Dr. Amanda Shumow opened Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, a six bed, dual diagnosis program in early April, 2002. Over the course of seventeen years, Visions has grown into a multi-tiered continuum of care spanning residential, extended care, outpatient and private practice services. Through her expertise and unparalleled dedication, she is helping teenagers and their families recover and heal from substance use, trauma and mental health disorders. In order to provide support for struggling adolescents and their families, Dr. Shumow and her husband Chris created Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, a world-class treatment program with an unprecedented level of mental health care.
As a young adult, Dr. Shumow worked in a renowned adult treatment center and quickly realized she wanted to devote her energy and experience to work with adolescents. Historically, the options for parents were limited and defaulted to separating the family versus putting it back together. Both Amanda and Chris were steadfast in their mission to create a program with an unrivaled clinical experience geared toward healing the entire family system. Years later, both program and team withstand the test of time. The longevity of the staff sets Visions apart from its contemporaries with many team members tenure exceeding a decade.
Part of the successful growth of Visions is due in large part to Amanda’s deeply-rooted belief that everyone has a greater potential for change. Dr. Shumow is continuously examining current programming to ensure evidence-based practices are upheld and new treatment modalities are being utilized. For over seventeen years, Visions has led the industry by growing and changing to best meet the needs of their clients.
For the last several years, Amanda has been a student. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a Masters in Clinical Psychology and most recently, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Additionally, Amanda is a Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor Level 3 (CADC-III), in recognition of her advanced abilities as a Counselor. Amanda’s academic dedication is infectious and she is always encouraging and supporting her staff to pursue higher degrees and certifications. For the past eighteen years, Amanda has grown her family as well. She and her husband Chris are parents to five children of their own, ages eighteen months to eighteen years, and an additional twenty-one year old bonus child who now works at Visions. Needless to say, Chris and Amanda are intimately aware of how difficult parenting can be.
Dr. Shumow is not only heavily involved in the day-to-day management of Visions, but also available to any staff member, client or parent in need. This open line of communication with the owners at Visions is unique and further punctuates the differences when parents and professionals are choosing programs.
