Chip Somers is the Chief Executive of Focus12 and has been working with addiction and alcohol problems for over 23 years. He initially trained and subsequently worked at Clouds House, Wiltshire. He went on to co-manage a 23 bedroom residential unit for men recovering from addiction and alcohol problems called Thurston House in London – part of the Chemical Dependency Centre.
He then moved to the Priory Hospital Group as Treatment Director for the Dukes Priory Hospital in Chelmsford working with people with addiction, alcohol and eating disorders. Whilst there, he completed a senior management course. He has also worked for the Priory Hospital Group in Jersey, Channel Islands and Roehampton, London.
In addition, Chip has run his own private practice and a Family Support group for Richmond Social Services. Chip set up Focus12 in May 1997.
Victoria Bullock began her work with Focus
12 as a peer supporter. In 2005 she became a volunteer placement counselor when she began her professional training pursuing her Diploma in counseling and psychotherapy. Victoria graduated from college in July 2008. Her training is integrative, having studied both physcodynamic and person centered approaches. Victoria also brings her experience of the 12 steps to the programme.
Victoria works full-time on the structured day programme facilitating group therapy and taking part in all aspects of the timetable. She is the lead on art therapy and any art related parts of structure.
Having had extensive training around working with family dynamics, she now helps to run the family support group at Focus12.
Nancy Merfeld joined Focus
12 in July 2003 as a volunteer counselor. She holds a MA in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland College Park and a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. She is now Residential Services Coordinator.
She is also certified in Clinical Hypnosis, holds a Diploma in Non-Medical Nutritional Advice and has extensive training in addiction in the family and dual diagnosis. Nancy is the team lead on admissions, coordinating new arrivals and managing the Access to Treatment group programme. She is also the lead on Dual Diagnosis matters. As a full time member of the team, Nancy is a member of ACA (American Counseling Association) and EBACA (European Branch of the American Counseling Association)
Arthur Nicholls was born in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. His career began 16 years ago as a volunteer at CADA – South London. During this time he attended a generic training programme for professionals “Working with Problem Drug Users” at the Maudsley Training Unit, London. He then pursued and achieved his Diploma in Humanistic Counselling at Lewisham College. His career has taken him full circle in the field of addictions providing him with skills in a variety of interventions.
Arthur joined Focus12 in February 2003 and registered as a member of FDAP. In 2004. He achieved a Diploma in “Working with Addictions” at CPPD. Arthur facilitates the Family support group, Aftercare and the DRR support service.
Karen Richardson holds a Masters Degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling, and is a Member of BACP. She is also a qualified hypnotherapist and accredited NLP practitioner.
Karen joined Focus12 as a full-time counselor in October 2007. Karen previously worked at a Family Residential Rehabilitation Centre in Brighton, where she provided advice and support for parents with drug and alcohol dependency issues, as well as substance misuse counseling and group therapy. Karen also has extensive experience of working therapeutically with young people and women suffering from various mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, self harm and eating disorders.
Tom Huber – graduated from Focus
12 in 2007 and began working as a placement peer supporter in 2008. Tom is currently undertaking a counselling course at West Suffolk College. Tom hopes to gain experience in counselling as part of the team at Focus
12.
He is currently on a short term contract at Focus12.
Di Allen – graduated from Focus
12 in 2004. She has joined the team as a peer supporter/ placement while completing her access to counselling course in June 2009.
Di started her counselling degree in September 2009.