OUR TEAM
Meet Our Team
At Insight, your care is in the hands of professionals who live and work in the very community we serve. Our clinicians and program leaders are here every day sharing the same space, collaborating in real time, and building care together.
With decades of combined experience in mental health and substance use treatment, our team adapts clinical expertise to the genuine needs and capabilities of each client. We are family owned and clinician led, which means decisions are driven by compassion and best practice, not corporate policy. This unique model allows us to deliver integrated care under one roof, with the kind of collaboration and accountability that can only come from colleagues who share hallways, trust, and purpose.
Craig James
LCSW, LSATP, MAC
Chief Operations Officer
Cyndi Turner
LCSW, LSATP, MAC
Chief Executive Officer
Chrissy Chow
BSW, CSAC-S
Executive Director
Sarah Wires
LCSW-S, CSAC
Counselor
India Payne
BA, CSAC-S
Counselor
Jessica Arsement
BA, CSAC-S
Counselor
Tanya Bittenbender
MSW
Counselor
Laura Schwartz
MPH, CSAC
Counselor
Craig James
LCSW, LSATP, MAC Chief Operations Officer
cjames@
Craig James is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner and Master Addiction Counselor working in outpatient private practice where he provides individual and group therapy to individuals, families, and couples. His clientele of adolescents, young adults, and adults includes students, business executives, professional and amateur athletes, and those with court involvement. He believes that because substance use occurs on a spectrum there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
As the Co-Founder of Insight Into Action Therapy, he is the Director of Operations with the responsibility of ensuring the daily functions of the practice’s two office locations. This includes clinician orientation and development, marketing and business development, maintenance of the electronic health record system, and financial accounts. Craig holds a similar role as the Chief Operations Officer for his newest company, Insight Recovery Centers, an intensive outpatient program and outpatient program for those struggling with Substance use disorders.
Prior to launching Insight Into Action Therapy, Craig worked for approximately 10 years with Finding Solutions Counseling Centers where in addition to overseeing the daily management of the program, he co-developed the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Program with Cyndi Turner.
In addition, Craig works with the local courts, schools, and Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. Craig was the 2019 runner-up for Loudoun Now’s Favorite Loudoun Psychotherapist. Finally, Craig is a local and national speaker on topics of alcohol moderation, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, parenting, and emotional indulgence. He is on the board of the Virginia Regional Association of Addiction Professionals, Dandelion Meadow, and Loudoun County Community Services Board.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from George Mason University in 1995 and in 2006 his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also completed his externship training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT).
Cyndi Turner
LCSW,LSATP, MAC
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
cturner@
Cyndi Turner has worked for almost three decades in both the public and private sectors, with a professional background that includes serving in clinical as well as supervisory roles. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP), and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC). As co-founder and Clinical Director of Insight Into Action Therapy, she provides a wide variety of services including mental health and substance use disorder therapy, clinical supervision, community education, and court-involved assessment and treatment. She is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Insight Recovery Centers, a Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services-licensed intensive and general outpatient program (ASAM Level 1.0 and 2.1 level of care) for those struggling with Substance use disorders. With Craig James, she co-developed the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Program© used in both companies.
Cyndi has written three #1 New Release books: Can I Keep Drinking? How You Can Decide When Enough is Enough; The Clinician’s Guide to Alcohol Moderation: Alternative Methods and Management Strategies, and Practicing Alcohol Moderation: A Comprehensive Workbook. She designed the Alcohol Moderation Assessment which determines a person’s likelihood of successfully practicing alcohol moderation. She is a harm reduction therapist who challenges the traditional belief that all drinkers experiencing problems are “alcoholics” who must quit drinking forever.
Prior to founding Insight Into Action Therapy, Cyndi served as Clinical Director for Finding Solutions Counseling Centers. She has provided services in both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse and psychiatric settings, including the emergency services unit of a local Community Services Board. She also spent eight years providing intensive in-home services for adolescents, children, and families. She believes in strong collaboration with other professionals in order to provide the most effective services possible.
Cyndi’s Areas of Expertise
Cyndi facilitates groups and provides individual and family therapy. In addition to her expertise in the field of Substance use disorders and addictive behaviors, she has a special interest in the mind/body connection. As a former competitive swimmer whose career ended prematurely as a result of injuries, and nearly 30 years of vague symptoms that finally led to a diagnosis of Chronic Lyme Disease, she stresses the importance of exercise and nutrition. She enjoys working with athletes of all levels and provides therapy for players involved with the National Football League’s Program for Substances of Abuse.
Another of Cyndi’s special skills is her ability to form relationships with individuals of any age. She helps find the strengths in people in order to help them conquer the issues with which they may be struggling. As a therapist, she believes people are made up of more than just their problems, and explores creative ways to turn insights into action. She links families with supporters and develops coping strategies that will continue long after the therapeutic relationship has ended.
She is an approved an approved clinical supervisor for licensure and has been qualified as an expert witness in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the field of substance abuse and mental health counseling. She is also a nationally recognized trainer on the topic of alcohol moderation, Moderation Friendly therapist, and a topic expert/contributor for GoodTherapy.org.
Chrissy Chow
BSW, CSAC-S Executive Director
cchow@insightactiontherapy.com
Chrissy Chow is the Executive Director for Insight Recovery Centers. Her responsibilities include all aspects of programming and staff management, while seeing clients and running the Alcohol Moderation group. She has been in the substance use disorder treatment field for more than 15 years.
