Meet Our Team

Through extensive diagnostic evaluations and holistic treatment, Omega Recovery is dedicated to enhancing wellness by offering clarity, direction, and results.

Dr. Nicholas Kardaras | PH. D. | LCSW-R

Co-Founder | Chief Clinical Officer

Dr. Kardaras is an Ivy-League educated psychologist, an internationally renowned speaker, and one of the country’s foremost addiction experts. A former Clinical Professor at Stony Brook Medicine where he specialized in teaching the neurophysiology and treatment of addiction, he has also taught neuropsychology at the doctoral-level and has worked closely in developing clinical protocols with Dr. Howard Shaffer, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Director of their Division of Addiction.

He has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, the CBS Evening News, FOX & Friends, NPR, Good Day New York and has written about addiction for TIME Magazine, Scientific American, Psychology Today, Salon, The NY Daily News, and FOX News, and has been featured in Esquire, New York Magazine, VICE, and Vanity Fair. Considered a leading expert on young people and digital addiction, he is the author of “Glow Kids” (St. Martin’s Press, 2016), the seminal book on the clinical, neurological and sociological aspects of Technology Addiction (Smart Phones, Video Games, Social Media, etc.) and has clinically worked with over 1,000 teens and young people during the last 15 years. 

He has been active in advocating that screen addiction be recognized as a clinical disorder akin to substance addiction and has developed the most comprehensive treatment protocols to treat this emerging global problem.

Dr. Kardaras is also the author of “How Plato and Pythagoras Can Save Your Life” (Conari, 2011) and devotes his life to helping others find their path to recovery, healing and a life of meaning and purpose.

Dr. Kardaras is also the creator of Seahab, an intensive experiential form of nature immersion therapy. Based on the very successful evidence-based principles of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH), Seahab has proven to be very effective as an intensive intervention to help addicts shift out of self-destructive and toxic lifestyle patterns.

Dr. Kardaras has also, admittedly, lived a colorful life: he’s a former AAU National Karate champion, a recovering NYC nightclub owner and a coma survivor. Having once owned high-profile NY nightclubs where he had mingled with the likes of JFK, Jr., Uma Thurman and Tom Cruise, Dr. Kardaras emerged from that glamorous-yet-self-destructive world and discovered a healing path to his own recovery from addiction. 

He lives with his wife and twin sons between Austin, TX and Sag Harbor NY and is a frequent presenter and lecturer on the subjects of mental health, philosophy, and both substance and screen addictions.

Jon Obenoskey

Executive Director

Jon has worked in the recovery network of Austin for 17 years. He has a passion for those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, as well as those struggling with mental health issues. Jon leads with respect for the staff and clients, in order to cultivate an environment for healing. 

Cristina Vidaure

Office Administrator

Madison Hamm | LCSW

Clinical Director

Madison is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work, with a clinical focus. Before transitioning to work with adults with mental health and substance use needs, Madison worked as a behavior therapist for children on the Autism Spectrum. This led her to explore the mental health, process addiction and substance use field for adults. Madison has a passion and care for using approaches like ACT, DBT, motivational interviewing, MBSR, culturally comprehensive and competent care, as well as other approaches to assist each client she works with in finding their authentic self, strengths and hope for the future. Madison is well versed in working with clients with personality disorders, technology addiction & other process addiction, and those struggling with race/ethnicity- focused identity issues.

Madison is a Licensed Master of Social Work with a focus on mental health and accessibility to health care. Her background in children’s mental health and family work inspired her to continue her career in adult mental health. After working with children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, she wanted to expand her knowledge of family dynamics and mental health into adult mental health care and addiction.

