Meet The Chandos Team
Chandos offers a comprehensive range of individualise, holistic skills and therapies professionally delivered by our world-class team of treatment specialists. We are proud to introduce you to the Chandos team, and should you require any additional information or support regarding the treatment and care that we provide, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Dr Mike Peirce MBE FRSA
Honorary Patron
Directors
Katalin Juhasz
Chairperson
Katalin joined the board as Interim Chair to support James and the board through the next phase of consolidation and setting a strategy for the next 5 years. She works as an investment manager for a local impact fund to help social organisations grow and scale up their business towards a self sufficient model. Previously, Katalin has over 10 years of commercial experience within the energy sector, working with large commercial and industrial businesses. She has also worked in origination and business development focusing on the wholesale market and hedging services to third parties. Katalin worked with the Joanna Simpson Foundation – from setting up their governance to organise their launch and fundraising event. She brings strong leadership and organisational skills coupled with resilience and passion to see the social sector thrive. She has a business degree with finance major from Western Michigan University.
Nick Dale
Director
Alec Quinton
Director
Marek Korzeniowski
Director
Management
James Dickinson MSc
Head of Treatment
James has a postgraduate qualification in Management Development and Social Responsibility. Prior to this, he completed six years training in Group and Individual Counselling. He is a Tae Kwon Do instructor and holds a Diploma in Outdoor Education.
James sits very much at the hub of Chandos, supervising and mentoring staff and key workers. He also remains actively involved in leading individual and group sessions.
Chantal Enders BSc (Hons) LCCH RSHom
House Manager
Chantal is a Homeopath, registered with The Society of Homeopaths. She studied Psychology at Durham University and thegn qualified at The Contemporary College of Homeopathy in Bristol. She sees clients on a 3-4 weekly basis.
Initial consultations on a one-to-one basis, cover complete medical history (childhood to present day) - remedies can therefore be prescribed for physical manifestations of, for example, fatigue/weakness/tremors, organ support for liver, as well as looking at mental/emotional factors around addiction, leading to, for example, anxiety/anger/mental health issues. Remedies are safe to use alongside other medications.
Alex Robbins
Accountant
Alex is a specialist in tax and business planning, and heads Bishop Fleming’s team focused on providing wealth-management services.
Having joined Bishop Fleming in 2006, Alex previously worked with two of the ‘Big 4’ firms of accountants, his qualifications include CTA.
Educated in Taunton and at Cardiff University, Alex is an active participant in hockey, skiing, and golf, although more recently has become one of the dads cheering on his son from the touchline.
“Getting to know my clients is the key to providing practical business planning solutions that will help them achieve their ambitions. We ensure that clients’ tax strategy is in harmony with their personal and business life. I am delighted to be part of the Chandos House team using my firm’s knowledge and resources to support this fantastic organisation.”
Clinical
Dr. Jan Melichar BSc, MB BS, MRCPsych, MD
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr. Jan Melichar BSc, MB BS, MRCPsych, MD is our expert in house Consultant Psychiatrist. His special clinical interests include Drug and/or Alcohol Dependency, difficult to treat Anxiety and Depression, Pain Management and Detoxification.
As well as working at Chandos House, he has been a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol Medical School and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in Substance Misuse for the AWP NHS Mental Health Trust.His research interests include Psychopharmacology (the actions of drugs and their effects on mood and behaviour), especially with regard to anxiety, depression and substance misuse.
Dr Melichar has always been fascinated by research looking at the role and actions of the drugs used in psychiatry and how they can be improved. His long term interest in the biological basis of psychiatric disorders is balanced by an awareness that successful treatment requires an understanding of the whole person and that every patient is an individual, which resonates perfectly with the ethos at Chandos.
His current membership(s) of professional, national and regional bodies include:
- Member of the Royal College of Psychiatry
- Member of the National Executive of the Addiction Faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatry
- Member of the British Association for Psychopharmacology
- Member of the European Chemoreception Research Organisation
Dean Gustar
Senior Addictions Practitioner& Clinical Supervisor
Dean Gustar is a Consultant Supervisor to our team and our Locum of choice. Dean has over 14 years clinical experience in the drug and alcohol treatment sector. He is a Training Clinical Supervisor and Clinician. He has developed and delivered services across the South West. His experience includes residential treatment, day programmes, and specialist alcohol services.
