Black Bear Lodge

Adam Marion is the clinical director at Black Bear Lodge. Prior to this, he has served as a primary therapist, providing clinical treatment for dually diagnosed patients in an outpatient setting. Adam views his career as a calling to use his gifts and talents to help people in need and lift them up, something he is definitely passionate about. During college, he studied abroad in Argentina and Costa Rica, falling in love with Central and South America. He credits the varied cultures in the region with broadening his approach to his work back at home. At Black Bear Lodge, Adam sees it as a privilege to witness the dramatic change that happens during treatment. A southerner born and bred, Adam Marion grew up in a small town in South Georgia. He went on to earn both undergraduate and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Georgia. Adam initially put those skills to use working for a variety of wilderness programs, a career path that allowed him to merge his love of the outdoors and desire to serve others. Adam served as a supervisor, staff trainer and coordinator in back country locations stretching from Florida to Alaska. Much of this work was focused on individuals with co-occurring disorders and their families.

Paige Bottom has been committed to the field of addiction and mental illness since 1990, beginning with her work with adolescents diagnosed with both psychiatric and chemical dependency problems. Paige’s path began in direct clinical work in Virginia after completing her undergraduate work in psychology, but it soon branched into prevention and education. Throughout that time, Paige remained dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people who had been affected by addiction and mental illness. As a result, she returned to graduate school with a dual focus on counseling psychology and business administration. It was during this time that Paige moved out of direct care and into program development, operations and administration. Driven by a desire to have a greater impact on how care is delivered and to reach a larger portion of an underserved population, Paige’s ultimate goal was to provide services that result in a powerful, life-changing experience and greater rates of success in recovery. After receiving her master’s in business administration, Paige worked extensively in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Santa Cruz, California, creating and developing programs to increase their responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. As Group CEO of La Paloma and Black Bear Lodge, Paige brings a gentle, compassionate strength to the job. She was drawn to FRN because of our commitment to an integrated model of treatment and patient-centered care. Watching patients find themselves and their enthusiasm for life is what makes this work most rewarding for Paige. As patients heal, they reawaken their confidence, enthusiasm and commitment to a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Treatment provides the transformative experience that allows people to become fully engaged in all the possibilities present in a life of recovery. Being part of the unique process of helping people walk the road of happiness and recovery is what Paige values most.