Meet our Staff | Marlene Schafer, LPC, LAC, NCC, DVFOL

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” - C.S. Lewis.

| A word from Marlene |

Welcome! My name is Marlene Schafer, and I am the Founder of Arukah Center, a Licensed Substance Abuse Agency in Colorado, serving Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

Established in 2022, Arukah Center is dedicated to addressing the needs of the community and providing individuals with the necessary resources to lead more purposeful lives. Our center specializes in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Domestic Violence Treatment.

Our mission is to support your success by providing a safe environment to address life challenges. We aim to collaborate with you, using your strengths to align with your passions and values, thereby fostering meaningful change.

We are committed to supporting your healing journey by offering guidance, support, and tools to help you navigate through various stages of life. Whether you are facing challenges related to substance use, mental health, life transitions, relationship issues, or court-mandated treatment, we are here to assist you.

It is our hope that this visit inspires belief in the possibility of change and transformation. I look forward to meeting you!

| About Marlene |

I earned my undergraduate degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminology from the University of Southern Colorado and a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix.

I am licensed in the State of Colorado as a Professional Counselor and as an Addiction Counselor. I am a Full Operating Domestic Violence Provider. I am also board certified, endorsed by the National Board of Certified Counselors. In addition.

I am trained in the following treatment models: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Faith and Spiritually based counseling.

I have expertise in group and individual therapy. I specialize in behavioral addiction, substance use disorders, grief and loss, trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, and relationship difficulties.

I am a member of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals and the Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my two dogs. I enjoy fishing, reading, and spending time in the mountains.