Willow Place of Asheville is a place for women who are suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol and/or eating disorders. We offer a comprehensive medical and therapeutic approach to recovery from addiction and eating disorders to get all of our clients on the road to recovery. We believe in empowering our clients to regain a sense of self-worth and self-love so that they cease the destructive behavior of the past and turn to healthy, sober alternatives. Our dedicated staff is whole heartedly committed to seeing each client thrive and graduate from our program as a brand new person with a bright future ahead. At The Willow Place for Women, we treat each client individually to ensure the best level of care possible, created uniquely for each specific client’s needs.
Willow Place is In Network with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Willow Place accepts TRICARE.
Dr. Dixie Brown, owner and Executive Director of Willow Place for Women, is an Integrative Medicine Practitioner passionate about helping individuals who seek recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. Through the use of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, she helps her clients feel their best- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and guides them in their journey to recovery. Her greatest joy is seeing her clients fall in love with themselves in ways they never imagined possible. Dixie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Business Management, a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology, and a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine specializing in Integrative Mental Health. Dixie has also completed certification in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, Biofeedback, Wellness Coaching and is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and Certified Clinical Supervisor. Additionally, Dixie is certified and works directly with the Center for Mind Body Medicine in Washington, DC. Dixie is also the Founder and Board President of The Seraph Fund, an organization that helps provide resources for those seeking recovery, a Board Member of the NC Association of Recovery Residences, and head of the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Patient Brokering work group. Additionally, Dixie is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Group Fitness Instructor. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and two kitties, hiking, being outdoors, traveling, and taking photos of landscapes and nature.
Allyson Chambers, Certified Addiction Counselor and Certified Recovery Residence Administrator, has been working in the sober living industry since 2008. Originally from New York, Allyson moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 1994. Seeing the need for women’s supportive housing for women seeking recovery, Allyson opened her first sober living home in 2008, The Lilly Pad, a FARR certified recovery residence. The Lilly Pad was one of the original pioneers of safe compliant sober homes for women in South Florida. Allyson is also one of the founding members of FARR (Florida Association of Recovery Residences) with a group of like-minded individuals who wanted safe housing for those recovering throughout the state. Allyson was the President of FARR during its first year and a board member for several years. “This is not a job to me, this is my wonderful life, I get to see women take their lives back and become their own hero”.
Dr. Brady Schroer obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology with an emphasis in Chemistry at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City. After medical school, he completed his general psychiatry residency at the Menninger School of Psychiatry, an internationally known psychiatric hospital.
After residency, Dr. Schroer worked in a large hospital setting for over five years as a psychiatric hospitalist taking care of geriatric patients, caring for patients with psychiatric issues on the medical floors and ICU (intensive care units), detoxifying clients from alcohol and benzodiazepines, ECT treatment for depression, and served as Medical Director and Chief of Psychiatry.
Dr. Schroer later moved to Western North Carolina in 2007 to become the Medical Director of the inpatient psychiatric unit and the detoxification unit at one of the areas top hospitals and served for seven years in that capacity. Most recently, he has been seeing clients ages 15 and over in sober living environments, residential treatments, and other outpatient settings.
He has a vast experience from all different perspectives of addiction treatment and knows what it is like to be a family member of someone struggling with addiction. Dr. Schroer views addiction as a poor coping mechanism from past emotional pain. This emotional pain manifests as self-hatred, resentments, shame, and extreme negativity, all contributing to the cycle of pain and addiction. He believes addressing the underlying pain is absolutely crucial in order to find sobriety instead of trying to numb the pain with addicting substances and behaviors.
He is extremely compassionate and nonjudgmental and enjoys teaching clients about the addiction process and how to overcome poor habits that are keeping them stuck. Dr. Schroer has learned a lot from the clients he has treated and continues to use this wealth of knowledge to help others move into a peaceful life instead of chaos.
Dr. Schroer is a Christian, loves traveling and playing golf, enjoys all forms of motorsports and photography. He loves spending time with his wife and family in the great outdoors. He feels especially fortunate to call Asheville his home!
Jeremy is a Physician Assistant with nearly 20 years of experience. With backgrounds in multiple specialties, he pulls from a rich source of knowledge in order to get to the root of the problem/disease with Lifestyle Medicine and Psychiatry. As a published peer-reviewed writer and many conference presentations, he enjoys continued learning for the benefit of his patients.
Nicole works as the behind the scenes Executive Assistant from her home in Georgia. While her degree is a Bachelors of Science concentrating in Marine Biology, her journey in college began her work in the Recovery field in West Palm Beach Florida. Taking a part time job to pay her way through college, Nicole started her first job as a night tech at a local detox. There she was able to hone her skills as a Quality Assurance Manager, being taught every aspect of the administrative parts in Behavioral Health. As she was able to see the direct impact of a well maintained office to the future of the clients being served, her soul began to sing joy from the lives she was able to touch. This love for helping others is what continued her journey in Recovery instead of pursuing a job in her field.
From there she was able to assist opening another IOP in West Palm Beach leading her to her future job at Willow Place. In April of 2016, Nicole took the position as the office administrator in Willow Place’s West Palm Beach location. After working for Willow for 2 years, her journey involved her moving to her current home of Rome, Georgia. She was gladly able to take on the remote position of Executive Assistant, which she holds today.
Nicole’s expertise in Quality Assurance, Billing, and Office Administration has allowed Willow Place to thrive in new ways as she assists its leaders to be the best they can be. Playing the support role brings life to Nicole and Willow Place creating a symphony of amazing accomplishments. Her desire to serve and help other is what fuels her soul to work hard to make Willow Place the best facility it can be.
