“Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.”
A proud addition to the Brookdale team, Dawn Heimerle joins us as Clinical Counselor with several years of experience and a vast knowledge of substance use disorder and trauma treatment. Originally from Staten Island, NY, Dawn has lived in the beautiful Pocono Mountains for the past 11 years.
A graduate of Walden University, Dawn obtained her MS in Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Trauma in 2014. Before graduating, Dawn worked as a substitute teacher for special education, a therapeutic support staff (TSS) for childrenand a case manager. Upon graduation, she began her career in the treatment industry as a substance abuse and mental health therapist, while also developing an outpatient program in Scranton, PA which helped both adults and adolescents.
While Dawn originally planned to work with veterans who struggle with PTSD, she made the move to drug and alcohol treatment, as addiction and trauma often go hand-in-hand. Alongside her professional and educational experience, Dawn has seen the impact of substance abuse first-hand, as various family members have struggled with addiction over the years.
Outside of work, Dawn enjoys camping and going to the beach with her two daughters, as well as meditation and yoga. As a clinical counselor for Brookdale, she hopes to help her patients during their healing process. She says, “Through my personal and professional experiences with addiction, I am able to help the patient find the root cause of their use and assist them in repairing relationships during the process.”