Sponsored Facility
The Freedom Center
202 Perry Pkwy #5, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20878
The Freedom Center is an intensive outpatient program that treats individuals with various addiction types by offering a flexible and affordable solution while minimizing the disruption of daily life. We understand that residential treatment or an inpatient setting may not be the right fit for those who have school, work or family responsibilities. At The Freedom Center, clients can live at home or in our exclusive sober living environment. During outpatient treatment, clients receive therapy while continuing their daily life interactions. Our goal is to treat all the underlying causes of addiction including trauma and mental health issues.
Facility Highlights
- Coaching from a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
- Individual therapy sessions
- Group counseling
- Holistic treatment
- Psychiatric and medical services
- Legal support/Case management
- Introductions to outside support networks
- Relapse prevention strategies
- Multi-family groups and Education
Specialization
Client & Family Support Groups
Group therapy is a vital component of addiction recovery treatment, considered as important and effective (sometimes even more so) than individual therapy. Benefits include reducing isolation and loneliness and providing the opportunity to learn from others in recovery. In the addiction setting, group therapy is run by trained professionals who guide participants toward a shared goal of recovery.Holistic Therapy
Facilities that offer “holistic therapy” see and treat patients in the context of their entire lives and health status. They treat the “whole person,” not just the addiction.Trauma & Associative Awareness Therapy (AAT)
Associative Awareness Therapy (AAT) uses the brain’s innate ability to adapt to change in a healing way, essentially “retraining” the brain to respond differently to familiar memories of trauma or pain.12-Step
The term “12 Step Program” describes a way to recover from addiction that is based on the model developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Many drug and alcohol treatment centers base their treatment on 12 steps – the first three of which are situational, the next four addressing the practical issues created by the addiction, followed by two steps focused on making amends for hurting others. Steps 10 and 11 involve a deeper examination of the previous steps and the final step is focused on helping others avoid and recover from addiction.Intensive Outpatient
Patients who undergo intensive outpatient treatment continue to live at home and sometimes go to school or work while participating in a highly structured treatment protocol that is focused on ending substance abuse. Programs vary in terms of how much treatment patients receive, how often and for how long. Some facilities design individualized intensive outpatient treatment programs.Outpatient
Outpatient treatment describes all addiction treatment that is not residential. Patients live at home while undergoing rehab.
Facility Settings
- Average Location/Amenities
Meet the Staff
David Semanco, MS, MAC, CAADC, CSAC, CAC-ADClinical DirectorDavid Semanco is a Master Addiction Counselor specializing in the application of complementary therapies to enhance the addiction treatment and recovery process. He transitioned into the addiction treatment field in 2002 following successful careers in information technology and music. He continues to incorporate technology and music into clinical practice as evidenced by his work with neurofeedback and music therapy. He is dedicated to minimizing the stigma of addiction and is an ardent proponent of innovative treatment methods which are underutilized in conventional treatment settings but which have demonstrated success through evidenced-based research. David has worked in a hospital, residential, and outpatient settings providing direct care, leading clinical teams, and developing programs for adolescents and adults. David is President of the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP) and has served on the Board of Directors of VAAP since 2010. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Summer Institute for Addiction Studies (VSIAS), one of the premier training venues for addiction professionals in the Mid-Atlantic, and served as Chair of that organization in 2015 and 2017. He also sits on the Board of Directors for NAADAC, the international Association for Addiction Professionals and for the R1 Foundation, which provides financial assistance for recovery learning and technology tools, community connections, and housing scholarships. As a noted speaker, David has presented training sessions and workshops for a variety of organizations, including United Airlines, West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Virginia Counselors Association, George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine, Chesapeake Health Education Program, George Mason University, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. David holds a Master of Science in Human Services with an emphasis in Addiction Treatment. He has studied under neurofeedback pioneers Sue and Siegfried Othmer of EEG Info (Woodland Hills, CA), Dr. Richard Soutar of the New Mind Center (Atlanta, GA), and Bill Scott of BrainPaint (Pacific Palisades, CA).
Dr. Mark Illumanti, MDMedical DirectorMark joined the medical team at The Freedom Center in September 2018 as the Medical Director. He received his medical degree in Mexico with further certification from Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey. He then attended New York Medical College for his residency training. Prior to being hired at The Freedom Center, he spent over twenty years working in the field of addictions treatment, and has been involved in nearly every treatment setting, from outpatient to residential to maintenance management. As the Medical Director, Mark works with the staff to coordinate the appropriate level of care for each individual client. He works directly with the clients on management of medical issues both related to and separate from their addiction, ensuring comprehensive health care plans that ensure our clients’ chances at recovery. What he has found to be most rewarding about working in the addictions treatment field is being able to help suffering addicts and alcoholics to realize their fullest potential.
Sherry McAtee, MHA, MS, BSN, CRNP- PMHPsychiatric Nurse PractitionerSherry joined the medical team at The Freedom Center in September 2018 as the centers Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy with a concentration in Nursing. Prior to working with The Freedom Center, Sherry spent years working in addiction treatment and has a professional military education and worked at the Air Force Medical Operations Center. As the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Sherry works with the clients to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications to dual diagnosis clients in the intensive outpatient program and aftercare groups. In addition, she manages Vivitrol clients and works with The Freedom Center team on the management of clients’ medical issues related to addiction.
Anya Kholodnov, LCSW-CGroup TherapistAnya is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration, mental health specialization, and substance abuse sub-specialization. She graduated from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and has years of experience providing direct services to individuals and groups with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Anya is dedicated to building rapport with clients and establishing a relationship of trust. Anya treats clients using a holistic approach incorporating experiential, cognitive, behavioral and psychoanalytical theory and modalities. Anya keeps a strong focus on addressing triggers, underlying issues, building and accomplishing goals, addiction education and connection to supports. She brings experience in working with addiction, trauma and LGBT issues with an individual, group, and families.