About Us
About Us
About WAAT
WAAT was formed in 2001. Six women gathered for lunch once a month with the purpose of sharing experience, support and knowledge in the field of addiction. The lunch meeting turned into a breakfast meeting and soon there were more and more women coming together for a common purpose.
WAAT is a membership organization of professional women in the field of addiction. Our membership is comprised of Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Specialists, Interventionists, Life Coaches, Sober Living Owners, Treatment Center Owners, Marketers and more. Meetings are held monthly. WAAT offers a variety of speakers every other month, alternating with networking meetings. Topics range from new information about addiction treatment to business management. CEUs are offered for licensed MFTs and LCSWs in good membership standing. Professional development hours are available for CADCs.
Membership
Membership is for individuals. The initial membership fee is $125.00, with a $75.00 annual renewal fee. Students can join at a reduced rate. Membership begins on the 1st of the month you join and is renewed on the first of that month the following year.
Benefits of membership include: 1) Privileges to the "Members Only" section of our website, which includes a listing in our resource directory, access to the resource directory, and our membership directory, 2) informative speaker presentations, 3) CEUs or professional development hours, 4) networking, 5) and the opportunity to meet top women in the addiction field discuss the trends and issues that we face on a daily basis.
How We Do It
WAAT has a volunteer executive board of directors who meet quarterly. Each chapter has volunteer officers who provide support for their chapter.
Chanda Rankin, Ph.D., CADC II
Chanda has worked in the field of mental health for 19 years. She specializes in working with addiction, trauma, and creativity concerns, treating adults, young adults, and creative individuals. For 7 years she worked at Musicares as Director of West Coast Health and Human Services. She then moved on to become a residential clinician at Promises Treatment Centers. Chanda currently has a full-time private practice in West Los Angeles in addictions counseling and consultation. She received her MA and Ph.D., from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. While completing her dissertation she attended UCLA's Drug and Alcohol Counseling Program and became a certified Level II Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADCII).
As a founding Board member of WAAT she has been closely involved in WAAT's development since it's inception in 2002, and has held several seats on the Board. When asked why she wanted to be a part of WAAT, she said, "I felt a need for community and connection among women in the field. When I moved from the Bay Area back to Los Angeles in 2000, WAAT allowed me to meet many wonderful, powerful, and amazing women in this field. WAAT has had a big influence in my professional and personal life."