Chip Somers is the Chief Executive of Focus12 and has been working with addiction and alcohol problems for over 25 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 Focus
12 in May 1997.
Dean Parsons - Project Manager is originally from Ealing; West London and joined Focus12 in 2008, as Clinical Supervisor; ensuring counselling treatment is delivered within the clinical standards and code of ethics of the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Dean holds a ‘Distinction’ level Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy; his qualification is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing. Dean is also accredited by The Counselling Society and he is an Associate Member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Dean holds qualifications in Management and Commissioning and has achieved almost sixty specialist training courses.
While working in the private sector, until 2002, Dean gained valuable experience in management for some of the UK’s top companies; alongside which he volunteered for ten years to support the homeless in London. Dean left the private sector in 2002 and has since achieved years of experience counselling victims of hate crimes and sexual assault. He represented Croydon Council’s Equalities Unit at the Association of London Government; developing policy and legislation aimed at improving equality for LGBT people.
Dean became Service Manager of Croydon Community Drug Agency for Cranstoun Drug Services; becoming one of London’s most successful addiction therapy services and achieving recognition, at the time, as the lead for ‘service user involvement’ in London.
Dean relocated, with his partner, from London to Suffolk in 2007; to become a Commissioner of addiction treatment services for Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Action Team. Dean also worked with Suffolk County Council’s Equality and Diversity Unit; developing a hate crime victim support service in Suffolk.
Recently, Dean worked for the NHS, where he managed two Primary Care teams within Suffolk’s Adult Drug Treatment System. The Shared Care Team supported patients on methadone maintenance and reduction programmes and the Blood Borne Viruses Team provided blood testing, vaccinations and treatment for a variety of blood borne viruses; including Hepatitis B and C. Dean also runs his own counselling practice.
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 18 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.
Tom Huber – graduated from Focus
12 in 2007 and began working as a placement peer supporter in 2008. Tom subsequently obtained a Diploma in Pyschotherapy. He has a wealth of local knowledge that assists clients acclimatise to the area. He brings a passion and youthful enthusiasm to the clinical team.
He has undergone special training for group therapy and is dedicated to seeing Focus12 deliver first class treatment to all clients who come for help.