Therapeutic Consulting Staff
J. Stephen Maurer, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Dr. Maurer received his M.D. degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Loma Linda University and is Chief of Staff at Patton State Hospital. He has been with Benchmark for seven years as a consultant. He is responsible for the evaluation of new students, upon admission to Benchmark, and assesses their mental health or substance use problems. He then prescribes treatment, including medications and/or psychotherapy, if indicated. He also is responsible for coordinating hospitalization, if required. He strives to encourage students to become involved in their own mental health treatment. Dr. Maurer is married and is the father of four children.
William Nelson, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Nelson received his Doctorate at the University of California, Riverside in 1980. His years of experience include a position as clinical director of Children's Village, a residential treatment facility for children. He served as clinical director of the Inland Family Learning Center and has been in private practice since 1982. Dr. Nelson has worked continuously with adolescents and young adults in many areas of mental health concerns. He has worked with Benchmark students for ten years. He has been married for 20 years and is the father of two children. He enjoys gardening and Native American art.
Linda Lucas, LMFT
Therapist
Linda has 23 years experience in working with adolescents and young adults in residential settings. She has delivered private, therapeutic services to Benchmark students for over two years. She is the mother of a 14 year old son. Linda enjoys gardening, scrap-booking and reading mystery novels.
Robin Shearer, M.A. M.P.H., R.N., M.F.T
Therapist
Robin, a licensed marriage and family therapist, together with her psychologist husband, Bill, own and direct Alternative Group, Inc., a Redlands organization that provides counseling services, mediation, and organizational training and development services. Robin has been involved in eating disorder treatment, anxiety disorder treatment, communication skills training and conflict resolution and mediation for many years. Robin is widely known in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as well as anxiety disorders. For the past 18 years, Robin has worked with hundreds of women and teens suffering from eating disorders and now consults and treats some Benchmark Young Adult School students with mild to moderate eating disorders. For additional information about Robin, please visit her web site at www.alternativegroupinc.com/about_robin.htm.
