Welcome to our Cumberland Heights Blog. Here you will find inspirational real-life stories, addiction and recovery resources, program highlights and more.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness you might develop after you witness or experience something dangerous, frightening or upsetting. PTSD symptoms can start immediately or after a delay of weeks or months. Trauma causes your innate fight-or-flight response to go into overdrive. As a result, you will feel nervous...
Many Americans use alcohol to relax, loosen up or relieve social anxiety while overlooking how dangerous it can be. Routine drinking carries a risk of addiction and can also cause organ damage, including to your brain. As we observe Alzheimer's Awareness Month, here’s what you need to know about...
When talking about someone who has an addiction or mental illness, you’ve probably heard statements like “He’s an addict” or “She is so bipolar”. People making these statements often mean no harm. However, how we phrase things can have unintended consequences. At Cumberland Heights, we use person-first language to...
Summer is a time of year typically associated with positive things like vacations, cookouts and warm weather. However, some people’s mental health begins to suffer in the summer – a condition known as seasonal affective disorder, or major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern. If you dread summer’s arrival, SAD...
Since alcohol is legal, mainstream and easy to find, people tend to forget how dangerous it is. Alcohol is an addictive drug that is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Even heavy drinkers who do not die of alcohol-related causes can still experience health problems...
Every day, you feel physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Your motivation and productivity are at all-time lows, and you’re moving through life on autopilot. This loss of energy and enthusiasm doesn’t mean you’re lazy – it means you’re living with burnout. What Is Burnout? There is a limit to how much...
People who are battling a substance use disorder alongside an existing mental health issue face unique challenges in the recovery process. At Cumberland Heights, we understand how difficult it is to manage co-occurring disorders. Because of the complexities associated with a dual diagnosis, it takes specialized care to adequately...
April is Alcohol Awareness Month – a time to raise our knowledge of the dangers of alcohol consumption and misuse. Because alcohol is so socially acceptable, we tend to forget it’s a drug that can have potentially severe consequences, including an array of physical and mental health problems. Alcohol...
Heroin is a powerfully addictive drug derived from the seed pod of the opium poppy, which primarily grows on small, remote farms. Because this flower thrives in warm, arid climates, heroin has become a cash crop for subsistence farmers in countries such as Turkey, Laos and Pakistan. It is...
When we experience changes in life, whether planned or unexpected, the result is often an increase in stress. Our bodies naturally respond to these different circumstances by giving off physical symptoms indicative of deeper emotions. These symptoms can have both long and short-term effects, so it’s important to learn...
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner abuse, is any maladaptive behavioral pattern perpetuated by one partner in a relationship to intimidate, control, humiliate or manipulate the other. It can take many forms, leaving victims emotionally and physically traumatized. Domestic violence is a national crisis that deserves more attention and...
Millions of people worldwide live with anxiety, a mental health disorder characterized by unrealistic fears, agitation, insomnia, panic attacks, concentration issues and feelings of imminent doom. Though these symptoms are mild for some people, they can increase in severity without treatment, interfering with sufferers’ daily lives by causing them...
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CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER
Cinde Stewart Freeman is Cumberland Heights’ Chief Clinical Officer and has been with Cumberland Heights for 30 years. During her tenure, Cinde has served in nursing, clinical management, and administrative roles.
Cinde is a bachelor’s prepared Registered Nurse and a master’s prepared Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Level II. She holds NAADAC’s Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) credential and is a Qualified Clinical Supervisor (QCS) as well.
Cinde has a love for the places where opposites touch. This has led her to clinical explorations of somatic and spiritual healing of the things that wound us, as well as explorations of how the lived wisdom of the 12-step tradition informs and brings color to clinical education and experience. It also leads her to the beach as much as possible!
Cinde regularly trains on topics ranging from 12-step based Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Spiritual Care principles to ethical practice and clinical supervision. Her core belief is that love is more powerful than the wounds we have experienced, and, in fact, can cause us to become our strongest at those places.
CHIEF COMMUNITY RECOVERY OFFICER
Randal Lea, our Chief Community Recovery Officer is a licensed addictions counselor with 30 years of clinical and administrative experience.
Randal received master’s degrees in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University and in psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. He is a frequent presenter on a variety of topics such as assessment, sexual behavior in children, ethics, dreamwork and trauma. He is a certified practitioner of DreamTending and a qualified clinical supervisor.
Prior to his current role as Chief Community Recovery Officer, Randal served eight years as Assistant Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. In 2008, he was recognized by the Praed Foundation as a national “Systems Champion” for implementing a statewide children’s assessment for DCS. He also received the Friend of Children Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 from Tennessee Voices for Children after seven years on their board. Randal was also recognized in both 2000 and in 2015 as Professional of the Year by the Middle Tennessee chapter of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC).
