Our team in detail...
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 keyworkers. He also remains actively involved in leading individual and group sessions.
James Dickinson MSc
Chandos Head of Treatment
Kathryn delivers weekly massage and bodywork sessions with residents. Prior to working as a bodywork therapist, she has worked within various drug, alcohol and mental health projects, on a 1-2-1 basis and with groups. She holds a Certificate in Counselling Skills, and has undertaken further training including Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Somatic Trauma Therapy Training (for PTSD). Kathryn is passionate about the many benefits and ways massage can support somebody and how, with different interventions and techniques, people can reconnect with and learn to use their body as a resource even at times of great stress and beyond trauma.
Kathryn Smith
Massage Therapist
MTI CNHC Registered
Bob Fisher MA
Counsellor
MA Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Bob has 14 years experience working as a Counsellor/Psychological Therapist and has also worked as a Samaritan volunteer for 11 years. He is a registered member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist.
As well as working in private practice, he supported young people as a counsellor at Off The Record, Bristol, as well as counselling students at the City of Bristol College. Bob has also spent the last 13 years working at the BDP (Bristol Drug Project) – six of these years as a Senior Practitioner.
He has trained in this field for a period of 6 years. Qualifications include:
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Masters Degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
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Diploma in Counselling
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Certificate in Counselling Skills
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Certificate in Counselling Theory
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.
Pete Weinstock
Counsellor
MSc CQSW Dip Creative Writing for Therapeutic Writing
Ruth Quick
Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Dip NT ND CNM mBANT mCNHC
Ruth is a Bristol based, BANT certified Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath, dedicated to supporting her clients transform their health. Ruth firmly believes in the healing power of natural, unprocessed whole foods and is passionate about inspiring people to make healthy food simple and delicious.Along side her work at Chandos House, Ruth see’s one to one clients at The Family Practice in Bristol. She also runs a food blog where she shares articles, recipes and inspiration for whole and healthful living.
Rebecca is the Director of the School of Ecstatic Movement which trains teachers in Ecstatic Awakening Dance. Rebecca has also worked within the criminal justice system, primarily in the Prison Service as a Substance Misuse counsellor and with Dance & Movement Therapies for 15 years. She facilitates weekly Movement & Relaxation group-work & 1-2-1 sessions.
Rebecca Hanscombe
Movement & Relaxation Facilitator
Sheila Tang
Voice and Singing Coach
Sheila runs weekly voice work and singing sessions. As well as being emotionally and physically therapeutic, these sessions nurture personal confidence and expression, develop musical skills and provide a forum for fun and laughter. Sheila has been running singing workshops, choirs and singing camps for the last 15 years, as well as being a qualified teacher. She follows the ethics and principles of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network.
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:
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Member of the Royal College of Psychiatry
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Member of the National Executive of the Addiction Faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatry
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Member of the British Association for Psychopharmacology
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Member of the European Chemoreception Research Organization
Dr. Jan Melichar BSc, MB BS, MRCPsych, MD
Consultant Psychiatrist
Chantal Enders
Homeopathy Consultant
BSc (Hons) LCCH RSHom
Chantal is a Homeopath, registered with The Society of Homeopaths. She studied Psychology at Durham University and then 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.
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:
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Level 7 Advanced Professional Certificate in Counselling Supervision
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Diploma in Counselling
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FDAP/EDI Level 3 Certificate in Supervisory Management and Leadership
Dean Gustar
Senior Addictions Practitioner
& Clinical Supervisor
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