He has worked in the public sector, and with high profile clients in an exclusive private setting. He brings a wealth of clinical experience to the team, complemented by his knowledge of managing clinical teams to deliver high quality evidence-based services in a wide range of settings.
His training includes:
- Level 7 Advanced Professional Certificate in Counselling Supervision
- Diploma in Counselling
- FDAP/EDI Level 3 Certificate in Supervisory Management and Leadership
Counselling
Pete Weinstock MSc CQSW Dip
Counsellor
Pete runs creative writing workshops every 4 weeks. He also runs weekly group work and individual sessions on commitment to recovery and relapse prevention. He provides supervision for the Chandos staff.
Pete has been working at BDP (Bristol Drugs Project) for 15 years. He has over 30 years experience in the field of social work, homelessness and housing advice, as well as working with people with drug and alcohol issues and complex support needs.
Stefan Gieron
Counsellor & Clinical Supervisor
Stefan has over 20 years experience of working in the field of addiction, 14 of which have been in senior roles ranging from treatment to project management.
Stefan is facilitating interactive workshops and groups at Chandos House and has a keen interest in working with the families of those in treatment.
He is running a Family Group on alternate Sundays as a part of the comprehensive package of care that Chandos House provides.
Sunday 12-2
Qualifications include:
- Diploma in Counselling
- PG Cert and Advanced Diploma in Supervision
- FDAP & NCS Accredited
Therapy
Kathryn Smith MTI Registered
Senior Practitioner/Somatic Trauma, Massage & Bodywork Therapist
Kathryn sees residents weekly for massage and bodywork sessions. Prior to working as a bodywork therapist, and at Chandos House, she has worked within various drug, alcohol and mental health projects since 1995, on a 1-2-1 basis and with groups. She holds a Certificate in Counselling Skills, and undertakes ongoing training, which has previously included Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Processing and Somatic Trauma Therapy Training.
Kathryn is passionate about the many benefits and ways massage & bodywork can support somebody, including when living with PTSD and the impact of trauma. Sessions are tailored to support the men throughout the different stages of their treatment. Kathryn explores techniques to enable somebody to have a different experience of being in their body and helps residents build on their own resources and strategies, so that the body can become a resource for someone even in times of crisis and beyond trauma.
David Odell
Chandos SMART Facilitator, DANOS Certified
David has 14 years’ experience working in the substance misuse field in a variety of roles. He studied at Thames Valley University Faculty of Health and Human Science, where he gained his Drugs & Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) certificate, focusing on drug trends, interventions and Motivational Interviewing.
David has varying roles at Chandos House and is also an experienced group facilitator. He currently runs the Chandos House community SMART groups, usually with a resident co-facilitating.
Sam May BA, BSc, LicAc, MBAcC
Acupuncturist
Sam is an experienced acupuncturist and a member of the British Acupuncture Council. He studied Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for four years at the internationally renowned College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, which combines the Five Element approach to acupuncture with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Sam is also a certified auricular acupuncturist, having completed a training with Acudetox Plus UK. He has a calm and gentle manner, and is also an experienced meditation teacher.
Pippa Ford HCPC Registered
Dramatherapist MA, Yoga & Mindfulness Therapist (Child & Adolescent Mental Health)
Pippa is a HCPC registered Dramatherapist providing both group and individual therapy at Chandos House. Pippa has 18 years experience of working in the addictions field, and has also worked in various mental health, forensic and trauma focussed organisations.
Dramatherapy uses creative approaches to facilitate a process of self-development and growth by exploring emotive and traumatic material within the safety of story, imagination and creativity. Pippa’s client-centred work draws on a range of disciplines, including psychodynamic approaches, psychodrama, Gestalt, forum theatre and environmental arts therapy.
Pippa is also a trained yoga & mindfulness therapist and is one of the lead developers for a specialised yoga organisation in Bristol, delivering trauma sensitive yoga and yoga for mental health.
Kate Guscott
Art Therapist
Kate is an HCPC registered Art Therapist, providing both group and individual therapy at Chandos House. Kate has 10 years of rich experience. Whilst in London she worked schools, family centers and charities with diverse communities and families. She also spent 4 years woking at trauma and addiction treatment centres across Los Angeles. She thoroughly enjoys working with addiction and feels that she has found her true calling in this field.
