Staffing Model and Partners
Paradise Valley Wellness Centre is a professional ethical treatment centre offering a tremendous standard of care. Our medical advisory committee oversees and ensures the highest quality of patient care is met. Our medical director is an addiction psychiatrist providing onsite services and consultation.
Paradise Valley Wellness Centre brings together a talented team of of health care professionals including a psychiatrist, a physician, master’s level therapists, yoga and meditation instructors, art therapists, residential support workers, a nutritionist, a nurse, an acupuncturist, and massage therapists. This compassionate and collaborative professional team creates an environment focused on your healing and wellness.
Below are some of our staff team:
Nirmala believes “Life is precious and priceless! We all deserve to live in the present and experience joy and healthy relationships”.
With this in mind, she founded Paradise Valley Wellness Centre which is offering cutting edge high quality assessment and therapeutic services for individuals and families impacted by destructive compelling behaviours. With over twenty years experience as an addiction specialist in programming, protocol and management, her vision is to strive for balance and integration of mind, body, and spirit required for healing and wellness. She was a nominee for YWCA women of distinction awards in the business and professions category in 2008 and she was also nominated for 2008
Celebration of Business Excellence Award in the business category.
Dr. Buttle holds specialty qualifications in psychiatry and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He also holds specialty qualification in addiction medicine, is a member of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Board of Disability Analysts. Dr. Buttle has worked in the field of addiction for 18 years in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Over many years he has integrated biological medicine with alternative approaches that emphasize the importance of mind-body connection. This approach has been extremely effective in helping those who struggle with emotional and psychological distress complicated by addiction. Despite his extensive knowledge of medical treatment he believes it is important to tap into the body’s own potential to heal and that an environment that values compassion, respect, acceptance and understanding, is essential for healing to occur.
After receiving medical training on both Canadian coasts, Lawrence gained 10 years of experience working in a variety of situations across Canada and Internationally. He ran a 100 bed hospital in Indonesia, created medical programs for off-shore oil rigs in Siberia, and even sampled the luxurious yet busy life of a cruise-ship physician.
More recently Lawrence has practiced both Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine in Squamish – incorporating his passions for mind-body and whole person healing, as well as nutritional and complementary approaches to health. He feels that spiritual growth is our inevitable birthright – and that such growth can be nurtured by compassionate guidance along the often painful path to wholeness and maturity
Jeff is a Certified Practitioner in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama by the American Board of Examiners in Group Therapy and Psychodrama. He has worked in four different residential treatment centres. With the support of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Centre of Addiction Research; Jeff authored the
Problem Substance Use Workbook; distributed by BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information. With 17 years experience working in the field of addictions, Jeff finds it tremendously rewarding to be part of our clinical team offering the highest quality programming and resources. His commitment to working in this field is a reflection of his passion for health and wellness.
He believes growth and change can be both fun and challenging.
Sharon manages the administration and may be one of the first people you speak to or meet when you arrive at the centre. She is a friendly, compassionate professional with great respect for all individuals she encounters. Sharon has over fourteen years of experience in a variety of roles with various industries. Although having worked in numerous industries the one constant for Sharon has been in supporting and caring for the people she works for. She has always had great empathy for all walks of life and an innate interest in the well-being of others and herself; whether it’s through meditation or nutrition, the physical, or just a listening ear. Sharon’s life experiences have taught her that we are all doing the best we can at every given moment and that sometimes a helping hand is required to learn new skills to help us cope with new situations or to deal with our past. Her decision to live in Squamish was about being closer to the great outdoors and spirit; so when learning of the centre, she felt the opportunity was something meant to be!
Michael is a Registered holistic Psychotherapist, Midlife Awakening Specialist and Spiritual Counsellor. Over the past 25 years, he has worked extensively with clients who have been diagnosed with varying degrees of
"dis-ease" in health, career or relationship areas of their lives.
Michael describes his fit with working at the centre as
"coming home"
Michael has an integrated approach to healing using evidence-based while honouring the
"art" part of transformational healing.
Kathryn has 15 years experience working at a clinical level treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other issues related to addiction. She is currently completing her doctoral studies in the field of cognitive neuro-psychology. She is keenly interested in the neuro-chemistry, physiology, and the psychology of substance misuse and addiction.
At the Centre, Kathryn provides assessments and clinical therapy services including EMDR. Kathryn also facilitates educational sessions at the Centre.
Michael is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Clinical Counsellor. He has a diverse background of skills and experience including eleven years in the addictions field. Michael completed two years of intensive training in body-centred psychotherapy at the Hakomi Institute in Boulder Colorado. Michael studied Buddhist psychology with David Brazier (Zen Therapy) and is a Buddhist meditation practitioner and a certified yoga teacher.
Lyn is a Vedic Master trained at the Chopra University and is a certified teacher of Meditation, Yoga, and Ayurveda. Lyn has an impressive history following her interest in different healing modalities and has taught Meditation and Spiritual Healing for over 20 years.
Lyn believes all healing is self healing; and healing of self sometimes needs the support, love and compassion of knowledgeable people trained to hold a healing space for that person. Lyn loves to teach because teaching offers the opportunity to simultaneously be taught; a phenomena of giving and receiving. Lyn says “I feel honoured to be on the staff of Paradise Valley Wellness Centre.” We feel honoured to be working with Lyn!
