Sundown Ranch is very fortunate to be associated with Dr. Cheryé Callegan. Dr. Callegan has worked in the field of addiction
medicine for approximately twenty years. She is currently
the Medical Director and a treating psychiatrist at Sundown Ranch. Prior to coming to
Sundown Ranch she served as the Medical Director of Substance
Abuse Services at Both Green Oaks Hospital and Timberlawn
Psychiatric Hospital. She is certified by the American Board
of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Psychiatry and Addiction.
Dr. Callegan is also certified through the American Society
of Addiction Medicine in addiction as well as through the
American Society of Adolescent Medicine. In 2006 and just recently in 2009 Dr. Callegan was named America's Top Psychiatrist by the Consumer Research Community of America.
Program Psychiatrist
Dr. Vernon Johnson joined the professional staff of Sundown Ranch in 2008. He received his Bachelors Degree from Rice University and his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas - Medical Branch Galveston. Dr. Johnson has practiced in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for approximately fifteen years. Prior to joining the Sundown Ranch organization he was most recently the Medical Director of the Child Guidance Clinic, the Medical Director of the Adolescent Unit in Sherman, Texas, and a consulting psychiatrist to units in the Texas Youth Commission. As a frequent presenter, Dr. Johnson works to educate local community groups and medical students on subjects such as Autism, Bipolar disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyper Activity Disorders, Depression and much more. Currently Dr. Johnson is affiliated with the Palestine Regional Medical Center in Palestine, TX. He is a member of many professional and scientific societies as well as being active in community service, church and medical missions. Dr. Johnson brings real world experience and compassion to our organization."
Program Psychologist
Robert Adelman received his Doctorate in Psychology from Texas A&M-Commerce in 1998. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Society for Psychotherapy Research, and Constructivist Psychology Network. He has served as a Consulting Psychologist with Sundown Ranch for twenty years, and has maintained a private practice in East Texas for over twenty years. In 2001, he chaired a committee at the facility devoted to improving the anger management of adolescents during the course of substance abuse treatment. In 2004, the facility was awarded the Ernest A. Codman Award by the JCAHO, which cited the project as demonstrating excellence in the use of performance improvement methods.
Dr. Adelman has specialized in adapting Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy to helping adolescent substance abusers. He has four publications on the subject and annually presents his work at a number of professional conferences across the country. Dr. Adelman facilitates the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Group at Sundown Ranch. In this group, clients learn to identify their irrational thought processes, challenge these unhealthy thoughts, and form more realistic, goal-affirming beliefs. Through the methods of REBT, clients achieve greater self-responsibility and reduced emotional dysfunction, as well as begin to develop healthy alternatives to their addictive behaviors.
Clinical Director
Dr. George Pate received his doctorate in Family Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 2004. Over the course of his 31 year career, he has directed both inpatient and outpatient chemical abuse programs, maintained a private practice, and has been an adjunct professor in several colleges and universities. He has been active in the professional development of the chemical dependency counselor profession, and was the Chairperson of the Texas Certification Board of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors from 1985 to 1987. A clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, he continues to integrate 12 step concepts with Family Systems Theory and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. He is a frequent presenter at state and regional conferences, and currently devotes his full-time effort to Sundown Ranch.
