About Us

Nicole Whitman is a Certified Intervention Professional, the daughter of Rich Whitman and the Director of Business Development for Whitman Recovery Service. She has been raised surrounded by recovery and has been a firsthand witness to her father’s service. Nicole has worked in the treatment industry in multiple and various capacities from her early adult years. Through her experience Nicole has been especially drawn to working closely with the families who have a loved one that is suffering. She identifies on a very personal level with the struggles they are all going through. Like her father, Nicole has found a passion for being of service. She has followed in her father’s footsteps and from a noticeably early age and continuously seeks to emulate his insight and integrity in her own life. Working alongside her father has been a sought-after goal of hers and she has a great deal of pride in reaching it. Like a sponge she absorbs all she can from all he does. Nicole takes enormous pride in her family and more specifically in raising her teenage daughter. It is hard to ignore, she also has a lifelong love for animals of all kinds and her home is always open to a new four-legged friend.

Dr. Melissa Deuter is an expert and trendsetter in the world of mental health care. She founded Sigma Mental Health Urgent Care and in doing so is on the forefront, redefining how psychiatric services are delivered. Dr. Deuter is a highly recognized, award-winning physician who enriches the lives of those in her care, as well as the professionals she mentors. Now Dr. Deuter brings her insights to you through her story-driven, plainspoken, approachable writing style.

Dr. Deuter is a board-certified psychiatrist in San Antonio, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas and attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and served as Chief Resident. Dr. Deuter currently holds an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UTHSCSA and is the course director for the resident training seminars on Eating Disorders and Sexuality and Sexual Development. She is a former President of the Bexar County Psychiatric Society, a current member of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Ethics Council, and a current member of the South Texas Psychiatric Physicians Research Network’s Executive Committee. She has been recognized as a San Antonio’s “Top Doctor” and a “Best of” Doctor, a Texas Super Doctor’s “Rising Star,” and has received the American Registry “Patient’s Choice Award.” Dr. Deuter has a special interest in early stage psychiatric care, differentiating serious illness from normal brain development, and the unique mental health needs of emerging adults.

Katie Barr embarked on her own recovery journey in 2010 and felt passionate about helping others. She began work in the substance use treatment field since 2011. Hearing how her own family struggled with her disease and how to help her, that passion deepened, and she sought to become an Interventionist. In 2012 Katie became a Board Registered Interventionist and in 2013 she became a Certified Interventionist Professional.  She believes that addiction is a family disease and that in order to produce lasting change the entire family must invest in the recovery process. She is currently studying to become a License Chemical Dependency Counselor.

Hannah Hughes is a Certified Intervention Professional, she serves the Whitman Recovery Service team with the skills needed to pull struggling individuals forward to the point where they are willing to accept help. She has “never met a stranger” and possesses a keen ability to connect on a personal and trusting level with all whom she encounters. Hannah has fought hard to get to where she is now, and she is more than willing to share her experience, strength, and hope with anyone who will listen. Most important to Hannah is her own recovery and she is highly active in her recovery community taking on any opportunity she can to be of service. She has been up close and personal with the struggles many face and she is able to relate both as the addicted and as the loved one. Years ago, Hannah was intervened on by Rich Whitman himself and she attributes his ability to pull her forward with a vision to how she got to where she is now. Hannah shares her pride in working a recovery program with her husband who is equally passionate about his own recovery. Together they find the most joy in raising their young son.

Dr. Natasha Rangel has over 17 years in leading, teaching, and coaching in mental health, behavioral goals, and action planning. Dr. Rangel is a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Life Coach, Certified Trauma–Informed Practitioner, and possesses a B.A. in Psychology, M.Ed. in Organizational Behavior, and Ph.D. Organizational Leadership 

Family recovery is crucial in the success of the addiction intervention process. It can take a toll, with the rollercoaster of emotions that come with constant worry, and focusing on how to keep your loved one from relapsing. It is important to stay educated on how to support; not enable your loved one. Engaging in your own self care is important in keeping the recovery support system strong! 

Dr. Rangel brings hope and collaboration to clients and families with possibilities of achieving life goals with behavior intervention plans to improve and enhance their quality of life at home, workplace, school, and community. She empowers clients to overcome traumas, leading to substance abuse, addictions and/or unhealthy behaviors. Dr. Rangel provides clients and families with positive refocusing and appraisal skills that encourage independence to MOVE FORWARD. 

Natasha believes it is important to empower men and women in their own recovery, walking beside them, leaving judgment at the door. She believes in creating a safe climate that supports and promotes healing for those overcoming trauma resulting in unhealthy behaviors. 

Natasha is praised for her strong faith, compassion, resiliency, professionalism, love for people, loyalty, and leadership excellence. Dr. Rangel is a change maker. She believes in recovery and restoration for your life, and that your life is worth living!