Board of Directors
The American Foundation for Addiction Research is united by a belief that addiction is one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time. Through leadership, expertise, and a shared commitment to innovation, our board members help drive research, collaboration, and advocacy efforts that move us closer to prevention, treatment, and lasting recovery for millions affected by addiction worldwide.
Patrick Carnes
Founder
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Terry Crews
Board Member
Author, action-movie hero, sitcom star, children’s book illustrator, advertising pitchman, playable video game character, talent show host, high-end furniture designer, and human rights activist.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Chris Cordaro
Board Member
Chris Cordaro is retired Partner, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of RegentAtlantic,
New Jersey’s largest independent wealth management firm. Over his 35 year career he was instrumental in building RegentAtlantic into one of the top independent advisory firms in the country. He has been a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg Business, Nightly Business Report, and is quoted regularly in media, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Chris has been named numerous times as on of the Top 100 Independent Advisor by Barron’s. In addition to a BS in Economics, an MS in Financial Planning, and an MBA in Finance, he holds Chartered Financial Analyst® certificates.
Chris has been an active member of the AFAR Leadership Group since 2016
Kervins Clement
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Kim Litton
Board Member
Kim Litton, LCSW, CSAT is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, author, and speaker with more than 15 years of clinical experience helping individuals and families recover from addiction, trauma, and unhealthy relationship patterns.
She is the founder of KL Counseling, a private practice in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she specializes in substance use disorders, intimacy disorders, attachment, and complex trauma.
With more than two decades of personal recovery, Kim brings a unique perspective that combines clinical expertise with lived experience. She is the author of I Do It for Her: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption from Sex, Love, and Substances and is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding addiction while helping others find lasting healing and hope.
As a member of the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Addiction Research, Kim is committed to advancing evidence-based research, promoting innovation in addiction treatment, and expanding access to education and recovery resources. She believes meaningful change happens when science, compassionate care, and lived experience work together to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction.
Lewis Goldberg
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Tom Werder
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Sabrina Stoorman
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Timothy D. Stein
Board Chair
Tim Stein is a co-founder of Willow Tree Counseling which is an outpatient treatment center for sexual addiction, partner betrayal, and trauma.
With over a decade of experience in the sexual addiction, partner betrayal, and trauma fields, Tim is a significant contributor to the treatment community and frequently presents at national conferences. He co-hosts the podcast Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, produced the online video series Introduction to Sex Addiction and Partner Betrayal, and is the author of Gifts of Recovery: Daily Meditations for Men and Women in Recovery from Sex Addiction. Tim’s professional affiliations include The International Institute for Addiction and Trauma Professionals, The Association of Partners of Sex Addiction Trauma Professionals and The American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Janie Lacy
Board Member
Dr. Janie Lacy is the Founder & CEO of Life Counseling Solutions, a renowned trauma psychotherapist and entrepreneur with an unwavering passion for helping individuals overcome life’s most challenging obstacles.
As the visionary behind the transformative Woman Redeemed program, Dr. Lacy offers a lifeline to women seeking to reclaim their lives from the grips of relationship trauma.
Dr. Lacy’s exceptional work has not gone unnoticed. She has been featured on countless television programs such as CNN’s Headline News, Good Morning America, Court TV, TMZ Live and UK’s Channel 5 documentary Winners and Losers, and is the expert therapist for TLC’s The Last Resort, sharing her invaluable insights with global audiences. Dr. Lacy shares her passion for her work in her podcast show, Let’s Talk About It with Janie Lacy, and her TEDx Talk, Breaking the Chain of Unhealthy Relationships.
Stephanie Emde
Board Member
Stephanie Emde is a dedicated clinical leader specializing in addiction treatment, with a primary focus on sex addiction.
She has served as the Clinical Director at Gentle Path at The Meadows for three years, where she oversees comprehensive treatment programs for individuals struggling with various addictions. Stephanie is highly trained in evidence-based and trauma-informed therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through The Beck Institute, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through EMDRIA, Certified Sex Addiction Therapy (CSAT) through IITAP, and Post-Induction Therapy (PIT) through The Meadows.
Dr. Emde holds a Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology (PsyD) and continues to advocate for innovative, research-driven approaches in addiction and mental health treatment.
Tesa Saulmon
Board Member
Tesa Saulmon, LMHC, CSAT, is the founder and owner of Root to Bloom Therapy in Pensacola, Florida, where she specializes in betrayal trauma, infidelity recovery, and the treatment of compulsive sexual behavior.
Tesa serves on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Addiction Research, where she co-chairs the research committee and champions efforts to advance the clinical understanding of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed frameworks like attachment theory and emotionally focused therapy, paired with a deep commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care. Beyond her clinical practice, Tesa hosts the podcast When the Light Breaks In and creates content that brings hope and clarity to those navigating betrayal and recovery. She describes herself as a wounded healer, bringing both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work. Through her leadership on AFAR's research committee, she is committed to bridging emerging research with real-world clinical practice.
Chris Chandler
Board Member
Chris Chandler, LMHC, LPCC, EMDR, CSAT-S CMAT, is a licensed therapist, coach, and Clinical Advisor at Relay Health.
He is also the founder of Breath to Bones, a national program helping men and women heal from compulsive and addictive behaviors through faith, community, and neuroscience-informed recovery practices. Early in his career, he trained under Dr. Patrick Carnes, a pioneer in the field of sexual addiction, and partnered with him in groundbreaking research on the genetic links to addiction. Over the past 20 years, he has led thousands through individual and group recovery experiences. His mission is simple: to restore people to wholeness by integrating clinical insight with authentic, Spirit-filled community because true recovery happens in relationship.
Melissa Goldberg
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Michael Lazar
Board Member
Dr. Patrick Carnes is the founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows.
With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, he has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research authoring over thirty books on the subject. He also pioneered the founding of IITAP, a program for certifying sex addiction therapists. His professional organization memberships include: the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the American Psychological Association; the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors; the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health; the National Council on Family Relations; and the American Foundation for Addiction Research.
Katie Nolin
Board Member
is the Co-Founder of Meridian Health in Reno, Nevada, where she has developed one of Northern Nevada's leading outpatient behavioral health organizations, including the region's first Mental Health Urgent Care.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Katie is a speaker, consultant, writer, and educator who provides training to healthcare organizations, municipalities, first responders, and business leaders on addiction, trauma, leadership resilience, emotional intelligence, crisis response, and organizational wellbeing. She is passionate about translating research into practical strategies that strengthen clinicians, organizations, and communities.
As a member of the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Addiction Research, Katie is committed to advancing scientific research, increasing public awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting initiatives that improve the understanding, prevention, and treatment of sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. She believes that meaningful collaboration between researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community leaders is essential to shaping the future of treatment of sexual addiction and improving the lives of those affected by it.
Ann McCrea
Board Member
Anne, for 34 years you have served as a Registered Nurse, spending the latter half of your career working in public schools. During that time, you focused your continuing education on becoming a certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist in Education, and during the pandemic you became a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach.
Both paths deepened your own journey of recovery from betrayal trauma. With another trauma coach, you developed a recovery model for betrayed partners that has since supported a community of more than 4,000 women, and you created and facilitate WORTH, a weekly support group focused on healing and post-traumatic growth after betrayal trauma.
As a betrayed partner yourself, you believe the strongest research connects directly with survivors' lived experiences, and you hope AFAR's work will bring formal diagnostic recognition to sex addiction, reducing stigma and expanding treatment access for addicts and partners alike.
Outside this work, you are an artist and writer in the Pacific Northwest, a certified therapy dog team with one of your two goldendoodles, and co-chair of an annual auction for the Powell-Drescher Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
