SAGE Counseling, Inc.
History, Management, Vision, Mission & Values

History

SAGE Counseling, Inc. was formed in 1998 specifically to provide services to the criminal justice system and court-mandated clients. Almost all of our clients are under court supervision (primarily the Maricopa County Superior Court, or Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) or referred by Child Protective Services.

Currently, we have multiple contracts with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Maricopa County Pre-trial Services Agency, the Department of Juvenile Corrections and the Department of Economic Security.

Our high level of customer service is grounded in a strong administrative structure. As a result of our current programs and contracts, we have developed a comprehensive infrastructure that enables us to efficiently provide the kind of accurate tracking and reporting that the criminal justice system requires.

Our treatment programs were developed for criminal offenders and our overall philosophy and clinical approach are grounded in the empirically validated standards for that population. As is recommended by the leaders in the field of offender treatment, our programs have focused, structured groups, utilize multiple treatment components and methodologies, and emphasize specific skill development, e.g., conflict resolution, stress management, anger management, effective parenting, positive coping, refusal skills, lifestyle balance and change/transition skills.

Today, we provide over 50 groups per week in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office jail system;   over 70 groups per week on Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence and Anger Management at 10 locations conveniently situated throughout Maricopa County; regularly scheduled weekend DUI offender treatment classes;   plus, we provide in-home Family Preservation case management services to over 60 families.

SAGE Counseling, Inc . has earned a reputation as a leader in our industry.   We are successful because of the individual contributions made by each of our employees.    Since founding SAGE Counseling, Inc. , we have held to a very simple philosophy: exceptional service to our clients in order to keep our customers . We want to ensure that these relationships continue well into the future.

Management

Stephen Grams, MA, LISAC …………………….......……….…Executive Director

Steve is the owner and Executive Director of SAGE Counseling, Inc., an agency he founded in 1998.  He began working with the criminal justice populations in 1985 serving as a psychotherapist in a maximum security prison in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the course of his career, Steve has worked with a wide variety of criminal justice and social service agencies, and he has served as a counselor, clinical supervisor, administrator, and consultant.  Steve brings a unique combination of business and counseling skills to his role as Executive Director.

Jan Scouten, MDiv. LISAC ………………......………..…..…...... Clinical Director; Substance Abuse Treatment Programs Administrator

Jan has 20 years of clinical experience in the field of substance abuse treatment, serving in inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings.  He has worked the past 10 years with the criminal justice system, both with misdemeanor and felony level clients.  Jan has been supervising and training counselors for over 15 years and works to maintain the highest quality of clinical services using current research-based “best practices.” 

Jackie Uhlemann, M.A., LPC, LAMFT....……...….............…Clinical Supervisor; Domestic Violence and Anger Management Programs Administrator

Jackie’s counseling experience includes outpatient individual and groups, family homes, shelter and school settings, helping people with issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, family problems, and motivational difficulties. Jackie supervises and trains staff, and develops and maintains curriculum to uphold SAGE’s standards of quality, best practices, and viable programming.

Chris George, BSBA, PHR, AIM……….…….....Human Resource Administrator

Chris has the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) designation from the Society of Human Resource Management and the AIM (Associate in Management) from the Insurance Institute of America.  He has more than 20 years human resource management experience, including seven years with Arizona’s social services community.  He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Social Services Contractor Indemnity Pool.  Chris oversees staff recruitment, hiring, compensation, employee benefits, legal compliance, and insurance for SAGE.

Roger Carmona, A+, MCP, AAS, BAS ….………………..IT Administrator

Roger joined SAGE Counseling Management Team in August 2008.  He obtained certifications for Systems Administration from Microsoft, as well as certifications for computer hardware from CompTIA. He also obtained his Associates of Applied Science in Networking Administration from Mesa Community College and his Bachelors of Applied Science in Computer Systems Administration from Arizona State University. Roger hopes to be able to implement sophisticated technology processes for the everyday operations of SAGE that will improved staff efficiency and enhanced our customer services.

Richard Yee, B.M., MBA……..……………………………….Finance Administrator

With his Bachelor of Music degree, Richard completed 12 successful years as an educator in public education.  Over the next 27 years, he earned a Masters in Business Administration, served as a corporate controller/treasurer in the hi-tech manufacturing industry, and developed his own accounting/bookkeeper practice with over 80 clients.  His current and past affiliations include the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Governor Appointment to the Small Business Executive Council, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Arizona Society of Practicing Accountants, and Kiwanis International.

Teresa Mouser  MS, LSAT …………………………………....Program Administrator

Teresa has 10 years experience in the corrections and counseling fields.  She has worked as a Corrections Officer, Parole Officer, Corrections Counselor, and a Counseling Group Facilitator.  Teresa supervises SAGE’s Jail Program, which includes men’s and women’s counseling in: Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Fathering, Job Skills Training, Cognitive Restructuring, and Self-Esteem Enhancement.  Several of these are part of MCSO’s ALPHA substance abuse program.  Teresa supervises and trains counselors who facilitate our treatment programs in several of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office jails. 

Nicole DeBiase.…………………………………………...……….…..Office Manager

“Niki” supervises the office clerical staff and ensures that client charts, group sign-in rosters, client payments, counselor curriculum handouts, etc. are current and where they need to be.  She oversees all the myriad administrative activities that support our clinical focus on client care.  Niki is the ultimate go-to resource for the agency.

Vision

SAGE Counseling will set the standard for services that promote positive choices, skill development, personal growth, and accountability, one individual at a time for safer families and communities.

The mission of SAGE Counseling is to demonstrate responsible concern in order to advocate for clients, customers, and staff.   We do this by promoting responsible, ethical choices that will lead to long term success.

At SAGE Counseling :

• We value the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
• We conduct ourselves in an ethical manner with integrity-we do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
• We model authenticity.
• We promote the inclusion of spirituality in recovery.
• We demonstrate responsible concern for the needs of our clients.
• We are committed to serving our clients with respect and dignity.
• We value doing our job well to help our clients, customers, and staff succeed.
• We value a supportive work environment.
• We lead by example and are accountable for our actions.
• We manage and lead with data and facts.
• We value fiscal and fiduciary responsibility.
• We are a company that is easy to do business with.
• We are innovative and open to better ways of working.
• We are inquisitive about finding ways to be more efficient and effective.