At Cottonwood Tucson, we are proud to bring together a diverse team of highly trained professionals dedicated to mental health and addiction treatment. Our clinicians, medical staff, and support personnel come from across the country and the world, with hundreds of years of combined experience.
True healing starts with professional expertise paired with personal understanding. Many members of our team have faced challenges such as depression, addiction, trauma, or co-dependency themselves. Their lived experience fuels their commitment to helping you succeed in recovery.
Our staff’s personal growth has taught them valuable skills, compassion, and hope that they bring to every patient they serve. At Cottonwood Tucson, you’ll find a supportive environment led by people who know the path to healing firsthand.
Chief Executive Officer
Adam Perkins, MBA, ACHE, is the new Chief Executive Officer of Cottonwood Tucson, bringing nearly two decades of leadership experience in healthcare. He has held executive and operational leadership roles at nationally recognized residential treatment and crisis mental health organizations. Adam began his career as a Behavioral Health Associate at a state psychiatric hospital, an experience that shaped his commitment to patient safety, operational excellence, and compassionate, person-centered care. His leadership approach emphasizes transparency, continuous improvement and empowering employees with the resources and support they need to achieve exceptional outcomes for patients.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Liggins earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from McGill University, and his medical degree from Stanford University. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa, where he later served as faculty. Dr. Liggins has significant leadership experience, having held positions such as Medical Director of various inpatient units and Physician Informatics Officer for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Palo Verde Behavioral Health. In his free time, Dr. Liggins enjoys running, golfing and spending time with his family.
Chief of Medical Services & Nurse Practitioner
A member of Cottonwood’s nursing/medical team for over 25 years, Tab received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Arizona followed by a Master of Science degree in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner training at the University of Phoenix. He is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner – Certified by the State of Arizona. When he can, Tab likes to take off to the great outdoors and is a nationally recognized archer.
Chief Nursing Officer
Maria started her journey with Cottonwood Tucson in 2005 after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Arizona. She worked her way up as a patient care facilitator before being promoted to Lead Patient Care Facilitator. In 2008, Maria became a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Instructor and began training all Cottonwood staff on verbal de-escalation techniques and the power of maintaining calm, grounding energy when working with patients in crisis.
In 2009, Maria was promoted to Milieu Manager of the Sweetwater Adolescent Program at Cottonwood Tucson, where she was mentored by the Director of Nursing for seven years. During her time on the Sweetheart Unit, Maria discovered her passion for management and learned invaluable skills in maintaining a non-reactive and empathetic approach when dealing with challenging adolescents.
After much contemplation, Maria made the decision to return to nursing school to continue working as a clinical nurse at Cottonwood. After earning her RN license, Maria worked at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the Emergency Department to gain new graduate skills while continuing to work at Cottonwood in a staff development role and as charge nurse. She transitioned back to a full-time role as the Director of Nursing in 2018 and currently oversees the nursing team in the position of Chief Nursing Officer. Maria strives to inspire the team and patients through motivational encouragement and compassionate leadership.
During her free time Maria enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and spending time with her husband Charlie and two children, Wilder and Meadow.
Director of Admissions
Melissa has worked in behavioral health for over three years, starting as a Behavioral Health Tech then transitioning to a Case Management role. She also brings an extensive medical background of over six years. Melissa has a passion for recovery and addiction treatment, she has assisted many people through various stages of recovery in a clinical and personal capacity. Melissa believes in the power of recovery and the amazing ways it can change a life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, traveling with family, and hiking.
Director of Business Development
Director of Business Development
Primary Therapist
Native New Yorker Meredith L. Cohen comes to Cottonwood with over twenty years of experience in the behavioral health field. Meredith earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College in New York City and her Master’s degree in social work from New York University’s Shirley Ehrenkranz School for Social Work. When Meredith moved to Arizona, she became a licensed clinical social worker. Meredith has a strong commitment and affinity for people who struggle with addiction and she has dedicated much of her career to assisting individuals navigate their behavior heath and addiction challenges. Meredith has worked in traditional settings such as behavioral health agencies, and rehabilitation centers, and non-traditional settings such as prisons and schools. Meredith specializes in treating mood and substance abuse disorders, utilizing an emotion-focused, strength-based, person-centered, rational, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed therapy approach. Meredith specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Therapy (DBT.)
Primary Therapist
Laura is a Tucson native who will graduated from Arizona State University in 2022 with a Master of Social Work. Her primary interest is in addiction, attachment theory, and trauma recovery. Laura utilizes a holistic approach when working with clients.
Since 2021, Laura has been both an intern and a counselor at Cottonwood Tucson where she provides individual patient support, group facilitation, and psycho education. Laura has experience as an on-line crisis counselor, courtroom victim advocate, and has 15 years working directly with adolescents and families in a health and wellness setting.
Most recently, Laura worked as a clinical research assistant, analyzing protective factors in early recovery for mothers participating in medication-assisted therapies.