Chandlar Coskrey | LCSW

Lead Therapist

Chandlar Coskrey is a Licensed Masters Social Worker. She received both her Bachelors and Masters from Texas State University before making the move to Austin. Her previous employment position was at Austin Police Victim Services working as a counselor for victims of sexual assault and human trafficking. Her specialties include working with clients in the LGBTQ+ community, women who are victims of sexual assault, and adults who struggle with addiction. She uses the DBT, TFCBT, and strengths-based perspective models for her therapy sessions. She loves teaching Omega’s clients psychoeducational lessons on the neurobiology of their addiction, shame resilience, and self-compassion. She joined Omega because of the passion each employee has for helping our clients, and Omega’s dedication to innovation in this field. In her own words, she says “I am honored to be a part of this team and I know we have the knowledge, skill, and drive to help you or your loved one live a healthy life.”

Nicolas Hoenes | LPC-A

Therapist

Nick is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. He received his B.S. in Psychology from Texas State University and his Master’s in Counseling and Development form Lamar University. He has a passion for helping those with a dual diagnosis and values the importance of integrated mental health approaches for those experiencing addiction. He is well versed in a variety of trauma informed modalities including Somatic Therapy, Internal Family, Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Nick’s specialties include working with the LGBTQ community, survivors of complex trauma including childhood abuse or neglect, and adults experiencing addiction.

Cynthia Hunter | LMSW

Therapist

Cynthia Hunter is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas in Austin and her Master’s Degree at the Diana Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. She has over 15 years of experience working in social services in various roles including direct care, case management, medical social work, and casework with Adult Protective Services, and she has worked with diverse populations including individuals with developmental disabilities, elderly and disabled adults, substance use, and mental health. Cynthia uses a solution’s focused approach to therapy to help clients identify and reach their goals to create a life they are excited to live. She enjoys incorporating Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing techniques into sessions. Cynthia is also a certified yoga instructor. She loves to incorporate somatic work in her practice and to treat clients holistically mind, body and spirit.

Kales Ervin | LMSW

Case Manager & Discharge Coordinator

Kales is a social worker with previous experience in an elementary school setting and in a clinical social work research setting focused on combating suicide among agriculturalists. She is driven to support people with mental health and/or addiction struggles and to provide them with the resources they need to be successful after treatment. She meets each client where they are at and empowers them to work towards their long-term goals. Kales enjoys leading groups at Omega on health and wellness, relapse prevention, and DBT skills.

Dr. Shiva Lam, MD

Psychiatry Specialist

Dr. Shiva Lam, MD is a Psychiatry Specialist in Austin, TX and has over 35 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Lam has extensive experience in Addiction & Substance Abuse and Psychotic Disorders. He graduated from Khazar University, School of Medical Science in 1988.

Ela Born | PMHNP

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Gene Kuntz II | LAc | LMT

Licensed Acupuncturist |Wellness Coach

Gene Kuntz has been in the wellness industry for 12 years. He is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, licensed massage therapist, and meditation, tai chi and qi gong instructor.

Gene pursued his Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a focus in Medical Qi gong. Early in his TCM practice, Gene worked along side practitioners at Seton McCarthy’s Community Center to develop “living well with pain” and “living well with stress.” It was there that he began to see the astounding benefits that meditation practices and acupuncture can have on one’s well-being. Through group participation in Qi gong and NADA protocol, also known as auricular acupuncture, patients who were completely desperate and hopeless due to their chronic pain were astonished and empowered when they found themselves pain free using these practices.

Gene now uses acupuncture and his experience in meditation to assist Omega clients to achieve their health and recovery goals.

Gabriella Jeffords

Admissions Director

Gabi has worked in the recovery field since 2012. She was previously the Assistant Director of sober living at Hickory Wind Ranch and has a strong background in addiction and eating disorders. Gabi has a bachelor’s in English from Colorado College and graduate-level coursework in counseling at St. Edward’s University. Originally from New York but a Texan transplant for almost 20 years, she brings her heart, intelligence and passion to ensure individualized care for every Omega Recovery client.

Jina Arendela

Admissions Specialist

Karen McCain

Housing Operations Director

Send Us a Message!

We are here to help. Contact us today and get the answers you need to start your journey to recovery!

    Get In Touch

    (512) 601-5407

    Message Us

    E-mail Us

    Visit Us

    Get Directions

    Mon-Sun

    24/7