Chrissy earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. She will complete her Master of Social Work in the spring of 2026 with the intent of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is under clinical supervision to become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. In addition to working with adults with both mental health and Substance use disorders, she is developing specialties in trauma, women’s health, and couples’ therapy.
Chrissy has work experience in both residential and outpatient settings with adults and teens. When not providing clinical care, Chrissy has been a strong advocate for certification and transparency with recovery housing. Over the years she has met with delegates to help craft legislation around this issue and was instrumental in passing SB19 and SB838. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals.
In her personal time Chrissy can be found restoring classic cars, hiking, and spending time with her son, friends, and two dogs.
Sarah Wires
LCSW-S, CSAC Counselor
Sarah Wires graduated from Boston University with an MSW with a clinical social work focus. She has completed the requirements to be a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and is scheduled to take the exam. Sarah is under the clinical supervision of Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC to complete her residency to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
In undergrad, Sarah completed an integrative studies degree with a psychology minor where she selected coursework specific to her interest in conflict resolution, neuroscience, women’s issues, and abnormal psychology.
Sarah works with children, teens, and adults. She has completed internships at a men’s residential substance use treatment center and an outpatient substance use disorder center. Sarah’s first clinical experience was for ten years working as a psychometrician at a private practice, scoring and assisting in the completion of neuropsychological assessments. This provided experience with play and art therapy as well as working with individuals as young as four to older adults. It also provided a foundation for working with families and teachers.
Sarah also worked in the community sector at Fairfax County Community Services Board. She completed brief internships in an opiate outpatient center (OBOT) and a residential facility for women and their children. Four years of her work with the county was spent working in the serious mental illness population, serving individuals with trauma, mood disorders, and schizophrenia.
Sarah uses an eclectic, strengths-based approach and approaches her work from a mind-body- spirit perspective. In addition to one-on-one work, Sarah enjoys creating an interactive environment when facilitating groups.
Sarah is a certified Acudetox provider which uses acupuncture needle/points on the ear to reduce substance use cravings, aid in withdrawal and whole-body relaxation.
Tanya Bittenbender
MSW Counselor
The intersections of a career in nonprofit management and the unexpected twists and turns of life inspired Tanya to pursue a Master’s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work in the nonprofit sector over the last 20 years includes serving multiple roles simultaneously from event planner and volunteer coordinator to program manager and executive director. But true joy and meaning always came from helping others along the path to their best self. These opportunities primarily emerged in her volunteer work teaching and facilitating experiential education to various populations, including leadership skills to community volunteers, employment skills to individuals in detention, English to immigrants, life skills to parents overcoming poverty, or mindfulness to teens managing anxiety and depression. This theme carried over into her nine-month field placement in a Therapeutic Foster Care program, coaching foster parents and teaching an evidence-based program for potential parents. Tanya is a 2023 inductee of the Phi Alpha Honor Society which recognizes outstanding academic achievement in Social Work.
Tanya spent several years solely raising two healthy productive humans who are successfully launching their lives. The richness and diversity of her life experiences support her ability to be a non-judgmental and empathetic presence for clients. Tanya believes in our capacity to heal from trauma, develop resilience, and claim self-agency. Tanya is focused on creating a safe space where clients may gain perspective on how they feel, emote, and behave as they move through the world. She wants to join them on their journey as they address problems, build on strengths, and practice tools and techniques to manage their lives with more power, grace, and self-love. Tanya utilizes a variety of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic theory, and mindfulness-based activities.
India Payne
BA, CSAC-S Counselor
India is a Qualified Mental Health Professional. She has been in the field of mental health and substance use for over 10 years. India began her journey working with children and adolescents as an Intensive In-home counselor, working both in the home setting and school settings. She then transitioned into the role of substance use counselor at a methadone clinic in Prince William County. She attended Norfolk State University and Southern New Hampshire University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has a passion for working with individuals and seeing their full potential. In her spare time you can find her snuggled in a corner reading a book or binge-watching Rizzoli and Isles. Her go-to quote is “never let your obstacles become more important than your goal.”
Jessica Arsement
BA, CSAC-S Counselor
Jessica received her bachelors degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Psychology and Criminal Justice. After graduation, she returned to Virginia Beach to work in mental health for several years. Her initial focus was on early intervention with youth, specifically in runaway/homeless youth shelters and in home mental health treatment. Jessica then shifted her focus to working with people struggling Substance use disorders. She has provided services in a clinic that specialized in medication assisted treatment (MAT). Through that program, she began providing treatment to clients managing their substance use on an outpatient basis. With that transition, she began supervision towards becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and intends to continue her education at the masters level.
Jessica moved to Northern Virginia in May. She is passionate about providing empathetic and reflective care. Fun facts about her are that her husband is Thai and she learning to speak the language. She also raced go-karts from the ages of 5 to 12 at Langley speedway in Richmond.
Laura Schwartz
MPH, CSAC Counselor
Laura Schwartz is a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and Qualified Mental Health Professional with10 years of experience helping individuals navigate recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. She is passionate about providing compassionate, person-centered care and brings a deep commitment to trauma-informed and culturally competent treatment.
Laura’s background spans a wide range of clinical settings and levels of care. She has worked in crisis stabilization, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. Her approach blends evidence-based practices like Motivational Interviewing and Relapse Prevention with a strong focus on individualized care and collaboration.
Laura draws on her extensive experience to support clients on their recovery journey, believing in every person’s capacity for growth, healing, and long-term change. She holds a B.S. in Health Systems Management and will complete her Master’s of Public Health at George Mason University in the spring of 2025.