Brenda is the owner and Administrator of The Journey Home. She opened The Journey Home in 1997 and has since then provided quality residential care to many young women for 11 successful years. She obtained her Bachelor of Art in Social Work from Southeastern Louisiana University where she graduated with honors. Brenda was awarded the B.S.W. Student of The Year from the National Association of Social Workers Louisiana Chapter. She did her internship at Livingston Youth and Family Services, where she worked with a diverse rural population. Brenda has worked in the field of substance abuse for 19 years and is experienced in many areas of the field. Her passion was to open a home for female substance abusers where they would have a safe place to recover. Her belief is that these young women must be empowered in order to have positive results in recovery. She also believes that everyone has worth and dignity and this is implemented in the philosophy of The Journey Home. Brenda specializes in the treatment of adolescent females . Prior to opening The Journey Home she wrote and implemented a grant for chemically dependent women and their children. She began her career at Baton Rouge Detox and has dedicated her life to breaking the generation to generation cycle of addiction. Brenda is known world wide as an advocate for the female specific treatment of substance abuse and continues to achieve a level of care that is the model that all others strive for.
Deborah has served as the Clinical Director of The Journey Home since April, 2004. Being the daughter of a therapist, Deborah instinctually found her talents and passions in the counseling field. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Arkansas State University and went on after to complete her Master�s Degree in Rehab Counseling in 1989. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 1992 and worked as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for several years. Deborah has over 15 years experience working with diverse resident populations including several years counseling at a psychiatric facility. Deborah�s counseling practices are guided by her belief that a counselor serves as a guide to facilitate a resident as they begin to identify what is meaningful in their lives. It is her experience that young women are often living a life of self-loathing and need assistance to gain a compassion for themselves. Deborah uses a great deal of Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioral techniques in her therapeutic approach. She has launched specialty workshops at The Journey Home, which has enhanced the treatment experience for the residents and their families. Deborah instituted the Alumni Association which offers aftercare assistance for graduates of The Journey Home The aftercare program offers support as well as individual and group guidance for the alumni as they begin to re-establish their new lives in the Denham Springs/Baton Rouge area. Because of Deborah�s vision, the Alumni Association has become a strong and powerful force in The Journey Home experience. Deborah and her husband, Michael, have three beautiful children: Christopher, 22, Bailey, 10, and Emma, 1. The Lemoine�s enjoy camping, festivals, and experiencing South Louisiana culture.
Rev. Cathy Arends, R.N., holds a B.A. in Nursing Education, M.A. in Religious Education, an M.A. in Counseling, and has four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). She is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. Chaplain Arends completed her year-long residency CPE program in the New Orleans area. She minstered at The Bridge House, The Adolescent Drop-In Center, and East Jefferson General Hospital. Rev. Arends is an accomplished speaker and is available for speaking engagements throughout Louisiana.
Ms. Joellien Sharon has come to Louisiana and joined The Journey Home staff after many years in upstate New York. She successfully completed Addictive Counselor Credential training through the Rochester New York branch of the National Council on Alcoholism. She has a BS degree from Empire State College and successfully completed the New York State exam to become certified as an International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. With many years in the field, Ms. Sharon is a highly qualified member of The Journey Home treatment team.
After working with many high school, Laine found her passion for counseling during her years in the school system working with diverse populations. She received her Master’s degree in Psychological Counseling from Nicholls State University in 2006. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2009 while working in the school system as a school counselor in the greater New Orleans area. After working with may high school students struggling with addiction, Laine made a career move to work on a detox unit in the Baton Rouge area. This led her to The Journey Home as her interest in long term treatment grew. Laine believes in Person-Centered therapy and uses Cognitive Behavioral techniques when working with clients individually and in a group setting.
Melissa graduated from Bible College in 1994 with a desire to help people find their spiritual purpose and help heal hurting families. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in General Studies in 1999. Melissa then took several years off to start her family. Four kids later she decided to continue her education with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling. Melissa graduated on 2008 with a Masters Degree in Education Counseling. She earned her NCC, National Certified Counselor, in 2009. Her LPC, Licensed Practical Counselor, will be completed in 2011.
