohol had on people and how adversely a person’s life could be affected. After being injured on the job and subsequently medically retired, Charles found himself on a path to rediscovering who he was as a person. Charles decided he wanted a career in which he could affect real and meaningful change in people’s lives. In January of 2019, Charles enrolled in the drug and alcohol studies program at CSUB extended university, subsequently completing the program in May of 2020. During that same time period, Charles became a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) with the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). Charles started interning at Aspire Counseling Services in Feb. of 2020 and was subsequently hired on as a counselor in July of 2020. Charles enjoys spending time with family and friends. Charles has found that maintaining deep connections with those around him is essential to his well-being.

Cheyenne Bond

Substance Use Disorder Counselor (CADC I) (She/Her)

Cheyenne Bond is a Bakersfield native who has been in the alcohol and drug counseling field since 2019. Due to friends and family members struggling with addictions, Cheyenne found a passion for helping those who are going through addiction. She is passionate about helping those in the LGBTQIA+ community so they have a safe space to work on themself and their addiction. Cheyenne is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC I) and believes that human connection and sharing experiences is vital in recovery. During her free time, Cheyenne likes to spend time with her boyfriend and their pitbull and live music.

Lisa Trino

SUD Counselor, (RADT) (She/Her)

Lisa grew up in Kings County and suffered from substance abuse and alcoholism for many years. She came to Bakersfield in 2006 to attend rehabilitation. Since then, Lisa has been a part of the recovery community in Bakersfield. Lisa watched the disease destroy families for many years. Wanting to help people and give back to her community, she enrolled at Cal State University, Bakersfield in the drug and alcohol studies program, graduating in 2020. After graduating, Lisa became a counselor at Aspire Counseling Services. In her free time, she enjoys live music, comedy, and her large family.

Annamarie O’Rourke

Administrative Assistant

Annamarie O’Rourke, a life-long Bakersfield native, has made the decision to give back to her community. Soon after graduating from Bakersfield High School, Annamarie went to work for the Kern County Sheriff’s Department (2008-2021). After a 13-year long career; one in which she had been imbedded in and surrounded by the aftermath of addiction (overdoses, drunk drivers, and suicides), Mrs. O’Rourke decided that she needed to do something more. Without hesitation, Annamarie knew exactly where to go to play her part, Aspire Counseling Services.

As a recovering addict herself, Annamarie has a passion for helping people who struggle with addiction. She attended Promises Malibu in 2005, and to this point, has remained sober, healthy, and happier than ever. Annamarie continues to participate in 12 step meetings and works with several sponsors who assist women in their recovery program. Annamarie dedicates her personal time to enjoying her husband and children, traveling, and loves to watch her children play and grow in the world of competitive basketball.

Cynthia Gaona

SUD Intern Counselor

Cynthia was born in a small military town in Okinawa Japan, was raised in Oceanside California, and for the last 18 years has called Bakersfield her home. She is the youngest child of five siblings. She knew very early in life that she had a calling to help others and an unwavering compassion for those in need. She currently holds an AA in Human Services, Psychology, Substance Abuse and Mental Health as well as awaiting her RADT. Being able to effectively contribute to the community from different aspects was her ultimate educational goal. She has contributed many volunteer hours with various organizations within our community and has years of experience working with at risk adolescents.

Her passion for working with clients who suffer from substance abuse issues, specifically adolescents, derives from her own troubles as a young adult. She began her internship with Aspire in June of 2021 and quickly became an official part of the team.