Who We Are
Our Team Members
Matthew Dale Bauersachs MSW
Founder, Executive Director
Matt Bauersachs is the Founder and Executive Director for Learn to Live Recovery LLC. Matthew graduated with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe) in May 2019. While attending SIUe he was elected President of the Student Social Work Association and he was the Service Award recipient. He began working in the field in 2018. He also graduated with his master’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University in December 2020. Matthew has been sober since January 3, 2011. He is passionate about recovery and the impact it can have on a person’s life. Matthew’s philosophy of recovery is to “learn to live again” which allows residents to learn about themselves, live with a positive mindset focused on self-improvement, and find a recovery path that does not just produce long term recovery, but overall happiness and success in life.
tstewart@learntoliverecovery.com
(314) 258 6131
Taylor Stewart BA, MHA
Director of Operations
Taylor Stewart is the Director of Operations at Learn to Live Recovery. Her function with us is strategic planning & implementation with a focus on organizational compliance and goals set by leadership. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology as well as a Master’s in Health Administration. Taylor has worked in the substance abuse field since 2015, having done work in direct care, case management, substance use counseling, program coordinating, and now operations. Taylor is passionate about using her strengths and skills to help others live a better life.
David O’Neill BA
Program Coordinator
David O’Neill O’Neill is the Program Coordinator at Learn to Live Recovery. David has a communications degree from Rockhurst University, and over a decade of experience taking men through the 12-steps. David was a substance abuse counselor for 5 years, having a variety of other positions in the field since 2014. David is passionate about recovery and sharing what he has learned along the way in his own recovery journey, which began in 2007. David also is an accomplished life coach, helping others find the motivation to make necessary changes in their lives, and a trained Recovery Coach through the CCAR program.
Craig Perry
Resident Coordinator
Craig Perry is a Resident Coordinator. Craig was the first resident of Learn to Live Recovery and is a proud example of what Recovery can do in your life. He uses his life experience being in recovery since 2021 to support residents finding their way to long-term recovery, as well as his knowledge as a trained Recovery Coach through the CCAR program. Craig manages a caseload of residents to see them through our program, start to finish, and is an excellent task manager, organizing various aspects of programming and operations.
Elise Bellfontaine
Director of Client Goals
Elise has been part of the Learn
to Live team since opening in 2021, coming onboard to offer equine therapy services, and eventually integrating her many skills into individual and group work with our residents. She is especially skilled in targeting specific goals with residents and coming up with plans of accountability. She also assists in data tracking to monitor resident engagement as a part of holding residents accountable. Elise is a valued member of our team, playing an important role in resident advocacy and mobilizing residents’ dreams to make them into reality.
Audi
Duo Dog
Audi joined LTL in April 2022. He is our facility dog and offers emotional support to residents as needed. He is a good boy who gets lots of pets and likes naps.
John Palmer
John Palmer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. He is a certified Recovery Coach Professional and a certified Recovery Coach Trainer. He began his career in the substance use disorder and mental health field in New Haven, Connecticut at what is now Turnbridge. He worked with a small group of individuals to build a long-term
residential program for young adults and held various positions during his time there, among them Executive Director, Director of Professional Development, and Director of Family Services. Regardless of his role, John continued to be involved with direct client care through the conduct of skills groups on such topics as healthy coping mechanisms, triggers to relapse, relapse prevention, and recovery education, while always communicating the importance of simultaneous and successful treatment of substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses. In recovery since 2007, John brings a relatable mix of information and experience, contributing to his success in helping clients and families understand changing roles and responsibilities as a family member moves into recovery.
Lisa Goldman
Clinical Director
Seasoned Clinical Psychologist with extensive leadership experience in outpatient, residential, and forensic/correctional settings. Recognized for visionary program development, evidence-based treatment strategies, and building strong therapeutic alliances that drive improved mental health outcomes across diverse populations.
Brings robust expertise in clinical leadership, comprehensive assessments, and a wide range of therapeutic interventions. Proven record of designing tailored treatment plans and delivering psychotherapy that meets the unique needs of individuals.
Guided by trauma-informed and family systems approaches, Dr. Goldman holds a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and has spent many years advocating for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders involved in the court system. She takes a holistic approach, recognizing the interconnection of physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and works with patients to develop comprehensive plans addressing lifestyle factors such as exercise, sleep, and overall well-being.
Max Rava
Primary therapist
Max’s passion is providing trauma-informed care for individuals addressing substance use disorders, mental health diagnoses, and other co-occurring diagnoses. His Why: To give to others what was so freely provided to him – a listening ear, and the support to chase his dreams. Max takes a holistic, strengths-based therapy approach to help clients gain insight and develop comprehensive wellness plans and skills to utilize their resilience, preparing them to better cope with the challenges in their lives.
Max is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. He is also an alumnus of Saint Louis University, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Latin American and International Studies, as well as a Professional Master of Business Administration degree. His previous professional experience includes entrepreneurial ventures and working with small businesses, social service organizations, and think tanks.