In Nicole’s spare time she is the mother of two children, animal mommy to 6 animals (dogs, cats, tortoises, and guinea pigs), serves at her church, and loves to paint.
LuAnn Jefferson, LCMHC, LCAS is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the state of North Carolina. She has 21 years of clinical counseling experience including Substance Abuse, early recovery issues, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, codependency, family of origin issues, grief process and family/relationship issues. LuAnn’s experience ranges from outpatient treatment, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and private practice. She is skilled at and utilizes a variety of modalities of therapy depending on an individual’ needs.
LuAnn can assist you in looking at your concerns from the perspective of your childhood experiences, current family and life experiences. She ready to guide you through identifying how these patterns repeat themselves, and how to utilize recovery and use healthy coping skills that will redirect behavior changes that you want to make.
Melissa is originally from central Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from Southern Illinois University. She went on to complete a combined dietetic internship and Master of Science in Health and Human Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
During a road trip with her husband, they discovered the northwest part of North Carolina and absolutely loved the beauty and culture. They moved here in November 2019 and have been enjoying the beautiful scenery and outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking ever since.
Over time, working with patients in hospitals, it became clear that body size and health are not always related. Also, the effects diet culture can have on people and their health are not always positive. Melissa believes in the importance of building a healthier relationship with food and enjoys encouraging an anti-diet culture. She also believes health exists at every size. Additionally, Melissa enjoys finding new recipes and experimenting with them in the kitchen.
Karen Jordan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate who grew up in Atlanta, Ga. As a young adult, Karen lived in Washington, DC for a bit and eventually made it to Asheville in 2004. She has worked in behavioral health, education, and sales over the years. In 2016, she felt called to contribute more towards her community’s overall health. So, she went back to school to study clinical social work. She completed her degree from Simmons University in 2019 with a focus on addiction, trauma, and group therapy.
Karen’s clinical practice is founded in her belief that everyone has the capacity to heal and is worthy of support. When people come together to support one another in group settings, they are embodying some of the most divine aspects of what it is to be human and prove that together, all things are possible. Karen has an incredible fondness for nature and singing and sometimes mixes the two.
Tai is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist. A graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, she has spent over 16 years working with adolescent girls and women with a strong focus on trauma and identity development. Tai spent two summers in Africa doing art therapy with ex-child soldiers, as well as Sri Lanka doing crisis intervention work immediately after the Tsunami. She is passionate about creating spaces that encourages others to brave their truth and be the alchemist of their own story.
Since 2016, as Administrative Assistant, Annette Krukowski has compassionately welcomed clients and loved ones to Willow Place. Annette has proven to be indispensable in managing the office, maintaining records, and facilitating communication for therapists, clients, and families. Her compassionate presence and diverse experience serves Willow Place well.
Annette brings decades of related experience to Willow Place. Annette’s passion for helping others began with her service in a medical unit in Europe. As time went on, she grew her organization and communication skills in management roles at Fortune 500 retail companies in Detroit. Annette’s career path led her to customer service in the medical field for many years, gaining valuable experience with the complexities of record keeping and insurance. Annette’s family roots in Asheville go back many generations, and in 2007 she returned to the mountains of her childhood vacations to be with family.
Sara received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies from The University of NC – Greensboro and a Master of Science in Human Development from Virginia Tech. Her research and professional interests include intimate partner violence, gender, sexuality, women’s issues, and addiction recovery. After working as a mobile crisis worker in Blacksburg Virginia, Sara became a college professor and for the last 11 years has been teaching Sociology & Psychology. After developing an addiction to alcohol, she entered treatment and is blessed to be living a life in recovery. This experience led her to working with those also struggling with addiction and she is passionate about helping women embark on a recovery journey of their own. Sara loves the beautiful mountains of Asheville and enjoys spending time with her partner and children hiking, exploring nature, coloring mandalas, and visiting as many local coffee shops as possible.
Haley was born and raised in Franklin NC, growing up she never imagined she would struggle with drugs and alcohol. Haley moved to Asheville in 2016 in search of a new beginning, a life free from active addiction. She was a resident at the Women’s First Step Farm in Candler for a year before moving on to an Oxford House in West Asheville. From there Haley started her journey to give back what was so freely given to her– support in learning how to live life without alcohol or drugs. Helping other women is crucial in her personal recovery and a career path she plans on pursuing. At Willow Place, Haley gets to be a part of beautiful transformations in Women’s lives. She says for her that is a dream come true.
I was born and raised in Asheville, NC. I have two beautiful and amazing boys. I’m a firm believer in the four dimensions of recovery which are Family, Health, Employment and Housing; all of which helped me become the person I am today. I believe in helping others overcome their addiction no matter what it is, and helping them become successful in life. I have seen my fair share of alcohol addiction. I was very persistent and eager in overcoming my addiction due to my kids looking for guidance. I have been in recovery for several years which was the best thing I could have done with my life. In my spare time I love to ride or walk the parkway and meditate and just enjoy life.
Dixie Brown, co-founder of Willow Place for Women, was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, later moving to Southern Florida to pursue her career in addiction treatment. Once in Florida, she met up with her future business partner, Allyson Chambers – a like-minded woman with a similar interest in addiction recovery and recovery from eating disorders. Together the two women worked to establish what would soon become one of North Carolina’s premier female-specific treatment centers. Thus, the Asheville location was born, and has, to this day, helped innumerable women successfully overcome their addictions and dual diagnosis disorders.
