The experience of our staff and their development is vitally important to the program:
Each of our program staff has had personal experience with addiction, followed by extensive sobriety and clean time, which enables them to empathize with the residents.
They have had formal education and training, which enables them to assist the residents in understanding substance abuse behaviour and its consequences.
Our senior clinical staff members are Certified Drug and Alcohol Counsellors
Miranda Vecchio
Executive Director
Miranda became the Executive Director in January of 2015. Prior to that, she did some contract fundraising for Charlford House after several years of volunteering on the Board of Directors and sitting on a number of committees.
Prior to her new role, Miranda was the Executive Assistant of a local business organization for over 12 years and before that, was self-employed for over a decade.
Stacie Yarrow
Program Director
Stacie has been with Charlford House for 5 years. She has recently taken over the position of Program Director. In addition to being employed at Charlford house for several years, she has over a decade of experience working with and supporting vulnerable women. Stacie has great compassion for the client's and assists them in meeting their needs and goals. Stacie continues to upgrade her studies for best practice to best serve the women at Charlford House. Stacie works closely with the counselling team to assure client's are getting the best possible care during their stay.
Vivian Gietz
Executive Assistant
Vivian Gietz rejoins Charlford House after two years as an independent Digital Marketing Specialist, offering esteemed digital marketing and social media services to her clients. She returns with extensive marketing, writing, fundraising, and administrative skills, as well as three years previous employment at Charlford House.
Vivian appreciates the importance of protecting vulnerable women and prioritizing mental health. She maintains an emphasis on diversity and spirituality in both her personal and professional life. She resides in Vancouver with her two cats.
Samantha Palmer
Addictions Counsellor
Samantha has a lived experience with addiction and has recently completed her practicum here. She has been brought on as a counsellor and has plans to continue her education. She is driven and self-motivated as well as empathetic and strives to meet the clients where they are.
Jessica Boatman
Residential Counsellor
Jessica has been with us for several years, starting with volunteering, slowly making her way up to become the second stage Residential Counsellor. Jessica has a background in counselling and social services, and is an alum with lived experience. Jessica is passionate about her work and helping other women achieve their full potential. Jessica plans on continuing her education in the field.
Amanda Enevoldson-Kapras
Volunteer Coordinator
Amanda is really happy to be back in the lower mainland after 6 years in Kelowna. She had such fond memories when volunteering in 2017, that she always knew she would try to make her way back when the time was right. Amanda has been following her passion, meeting people in their time of greatest need, which has led her from a career in social work for 3 years to starting paramedic training last September. In that time, Amanda has connected many people to addiction recovery resources, and she finds there is something really special about the surrogacy model that Charlford follows. She feels proud to be a part of a family that works to help people heal. When Amanda is not studying or participating at community events with the Charlford booth, she likes to hike with her dog in the coastal rainforest. She looks forward to meeting and working with everyone, and hopes to see you at Recovery Day!
Michelle Reaume
Program Office Assistant
Michelle brings a lived experience with addiction to her new career at Charlford House. She loves how being Program Office Assistant gives her the opportunity to be a part of the house and to be a part of such a dynamic team. She is proud to be in a group of women working to support other women in recovery. Michelle never thought she would have a second career after recovery. As Program Office Assistant, she uses skills from her previous career path, working with internal databases. She is very excited to be part of developing this new position for Charlford House.
Affiliates
Charlford House also relies on the amazing work of these contracted and volunteer affiliates:
Rebecca Barr
Music Therapist
Rebecca Barr, SEAc, BMT, MTA started music therapy work at Charlford House as a student in 2014. After graduating from Capilano with a Bachelor’s in Music therapy in 2016, she became a certified music therapist through the Canadian Association of Music Therapy and now runs weekly group and individual music therapy sessions at Charlford House.
She also works in complex care offering sessions for seniors with tertiary mental health issues, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, and adults with acquired brain injuries. Within these populations, she uses clients’ preferred music to help maintain cognitive function through reminiscing, cultivating a higher quality of life for them.
Her approach to music therapy is based on an understanding of the human condition. As human beings, we all seek to be seen, heard, and validated. Her work aims to meet this fundamental need through relationship. Upon the foundation of the relationship she forms with clients, she then collaborates with them to create their social, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual goals. Working to meet these goals can include songwriting, lyric analysis, improvisation, guided meditations, recovery playlists, affirmation chants, singing familiar songs, and more.
Victoria Heard
Yoga Instructor
Victoria is a certified yoga instructor and an alumni of Charlford House, who loves giving back to the house through yoga. Teaching the women at Charlford is very rewarding for Victoria. Sharing how yoga, meditation, body awareness and self love are important tools in recovery. When the women have a moment of peace in savasana, or hold strong in a pose it means everything. Yoga is a continuous journey to discover yourself and Victoria hopes she can help help these women find the pieces they lost.
Penny McIvor
Bookkeeper
Penny is married with 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
She has lived, worked and volunteered in New Westminster since 1999. She started her own bookkeeping business in 2008 which concentrates on small business and not for profit companies, which currently has 9 clients.
In her spare time, she spends it with family, crocheting and crafts, along with volunteer opportunities. She was president of her local resident’s association for 4 years and on her building strata for 10 years.
She has worked and volunteered with the Hyack Festival Association since 2010 and is currently the President of the Hyack Festival Association, which puts on an annual parade and 2 festivals as well as participating in numerous local and out of town parades and festivals.
Dr. Kathryn Porter
Medical Director
Dr. Porter is a duly qualified family physician licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and certified by the Canadian College of Family Physicians. Dr. Porter earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from the University of British Columbia in 1991. She completed her medical training through the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine and went on to complete a two year residency program in Family Medicine through the Department of Family Medicine also at UBC.
In addition to being the Medical Director at Charlford House, Dr. Porter practices family medicine in Vancouver, and Addiction Medicine in Surrey and on Bowen Island.
She has practiced throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia as well as in the United States, bringing a broad range of perspectives and outreach to our clients.
Da Eun Chung
Art Therapist
Da Eun Chung is a culturally sensitive art therapist and facilitator. Her background is in visual art and design, with former years of creating illustration and advertising works, before moving onto the nonprofit sector working with marginalised youth and adults. Da Eun first connected with Charlford House through volunteer work in 2016, then did practicum as an art therapist during her studies at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.
She is now employed with Charlford House as a regular art therapist offering group and individual sessions for women in recovery. She believes that the process of art making is healing, and that it can bring various therapeutic elements to a person no matter what they are going through. Da Eun also runs her private practice online for women. Besides art therapy, Da Eun enjoys spending time with friends and family, going for nature walks, making art, and enjoying desserts!