Inside Align: Meet the Team Behind the Transformation

When parents reach out to Align Adolescent Recovery, they’re rarely asking about amenities or schedules. What they really want to know about are the people. The staff who will be there day-in and day-out looking after their son when he’s angry, scared, or shutting down. The ones who will notice the small changes before they turn into big setbacks. Who understands teenage boys well enough to earn their trust.

At Align, treatment works because of the people delivering it. The program’s therapeutic model is strong, but it is the human expertise behind that model that creates real change. The leadership team brings lived experience, deep clinical training, and a shared belief that adolescent boys heal best when they feel respected, understood, and challenged in the right ways.

This is the human side of Align, and it is why families trust the program when things feel most uncertain.

Peter Doyle, MS, LASAC: Leadership Shaped by Lived Experience

Peter Doyle is Align’s Program Director, but his relationship with Align began long before he held a leadership role. As a teenager, Peter arrived in Tucson struggling with anxiety and substance use, unsure if treatment could really help. His journey through Align and into long-term recovery changed the trajectory of his life and ultimately brought him back to the program as a guide for other young men walking the same path.

Peter’s leadership is grounded in empathy and accountability. He understands what it feels like to be sixteen, scared, and resistant, because he has been there himself. Parents often find comfort in knowing that the person overseeing their son’s care understands recovery from the inside out. Peter sets the tone for the entire program by emphasizing integrity, consistency, and respect. He believes boys change when they feel safe enough to be honest and supported enough to take responsibility.

Under his direction, Align has continued to evolve while staying true to its core values. The program balances structure with compassion and never loses sight of the fact that every boy is more than his diagnosis or behavior.

Sarah Mota, DNP: Medical Depth with Relational Warmth

Sarah brings a rare blend of educational insight and psychiatric expertise to her role as Medical Director at Align. Before entering medicine, she spent ten years as a public-school teacher in Tucson, working in both fine arts and general education. Those years shaped how she understands adolescents not just as patients, but as developing humans whose struggles often show up long before they are labeled or diagnosed.

After earning her master’s degree in nursing practice, Sarah completed a psychiatric rotation that redirected her career. She went on to work for four years as a registered nurse on the pediatrics unit at a level one psychiatric hospital. Most recently, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health.

At Align, Sarah approaches medical care with clarity, patience, and restraint. She helps families understand psychiatric decisions without rushing or oversimplifying, and she treats medication as one part of a larger, integrated picture.

Tommy Wiertel: Structure, Accountability, and Trust

Both a graduate of Align and a key member of the treatment team,Tommy’s demeanor resonates deeply with the young men he works with. Since joining the staff in 2022, he has brought lived experience, humility, and consistency to his role as Equine Instructor. He understands the resistance many teens feel because he once stood in their place.

Tommy has more than five years of experience working with horses, an interest that began during his time as a student on campus. Today, he helps manage the herd and supports clients as they learn to ride, groom, and work alongside the horses. Through equine therapy, boys practice patience, emotional regulation, and nonverbal communication in ways that feel natural rather than forced.

For many students, Tommy represents something powerful: proof that growth is possible and that recovery can lead to purpose.

Kala Phelps, M.Ed.: The Bridge Between Program and Family

Known to students as Mrs. Phelps, Kala leads the academic program at Align with nearly two decades of teaching experience behind her. A graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master’s in Education, Kala has taught a wide range of subjects across upper elementary through high school, including Social Studies, Journalism, Art, and AP Art History. In 2021, she earned her Gifted Endorsement and has held multiple leadership roles in education.

Kala’s approach to academics at Align centers on meeting students where they are. She helps boys rebuild confidence in learning by emphasizing progress over perfection and encouraging them to take intellectual risks without fear of failure. Parents often find relief knowing that their son’s education is not put on hold, but thoughtfully adapted to support both recovery and growth.

Collaboration is central to Kala’s work. She partners closely with other educators to design engaging, student-directed curriculum and has presented nationally on personalized learning and goal setting. Her calm presence, along with frequent visits from her dog Poe, helps make the academic environment feel grounded, human, and supportive.

The Team Importance

Adolescent treatment is not just about therapy models or programming. It is about relationships. Boys test adults before they trust them. They look for authenticity, consistency, and fairness. The team at Align understands this dynamic and shows up accordingly.

Each member brings a different strength, but they share a common philosophy. Healing happens when boys feel seen, challenged, and supported by adults who genuinely care and know what they are doing. 

This is why Align works. Not because of one person, but because of a team aligned around a shared mission.

A Final Thought for Parents

Choosing treatment for your son is not just about selecting a program. It is about choosing the people who will walk with him through one of the hardest chapters of his life.

At Align Adolescent Recovery, the team behind the transformation brings experience, compassion, and accountability to every interaction. If you are considering Align, you are choosing a group of professionals who take your son’s future personally.

If you are ready to learn more, the Align team is here to answer your questions and help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.