Enrick has been nourishing a passion for food since his early childhood which included growing up on a farm. He first discovered the joys of good meals with his grandfather with whom each day after school he used to play and peel carrots and potatoes taken from the garden. Enrick remembers picking (and eating as much as he possibly could) the sweetest raspberries on earth from the edge around the house. Enrick has completed a culinary professional program in 2000 at the Tourism and culinary Institute of Montreal-Quebec. Enrick is now a certified Chef with many years of experience. Enrick says
" I believe that the mind-body-spirit connection can only get the maximal benefits of foods if they are prepared and consumed with love and awareness that what’s on the plate today is what I am going to be tomorrow
".
Darin has been in the service industry for over 20 years, 17 of it spent in the Sea to Sky corridor and Vancouver. Darin had trained under some of Vancouver’s most talented chef’s; which has been both educational and inspiring. Learning to appreciate the importance of quality ingredients as well as technique has allowed
Darin to enjoy working in many different capacities in several kitchens throughout Vancouver and Whistler. Darin’s current approach to food is getting back to basics, taking comfort foods and elevating them to healthier and tastier dishes. Working at Paradise Valley has proven to be a perfect fit for Darin’s creative energies to flow. Having the freedom to create new and healthy dishes on a daily basis makes going
to work a joy.
Vivianne is a trained chef with many years experience who understands the importance of preparing each dish with that all so important ingredient TLC (tender loving care)!!!! As one of the chefs at the Paradise Valley Wellness Centre, Vivianne has a commitment to healthy, delicious food, and believes a fresh vegetarian diet is a foundation for healing and growth on all levels. Vivianne brings creativity and enthusiasm to the meals she prepares at the Centre’s kitchen.
Carol is a Registered Massage Therapist as well as a practitioner of Ancient Thai Massage. She started her quest for knowledge in the health field area by studying Kinesiology at University. Her learning continued in Thailand, Ontario, and British Columbia studying massage, meditation, yoga, and nutrition.
Carol is a life-long learner, and believes we all are life-long learners when we are open to what the present moment offers us. Carol enjoys working with the team and being part of a healthy, healing environment for guests.
Heather Newman is our Wellness Staff Supervisor at Paradise Valley. She has resided for 30 years in beautiful Squamish with her family, including an array of pets. Her journey into wellness and healing began in the mid 70's. She has worked with Elders of the Squamish Nation and has worked with Child protection services. In the mid eighties Heather became a front line worker and advocate for women fleeing abusive relationships. Heather began working in the field of addictions at a recovery house in Squamish in 2007. Heather’s easygoing compassionate interactions are fueled by a sense of inner peace, balance, and harmony related to a deep connection and appreciation of nature.
Angela is Chopra Certified Yoga Instructor, LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), Student of Integrative Healing & Way of the Heart Graduate.
Angela describes her journey to yoga as a welcoming embrace. She fell in love with Chopra ideals wholeheartedly at a weeklong Chopra event called seduction of spirit, also affectionately known as 'a slumber party for the soul’; here she developed an even deeper appreciation for her yoga practice. Practicing yoga for 8 years, teaching came as a natural next step. The reason why she teaches is explained in one sentence, it's simply 'the light & bliss and often laughter that emits from a person's face the first time they discover the joy of yoga'. She's often known to burst out in spontaneous laughter during a yoga class.
Angela lends her nursing skills to help promote optimal health and happiness of each individual while continuing to explore additional/alternative ways to aid others and herself in returning to wholeness. Grateful to see the beauty of living a compassionate, courageous and authentic life, she is honoured to be part of a wellness team that exemplifies these qualities... a team that creates a safe sacred space for the individual to allow their most 'juicy' truest self to emerge.
Yasmine works from the heart; with a passion for others, trusts in the universe, and a love of nature. After a decade as an analyst in the Information Technology field, Yasmine entered the world of Wellness to work with animals and humans. Encouraged by the bravery and courage of our guests, Yasmine is compassionately drawn to “find a way” with you in your unique healing. A musician and avid outdoorswoman, Yasmine enjoys working with dogs and horses, fishing on the river, and experimenting with music. Now an equine specialist and Certified Equine Guided Educator, Yasmine is developing an Equine Therapy program to be offered at Paradise Valley Wellness Centre.
Celeste is a certified yoga teacher in Hatha and Vinyasa disciplines. She has been teaching Yoga for the past 9 years and guides a flowing meditative class, building a solid foundation through breath, self-awareness, and postural alignment.
Celeste believes Yoga is not just for the duration that you are on the mat, but rather a practice, a tool for revolutionizing your attitude in life, enlivening your heart, mind and body into a place of balance and inner peace.
We provide individual and group sessions with experienced master’s level therapists who help you address issues disrupting your present life. If your present difficulties have historical roots, you will be offered the opportunity to begin addressing and healing the historical wounds that impact your present experience. Our therapists are
client-centred and work with you to uncover your inspiration and strengths in order to address issues you want to resolve on your unique journey for healing and growth. You will also have access to our 24 hour support staff during your residential stay. There are 2 staff members available throughout every evening. Group therapy size is limited to eight members to ensure quality of care, and each group is routinely facilitated by two therapists. In addition to 2hr daily group therapy, two 45-minute sessions are scheduled weekly with an individual therapist.
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