About Us
Spirit & Associates is an organiztion dedicated to educating and assisting families, friends and professionals to help those "in need of help" but may not wish to be helped.
S.P.I.R.I.T stands for: Special People Inspiring Recovery In Time
Sometimes people make the mistake of believing that "We," the Staff of Spirit & Associates are the “special people.” This is not the intent or what actually occurs.
The truly “special” people are those family members and friends who care enough to have the courage to be involved, to be willing to take action even when action may not be easy. To be willing to do what may be necessary to help the individual in distress even when they may not wish to receive help.
Those who choose “to be part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.” These are the truly “Special People.”
Along with their academic qualifications, professional training and life experience they afford their clients and families, Penny Pennachi and Gene Middleton recognize the need to offer and maintain high integrity while serving in the capacity of interventionists.
Penny and Gene are certified interventionist and addiction counselors. Therefore, they abide by the credentialing requirements and Code of Ethics of that governing board to ensure the highest of standards in the field of service they offer.
Team Interventionists Approach
Both have extensive experience with conducting interventions independently, with a combined experience in excess of forty years. While working as “independent” interventionist we were successful at getting the
client to accept treatment at the first meeting approximately seventy percent of the time. Over the past fourteen years we have found by working together, as a Team, our overall success on first time meetings with our clients has increased to better than ninety percent.
For more information and a comparison of the single interventionist approach versus the Team Interventionists approach please click here.
Penny Pennachi and Gene Middleton, highly recognized for their effectiveness utilizing the Team Approach, shared their expertise with other Addiction Professionals and Clinicians in an article published by an addiction field magazine dedicated to outlining what’s working in services for people with addictive disorders.
Chad Shaeffer's primary professional mission is to play a compassionate role in facilitating the process of recovery for individuals and families struggling with addictive disorders. Additionally, Chad specializes in the conducting of (5329) court custody evaluations.
Accordingly, Chad has worked in the field of Drug and Alcohol Therapy for approximately 20 years. His experience entails a variety of treatment settings: correctional institutions, outpatient treatment facilities, and inpatient treatment facilities. And his experience entails a variety of positions: Clinical Director, Drug/Alcohol Counselor, Family Counselor, Spiritual Counselor, Philosophical/Existential Counselor, and Program Coordinator.
Chad holds degrees in psychology, philosophy, and theology, and he is a certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Based on his education, years of hands-on experience, and personal background, Chad has gained a profound understanding of recovery.
