Paula Norris Mestayer, M.Ed., LPC, FAPA
Founder of Springfield Wellness Center · Co-Creator of BR+NAD® · Author & Advocate
Paula Norris Mestayer, M.Ed., LPC, FAPA, is a licensed professional counselor, educator, author, and pioneer in NAD+ therapy. As the founder of Springfield Wellness Center and co-creator of BR+NAD®, she has spent decades bringing together psychotherapy, addiction recovery, behavioral health, and whole-person care in an innovative approach to restoration and recovery.
A Career in Psychotherapy, Addiction Recovery & Whole-Person Healing
Paula Norris Mestayer has devoted her professional life to psychotherapy, addiction recovery, behavioral health, and the understanding of the whole person. Her work has brought together clinical experience, education, compassion, and innovative approaches to helping individuals navigate complex challenges and move toward meaningful recovery.
Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals and families affected by addiction, trauma, emotional distress, and other behavioral health concerns. Her approach has emphasized the importance of addressing the psychological, emotional, and physical dimensions of recovery rather than treating any one aspect in isolation.
This commitment to whole-person care became the foundation for her work at Springfield Wellness Center and ultimately contributed to the development of BR+NAD®.
Education & Clinical Training
Paula Norris Mestayer earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1969. She went on to pursue advanced study in psychotherapy and clinical practice, including specialized study at Tulane University and an internship at Manhattan Children’s Psychiatric Hospital.
Her early clinical training established the foundation for a career centered on psychotherapy, addiction recovery, behavioral health, and the treatment of complex emotional and life circumstances.
A Career in Psychotherapy & Behavioral Health
Paula’s clinical career has been grounded in psychotherapy, behavioral health, addiction recovery, and the treatment of complex psycho-physiological conditions. Since establishing her private practice in 1980, she has worked with individuals experiencing anxiety and panic disorders, depression, stress-related conditions, substance abuse, and marital and family challenges.
Her clinical experience has included both individual and group work in hospital, residential, and non-residential treatment settings. Drawing from cognitive, emotional, and behavioral approaches, she has developed an eclectic style of psychotherapy designed to address the individual as a whole rather than focusing on symptoms alone.
For 22 years, Paula served as a consultant with the Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Units at Ochsner Foundation Hospital. During 11 of those years, she also directed a private nonprofit residential program serving abused and neglected children.
These experiences shaped the philosophy that would ultimately become central to her work: meaningful recovery requires compassion, individualized care, and attention to the interconnected relationship between mind, emotions, behavior, and the body.
The Development of BR+NAD®
In 2001, Paula Norris Mestayer founded an outpatient clinic focused on the treatment of chemical dependency and acute stress. Her clinical work led her to incorporate intravenous NAD+ into a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery and brain restoration, beginning a new chapter in her work and in the history of Springfield Wellness Center.
Drawing on decades of experience in psychotherapy, addiction treatment, and behavioral health, Paula recognized the importance of addressing more than the immediate symptoms of withdrawal. Her approach brought together NAD+ therapy with individualized psychological and behavioral support, reflecting her longstanding belief in treating the whole person.
This work ultimately led to the development of the BR+NAD® protocol at Springfield Wellness Center. Developed collaboratively by Paula and Dr. Richard Mestayer III, BR+NAD® brought together their complementary areas of expertise—Paula’s background in psychotherapy, addiction recovery, and compassionate patient care with Richard’s expertise in psychiatry and medicine.
What began as an innovative approach to chemical dependency has continued to evolve through clinical experience, research, physician education, and ongoing refinement. Today, BR+NAD® represents the continuing legacy of the work Paula began more than two decades ago.
Author, Educator & Advocate
Paula Norris Mestayer has also shared her experience and perspective through writing, teaching, professional presentations, and public education. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to helping people understand addiction not simply as a behavioral problem, but as a complex condition involving the brain, body, emotions, and environment.
In her book, Addiction: The Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ The Light of Hope, Paula draws on her years of clinical experience working with individuals affected by addiction. Written for both professionals and the general public, the book explores her experience with addiction treatment and the emerging role of NAD+ therapy, while sharing stories of individuals who have worked toward recovery and renewed health.
Paula has also presented her clinical work to professional audiences, including presentations addressing neurotransmission restoration and nutritional approaches to addiction recovery. Her continuing involvement in education and research reflects her commitment to sharing knowledge and advancing thoughtful approaches to addiction treatment and brain restoration.
Professional Credentials & Affiliations
Paula Norris Mestayer is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association (FAPA). Her professional affiliations include the American Counseling Association and the Louisiana Counseling Association.
She has also completed specialized certifications and training through the International Society of Clinical Hypnosis, the New Orleans Society of Clinical Hypnosis, the PAIRS Foundation for Marital Family Therapy, and ADTR-Creative Arts Therapy.
Paula’s professional work has included clinical presentations and research addressing addiction recovery, neurotransmission restoration, nutritional support, NAD+ therapy, and compassionate patient care. Selected presentations include:
• Clinical Trials of Neurotransmission Restoration — California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE), 2008
• Amino Acid-Based Nutritional Supplementation & Addiction Recovery — Society for Neuroscience, 2008
• Intravenous Administration of NAD & Addiction Recovery — Society for Neuroscience, 2014
• Intravenous Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Clinical Applications — Empower Health USA, 2018
• The NAD Story — Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors & Trainers (LASACT), 2018
• What is NAD and What Does It Do? — Hammond Rotary Club, 2020
• The Role of NAD and Compassionate Patient Care in the Health Care Industry — Terrell Conference for Mental Health Practitioners, 2020
Continuing the Mission
Paula Norris Mestayer’s work continues to be guided by a simple but enduring belief: meaningful recovery begins by seeing the whole person.
From her early work in psychotherapy and behavioral health to the founding of Springfield Wellness Center and the development of BR+NAD®, her career has centered on helping people move beyond addiction, trauma, and emotional suffering toward greater health, stability, and hope.
Today, her legacy continues through the clinical care, education, research, and professional collaboration surrounding BR+NAD®. The work she began more than two decades ago remains rooted in compassion, innovation, and the belief that restoration is possible.