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Jay Crosson began his career with Cumberland Heights in 1993 and accepted his role as Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Prior to becoming CEO, Jay was the Chief Financial Officer for the organization.
Since 2016 Jay has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). As past chair of NAATP’s Ethics Committee, Jay was instrumental in important changes made to the organization’s code of ethics. In addition, Jay serves as Treasurer/Secretary of the Foundation of Recovery Science and Education. He has also served on an advisory committee with LegitScript, certification that lets search engines know which treatment centers operate safely and legally.
Jay is a grateful recovering alumnus, having been a patient at Cumberland Heights in 1989. His personal treatment experience helped shape his leadership principles today.
Jay is a Nashville native and graduate of MTSU with an MBA from Belmont University.
CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
Dr. Nick Hayes is the Chief Science Officer at Cumberland Heights, overseeing all research, technology and quality related initiatives for the organization. His research focuses on measurement-based practice systems, digital phenotyping and intensive longitudinal monitoring.
Nick’s work highlights Cumberland Heights’ commitment to outcome-oriented care, using proven techniques to put those struggling with substance use disorder on a path to success.
Nick received his PhD in Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University. He is also on the faculty of Lipscomb University as an adjunct professor of psychology.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Dr. Chapman Sledge, a nationally recognized physician and speaker, has been the Chief Medical Officer at Cumberland Heights since 2009. Prior to joining Cumberland Heights, Dr. Sledge was the Medical Director of Addiction Treatment Services at Pine Grove Behavioral Health in Mississippi.
Dr. Sledge has been named Nashville’s top addiction doctor by the Nashville Business Journal, a recognition only five percent of physicians in the United States hold. Dr. Sledge served on the board of directors for the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and was among the first physicians to receive certification from them.
Dr. Sledge is a sought-after speaker in the industry, talking about the critical need to treat both the mind and body of those struggling with substance use disorder. In addition to working for Cumberland Heights, Dr. Sledge is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
Dr. Sledge is a graduate of LSU and the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Butch Glover, a state licensed and nationally certified addiction counselor, accepted his role as Chief Operations Officer in 2015.
Butch began counseling in 1989 and worked with Cumberland Heights throughout the 90s doing Aftercare, contract work and individual counseling.
Butch worked for one of the state’s first intensive outpatient programs in Jackson, TN and the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism. During this time, he developed two pilot addiction programs in the Greater West Tennessee area. Butch also maintained a private practice, specializing in family of origin work and addiction populations.
Butch is a Tennessee native. He is a graduate of Lambuth University and earned an MBA from Union University.
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING OFFICER
Cindy Patterson accepted her role as Chief Development and Marketing Officer in 2019. Cindy has more than 16 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, most recently serving as Development Officer for United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Prior to that she was V.P. of Development for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, a position she held for 10 years after serving as Development Director for Nashville Read. Before her many years in fundraising, Cindy was the Manager of Premium Services for American Airlines.
Originally from the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Robin Cox is the Chief Financial Officer at Cumberland Heights, the Southeast’s premier alcohol and drug addiction treatment center. Robin accepted her role at Cumberland Heights in 2006.
Robin previously worked as Controller at Accu-Crete, Inc., a concrete contractor based in Washington D.C. She is currently responsible for business accounting activities including, preparing financial statements, creating an organization budget, and managing payroll. Robin is an advocate for education and volunteers at Coopertown Elementary School.
Robin is a middle Tennessee native and a graduate of Western Kentucky University.
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
Kathryn Mastin, Cumberland Heights Chief Human Resources Officer since 2015, has spent more than 30 years as a Human Resources professional. Most recently she served as the Human Resources Director at Parallon, one of the country’s largest revenue cycle partners, with more than 15,800 employees serving hospitals and physician practices.
“My goal at Cumberland Heights is to help provide the best possible care for our patients,” said Mastin. “The way I’m able to contribute is by taking care of our employees so they can carry out our mission.”
Mastin is affiliated with the United Methodist Church where she serves many roles and sits on the board. She’s also on the regional board of directors at the Center for Youth Ministry Training where they find new ways to minister to young people. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee.
DIRECTOR OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
Dr. Howard L. Burley, Director of Psychiatric Services Cumberland Heights, is an addiction psychiatry specialist, and has been practicing for 34 years.
Dr. Burley graduated from Meharry Medical College School Of Medicine in 1985 and specializes in addiction psychiatry.