About Us

Dr. Achara-Abrahams has more than a decade of experience helping behavioral health systems move from reactive to recovery-oriented approaches. As Director of Strategic Planning at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, Dr. Achara led Philadelphia’s cutting-edge recovery-oriented system of care (ROSC) transformation effort, which included managing the change process, designing and implementing strategies to empower people in recovery to play integral roles in systems change and to expand and integrate peer services, and aligning policies and clinical practices with a recovery-orientation. Prior to leading Philadelphia’s successful ROSC transformation, Dr. Achara was a faculty member in the Yale School of Medicine Program on Recovery and Community Health, where she supported Connecticut’s recovery transformation efforts.

Dr. Achara formed Achara Consulting in 2008 specifically to help state and local governments and provider organizations envision, plan, implement, and manage transformative approaches to implementing ROSC. A key element of her approach is working early on with an expansive set of stakeholders to develop a shared vision with widespread community support.

Myriam was trained as a legal secretary and brings more than 25 years of experience in office support and operational roles to Achara Consulting. As General Operations Manager, she ensures that Finance, Human Resources, Technology, and Compliance operations are running smoothly.

Taylor manages project plans and facilitates the delivery of technical assistance to behavioral health system leaders, peer support supervisors, and peer support staff in substance use and mental health programs for adults and youth. For 10 years prior to joining the Achara team, she worked with youth and families in a variety of roles. She volunteers as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line. Taylor developed a passion to be a part of the solution after watching the opioid epidemic ravage her hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and is pursuing her DONA International Doula Certification. She has a passion for wellness in her own recovery journey and is moved by the special recovery-oriented, person-centered approach to recovery and wellness that Achara Consulting brings to behavioral health organizations across the country.

Beth is a person in long-term recovery who, since 2007, has been a tireless advocate for persons seeking recovery and wellness. Beth began her journey as a Recovery Support Peer Specialist in 2011, later becoming a certified Peer Support Supervisor. She became a Certified Medication Assisted Treatment Advocate in 2020. Beth graduated from Texas State University in 2019 with a triple minor in Sociology, Psychology, and Social Work. She has worked in the for-profit, non-profit, and public behavioral health sectors, honing her skills of strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-informed advocacy and care.

Erika is a person in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. She has an MS in Addiction Counseling and is a fellow of the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program. Erika is also a certified trainer of coaches for the Recovery Support Peer Specialist Certification and brings five years of experience providing peer support services to youth and adults. Prior to working as a peer support provider, she interned as a counselor at a youth outpatient facility for substance use. Her passion is working with peers, youths, and Spanish-speaking communities. Her goals are to work toward eliminating health disparities experienced by people of color and to end the stigma borne by people with substance use conditions.

Jen excels at providing Achara Consulting clients with the guidance and tools they need to identify their system’s assets and tap into their strengths to create recovery-oriented systems of care. She brings years of experience managing the logistics of large-scale systems change and helping leaders translate their system needs, assessment data, and shared vision into concrete, achievable steps. Jen honed her system change expertise as a part of the core team that designed and coordinated the transformation of Philadelphia’s innovative behavioral health system.