Laura believes recovery is possible for anyone and uses a strength-based model to support clients in tapping into their own strengths and internal resources. Using techniques in mindfulness, cognitive theory, and recovery principles to collaborate with clients in supporting treatment goals. Laura is a firm believer that sometimes life is best managed one breath at a time.
Primary Therapist
Primary Therapist
Primary Therapist
With 10 years of experience in the social work field, Kay Savage has worked in a variety of settings serving patients with both mental health and substance use disorders. Kay’s experience includes working in inpatient and residential settings, crisis work, outpatient, outreach, domestic violence shelters, supportive employment programs, and clinic management- utilizing frameworks from CBT, DBT, Strengths-based, Person-Centered, and Somatic Experiencing approaches and incorporate relapse prevention, safety planning, neuroscience, and shame reduction into all facets of care. Key is described as dynamic, passionate, knowledgeable, relatable, and pragmatic. Outside of work, she loves bulldogs, traveling, bowling, swimming, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Primary Therapist
Primary Therapist
Residential Support Counselor
Thomas is a native of Detroit Michigan, but moved to the Los Angeles area, later making his way to Prescott and Show Low, Arizona, before finally ending up in Tucson in 2011. While on his own path to recovery, Tom looked into new career and educational opportunities. In 2014, he obtained an Associates of Arts in Social Services from Pima College, then decided to continue at the Arizona State University to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work in 2017. Currently, Tom is working on an LBSW.
For the last 10 years, he has been personally and professionally involved with relapse prevention techniques, including 12-step groups, SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery and mindfulness. Tom has also worked with veterans who struggle with homelessness, alcoholism, addiction, and serious mental illness. Tom’s passion is to assist individuals find their own recovery trail.
In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym, walking Tumamoc Hill, and reading. Tom still likes to attend 12-step meetings, enjoys music and cooking; and takes joy in having a huge sock collection.
Trauma Specialist
Trauma Specialist
Trauma Therapist
Stephanie Speake is a native Tucsonan; she received her master’s in clinical counseling from Prescott College with an emphasis in somatic and ecotherapy. Stephanie brings with her over 20 years in the health and wellness field as a licensed somatic therapist who specializes in rehabilitative massage and Yoga therapy. Stephanie is proud to have served with the county attorney’s office in Arizona as a victim advocate working alongside law enforcement and helping others on both sides of the line. Stephanie integrates various methodologies into her sessions.
She works from a trauma-informed, present-centered, creative, and holistic approach to populations struggling with Mood, and attachment. PTSD, substance abuse, and ADHD use a variety of personalized somatic, CBT, REBT, movement, art, and music therapies for the best treatment outcome possible. Stephanie’s fun fact, she spent 10 years in the entertainment industry working as a camera assistant in television and motion pictures before settling down, marrying, and having a family. Stephanie is a life adventurer, passionate about the recovery community, and looks forward to supporting you on this journey of wellness..
Director of Clinical & Outpatient Services
Rocio is originally from Nogales Sonora, Mexico and moved to Tucson in childhood. Rocio has lived in different parts of the country as well as overseas which has given her a broad cultural perspective. She obtained her B.S of Social psychology with a Human Development concentration from Parkville University and achieved her Master of Social Work with a Hispanic studies concentration from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2019. Rocio has worked with different populations including children, adolescents and adults throughout her career. Her experience includes providing direct care in both individual and group settings. She is trained in CBT,DBT, MI, MRT, CPT, ACT and EMDR. Rocio is a mother of 3 children and enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, reading and languages.
Outpatient Therapist
Outpatient Therapist
Outpatient Therapist
Outpatient Therapist
Outpatient Coordinator
Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Illinois State University in 2006. She brings to Cottonwood almost 20 years of behavioral health experience working in social services for the elderly, inpatient behavioral health, and addiction recovery. Her passion is leading psychoeducational groups, walking with people going through challenging times, seeing people recognize their worth, and watching them experience transformational change. Katie and her husband recently moved to Tucson from central Illinois and they enjoy serving in their church, traveling, hiking, exploring the Southwest, and taking in the local restaurant scene.
Alumni Coordinator
Kelsie Strommen, B.S. serves as the Alumni Coordinator at Cottonwood, bringing more than five years of experience in the mental health and substance use recovery field, where she has been passionate about supporting individuals and families through growth, healing, and connection. As a wife, mother, and relationship-builder, Kelsie values authentic community, meaningful conversations, and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged.
She believes that every person has a unique story worth sharing and that lasting relationships are built through genuine connection. Kelsie invites alumni to reach out, introduce themselves, share their journey, or simply say hello. She looks forward to getting to know each member of the alumni community and helping strengthen those connections for years to come.
Experienced, compassionate team with clinical and lived recovery expertise
Leadership with advanced academic and medical backgrounds
Wide range of specialty therapists and holistic care providers
Active research and education to ensure cutting-edge treatments
Supportive staff dedicated to every stage of your recovery journey