Kate’s sessions provide a safe, consistent and confidential setting in which people are able to speak about/express themselves surrounding their lives and work through their experiences and feelings.
Kate believes passionately that Art Therapy has the power to bring together the various aspects of human experiences. Creating expressive art work is a way to communicate, reflect and integrate our internal and external worlds, and that this is key to wellbeing!
Pam Fisher
Movement Psychotherapy
Pam has 20 years experience working as a Movement Psychotherapist. Until 2016 she was Director of Dance Voice Therapy and Education Centre, developing and delivering a Masters Programme in Dance/Movement Psychotherapy whilst there. As a practitioner she has worked with those with a range of physical and emotional needs across the lifespan, both with groups and individuals. She is a registered member of the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK.
Pam now works in private practice as a movement psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and mentor. She delivers training/workshops in group dynamics, clinical supervision, creative process psychotherapy and trauma both nationally and internationally. Her research and practice has been recovery focused over the past 12 years, and she has contributed chapters to several books in this field.
Qualifications include:
MA (Ed.)
Life Member of Royal Academy of Dance
Nick Broyd
Hula Hooping, Circus Skills
Nick has worked with Chandos House for over 2 years delivering sessions, working primarily with hula hooping, more recently expanding this into circus skills and playful, team building games.
He seeks to support the group through the use of these non-stereotypical activities aiming to increase physical and mental wellbeing of participants.
Mischa Roque
Yoga Instructor
Education
Rebecca Lloyd
Education & Teaching Specialist
Rebecca is an off-site teaching specialist delivering the Community Volunteering Qualification. Her expertise in drama, festivals and arts events corresponds with her teaching and she has a phenomenal record for learner progression and success. Her approach includes a range of techniques and the moral imperative.
Will Smith
Art Classes Tutor
Will has 15 years experience as an Art Tutor working in a variety of schools and colleges. For the past 3 years, he has been an Adult Education Tutor working for the WEA at the Carlton Centre in Weston-Super-Mare teaching Beginner’s and Intermediate Art Courses.
He runs weekly evening art classes at Chandos House, through the WEA, giving residents an opportunity to produce artworks in a variety of media.
“I believe that these classes have been of great benefit to residents during their time on the treatment programme in a variety of ways. Firstly, through exploring a variety of materials and techniques, individuals have become more aware of avenues for self-expression and developing personal creativity; all of which are valuable in the recovery process and beyond. Secondly, being able to focus on a project and see it through to completion has, I believe, helped individuals with self discipline which is also important to life beyond the programme.”
Alongside this, Will also practises his own creativity through painting and drawing both from life and in a studio setting.
Dave Talbot
Outdoor Sports Instructor
Dave is our outdoor sports instructor and a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors. His infectious love of the outdoors helps our clients to overcome mental and physical boundaries by unlocking their potential within. He provides activities in climbing, abseiling, orienteering and more, where all are enabled, whatever their capabilities.Support
Donna Bales
Housekeeping Manager
Donna, of Chew Valley Maintenance is responsible for Health & Safety, Domestic management and the Housekeeping of Chandos House, Donna has an extensive background of working within the care sector and assists in creating the nurturing environment greatly needed by clients.
Clive Strange
House / Health & Safety Officer
Bert
Unofficial Head of Treatment
Bert gives the Men of Chandos the opportunity to not speak in a deep voice, and to both give and receive unconditional love, care and attention.
Recent Blog Posts
REHAB: NO, NO, NO
Drug-related deaths in the UK are rising each year, but council spending on rehab centres has been slashed by up to 58%, HuffPost reveals today. As part of our ‘Austerity Bites’ series this week, we cover the closure of Chandos House in Bristol following “swingeing...
Deaths Rise As Two-Thirds Of Local Authorities Cut Spending On Drug And Alcohol Rehab
Austerity Bites: Councils reduce funding for residential treatment by as much as 58%. By Nicola Slawson. Original article posted by The Huffington Post click to read. Spending on residential drug and alcohol treatment is being “significantly de-prioritised” by local...
‘We’ve Hit Rock Bottom’: Bristol’s Last Residential Drug Rehab Centre To Close Its Doors
As Chandos House faces the end, a former resident reflects on how it saved his life. By Nicola Slawson Julian Maddern is back in Bristol for a visit, reminiscing about the city where he finally got clean after 32 years of being an alcoholic and a drug addict. He says...