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

Nicholas Hoenes | M.Ed., LPC

Clinical Director

Nick is a Licensed Professional Counselor. 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.

Kales Ervin | LMSW

Lead Therapist

Kales is a Licensed Masters Social Worker. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and her Masters from Texas State University. Before becoming a therapist at Omega Recovery, Kales’s previous social work experiences included case management and school social work. She is driven to help individuals with all types of mental health challenges including those recovering from complex trauma, substance use, process addictions, and other mental health diagnoses. In therapy sessions, Kales uses a range of approaches such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

Noel Vanier | LMSW

Therapist

Noel is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s in Social Work from Barry University in Florida, where she studied under a trauma-informed curriculum. Her experience spans working with individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders, serving underserved populations in community mental health settings, addressing complex social, medical, and psychiatric needs in a hospital emergency department, and counseling children with trauma in lockdown facilities.

Noel integrates a holistic, mind-body approach to treatment, blending modalities of experiential psychology, attachment theory, somatic work, Gestalt therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Trauma Informed-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT). Believing healing happens in community, she fosters transformation through shared experiences and diverse perspectives, uncovering blind spots and broadening views. Noel sees and treats people, not as isolated individuals, but valued beings to be recognized, listened to and respected as members of a broader integrated community.

A’Landra Sarles | MA, LPC Associate, LCDC-I

Therapist

A’Landra Sarles is a compassionate and dedicated mental health professional with a strong background in both addiction counseling and clinical mental health. She holds two Master of Arts degrees from the University of the Cumberlands—one in Addiction Studies and the other in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Additionally, A’Landra earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), A’Landra integrates a Person-Centered approach with Trauma-Informed and Integrative Methods to provide holistic and effective care for her clients. She is committed to empowering individuals through a supportive, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship, while addressing the unique complexities of trauma and mental health issues.

Currently an LPC Associate and LCDC-I, A’Landra is passionate about helping clients navigate the challenges of addiction and mental health, guiding them towards sustainable recovery and overall well-being. Her approach fosters healing and growth, ensuring that each client’s experience is tailored to their specific needs and strengths.

Avree Koffman | LMSW

Discharge Coordinator/Group Facilitator

Avree is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over a decade of experience supporting individuals from diverse communities. Since 2018, she has been working to empower Austinites toward self-sufficiency and resilience. Her approach combines person-centered, trauma-informed care with relational-cultural frameworks, Internal Family Systems therapy, and expressive modalities like art and somatic therapy. Her background includes facilitating therapeutic groups in juvenile detention settings, supporting housing stability as a case manager, and providing counseling to individuals affected by the criminal justice system. She is passionate about the transformative power of relationships and the lasting impact of holistic healing to create meaningful, sustainable change in the lives of those she serves.

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.

Karen McCain

Housing Operations Director

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