About Garland

Garland has a unique strength for speaking about Addiction and Mental Health. 

She is a person in recovery, a clinician and a researcher. Having a membership in all three areas, she envisions herself assisting to bridge the gap between academia, professional practice, policy/law and the public.

Garland holds a PhD from UC San Diego, School of Medicine/San Diego State University, School of Social Work specializing in Research on Substance Use. She has a master's degree in Clinical Psychology with a training emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and specializations in Addictive Disorders and Psychological Trauma. She has a Certification in Alcohol and Drug Counseling (CADC-II) through the state of California and completed specialized training in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback. 

Clinical: Garland has over 15 years of professional experience within the mental health and addictions field. She has worked in public agencies, schools, treatment facilities, as well as private clients within the entertainment industry, as a Recovery Coach and Counselor. She has experience conducting interventions, assessments, groups, consulting, family and one-on-one counseling sessions. She enjoys providing substance use disorder and mental health awareness education to clinicians, law enforcement, families, and students. 

Research: Dr. Gerber researches mental health and substance use-related issues within the criminal legal system, advocating for trauma-informed, evidence-based, non-punitive approaches. Currently she is working on research exploring and assessing legal professional burnout and how it affects occupational wellness, as well as case related practices. She also has completed work on the San Diego Sheriff's Department Naloxone Training Program rescope project.

Garland is in long term recovery and has dedicated her life to studying addiction and mental health, helping others get educated, as well as recover.