Founder & Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Courtney Tracy, LCSW, PsyD
A nationally recognized clinician, Dr. Tracy built High Tide around a simple conviction: people in crisis deserve both clinical rigor and genuine human warmth.
Read full profileAbout / The Team
The people doing the work beside you.
Meet the clinical team behind High Tide mental health treatment — licensed therapists and psychiatry for PHP and IOP, small by design, low caseloads on purpose.
Executive Director
Mikaela Karpinski, LCSW, C-DBT, EMDR Trained
I am the team’s executive director. I am deeply passionate about helping people find lasting personal care, meaningful reconnection, and a treatment program that makes sense. I help our program and client experience thrive by balancing humanistic care and clinical expertise. If you are reading this, please know that all the hard work it takes to find healing is worth it. You are worth it. Outside of work, I spend time with my cats Squidward and Jelly (yes, there is a SpongeBob theme going on) and with my husband.
Program Director
Amber Shaw, SUDRC
Amber shapes each client’s path through the program — the schedule, the groups, the milestones — with deep experience in recovery care.
Therapist
Casey O’Brien, AMFT
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California Lutheran University and completed two master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, the second with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. My clinical experience has focused almost entirely on treating individuals with mental health and substance use disorders across multiple levels of care. My approach is based on the idea that much of our behavior is driven by unconscious patterns practiced for years — before lasting change can occur, we first need to learn how to pause. Certified in clinical hypnosis and informed by the Human Givens Model, I work collaboratively to identify unmet emotional needs, strengthen internal resources, and process trauma that often underlies compulsive behaviors.
Therapist
Emery Jones, AMFT
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with three years of experience supporting individuals through dual-diagnosis treatment, residential facilities, and outpatient care. My practice is rooted in a holistic, humanistic approach — specializing in Narrative Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help people reshape their personal stories while building practical mindfulness and emotion regulation skills. Outside of session, I stay grounded by hiking, running, and spending quality time with family.
Therapist
Alison Vartanian, AMFT
I earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University and have been practicing therapy for the past two years. I believe in meeting clients where they are — whether that means a gentle, supportive approach or more direct guidance tailored to their needs. I am especially passionate about helping individuals heal from trauma and am EMDR trained. I also enjoy working with couples and families through an Emotionally Focused Therapy lens. Outside of therapy, I prioritize self-care through yoga and time at the beach.
Clinical Therapist
Faiza Sheikh, LCSW
Faiza is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR-certified therapist, somatic trauma practitioner, and breathwork facilitator with over a decade of experience supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, addiction recovery, relationship challenges, and mental health. Her work integrates EMDR with breathwork, mindfulness, somatic healing, and nervous system regulation. She believes healing is about reconnecting with the wisdom of the body and the truth of who you are beneath survival patterns — not becoming someone new.
PS
Lead Case Manager
Paris Supry, CADC
I am our lead case manager with over four years of experience in treatment, supporting individuals through mental health and recovery-related challenges. As a CADC-I certified professional with five years of sobriety, I understand firsthand how important connection, support, and authenticity can be in the healing process. I strive to bring humor, honesty, and a down-to-earth approach — creating a safe environment where clients feel comfortable being fully themselves. Outside of work, I enjoy time with my wife, friends, getting tattoos, movies, and life with my two cats and dog.
Case Manager
Hayley, RADT
Hayley serves as one of our case managers and specialists, with ten years in the behavioral health field. Her passion for helping others is rooted in her own lived experience overcoming an eating disorder — through which she discovered recovery, community, self-acceptance, and the freedom to live authentically. Her approach is grounded in compassion, authenticity, and DBT. Whether facilitating groups or working one-on-one, she strives to create an environment where clients feel empowered, develop practical coping skills, and reconnect with their own strengths.
Operations Manager
Adrian Rivas
I am our Operations Manager, with a passion for supporting both people and the systems that help them thrive. Working in the mental health and recovery field is more than a career for me — it’s a calling. I am committed to operational excellence so our team can focus on delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me with my family — a proud parent to an adventurous baby boy and two cats — recharging through music and long walks to the beach.
Our values
What guides every clinical day at High Tide.
Tap a value to read the full commitment behind it.
We lead with honesty and create space for people to exist freely.
We believe in bringing our full humanity — our pain, joys, humor, honesty, and expertise — to the table with you. Our purpose is to care for you with sincere intention. You deserve a team that values their full self so we can help you discover your truest self.
Talk to the team directly.
Your first call is answered by a clinician — not a call center.