Our Providers

In addition to her work at KAV Health Group, Dr. Bower is also a medical expert with the Social Security Administration. She graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo with an M.D. in 1995. Since then, she has practiced extensively in internal, occupational, and addiction medicine. Dr. Bower lives in northern Ohio with her family.

Christie L. Watson Schmitt is an addiction/substance abuse counselor in Ohio with special training and skill in diagnosing and treating addiction and mental health disorders responsible for addiction. As an addiction/substance abuse counselor, she performs diagnosis and treatment of addiction to alcohol and drugs. Addiction/substance abuse counseling is a medical specialty dedicated to researching and treating all types of substance addiction disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated by addiction/substance abuse counselors include alcohol and drug addiction. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by addiction/substance abuse counselors include conducting patient interviews, administering drug tests, creating treatment plans, participating in therapy sessions, and referring patients to other medical specialists as needed.

Brittany completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology, specializing in substance abuse from Perdue University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology, specializing in addiction from Perdue University and a Master’s Degree in rehabilitation counseling from Grand Canyon University. Brittany has more than eight years of experience in providing counseling services to both the mental health and substance use population, as well as more than four years of experience working as a clinical supervisor providing guidance and supervision to others in the field. She is also on the STAR Behavioral Health Providers for Military Personnel.

Sarah has been working in the field since 2015. She received her Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) license from the state of Ohio in 2017 and earned an Associate’s Degree from Ohio Christian University in 2019. Prior to coming to KAV, Sarah worked at treatment centers in Ohio and Kentucky. Sarah began working in the field as a recovery support specialist before getting her CDCA and was a SUD housing manager for a treatment facility. Sarah also spent 2 years serving as a representative on the Portsmouth Municipal Court’s Drug Court in Scioto County, Ohio. Sarah maintains strong ties to the recovery community on the local, state and national level. Sarah enjoys working in the field and has a passion for helping others. Her greatest satisfaction is seeing clients succeed and reach their full potential.

Dorothy R McNeil (Dottie) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 18 years of experience specializing in mood disorders, depression, crisis stabilization and management, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Dottie treats patients between the ages of 16 through the lifespan utilizing reality therapy, person-centered, trauma-informed, cultural literature, and cognitive behavioral therapy in her approach with clients. Dottie has experience with counseling adolescents, adults, seniors, families, couples, and groups in both clinical, community, and outpatient settings.

In her clinical work, Dottie is well versed in both traditional therapeutic techniques as well as evidence-based practices, thinking for a change, trauma-informed practices and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). In her free time, Dottie enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves reading and traveling whenever she can. Dottie has a Master’s Degree of Philosophy in Forensic Psychology from Walden University, a Master Degree of Science in education and allied professions from University of Dayton. She received her Bachelor of Science in sociology from Urbana University.

Rachael completed her BSN at Ohio University and her MSN at Purdue University. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and The American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Her background in addiction medicine began many years ago while working with the first Drug Court in Butler County. Rachael is an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and has a passion for sharks. You’ll find that she’s always coming up with creative ways to celebrate the greatest week of the year — Shark Week.

Since 2021, Angela has been supporting KAV Health Group clients on their journey to recovery. Angela began working as a substance abuse counselor for teens and adults, with a primary focus on female clients. She has an associate degree in chemical dependency, mental health, and developmental disabilities from Columbus State in Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated cum laude in the field of applied science.

Engel is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing in 1995, after receiving her Bachelors of Nursing in 1994.  She has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. She has extensive training and experience in working with clients with mental disorders as well as substance use disorders. She has a passion for working with clients in their recovery journey. Additionally, she has been a buprenorphine provider since 2018. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Certified  Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatry.