About Us

Therapists And Clinical Expertise

Debbie Nash
Treatment Director

Debbie Nash graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a degree in Occupational Therapy and has been a practicing Occupational Therapist for over 20 years. Her career highlights include the establishment of the Occupational Therapy department at New Kings Hospital, lecturing in Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town, and running her own hospital-based Occupational Therapy practice, which for 15 years provided specialised programmes to one of Cape Town's top psychological and behavioural treatment facilities. Debbie is not only well-versed in the management and design of treatment programmes, but comes with a wealth of experience and a passion for creating clinical environments that holistically manage all aspects of the treatment process.

Andre Le Roux
Assistant Treatment Director

Andre le Roux is a registered social worker and psychometrics expert with 15 years of experience in the addiction field. He is professionally qualified to treat behavioural addictions such as gambling, sex and love addictions and has additional training in marital and relationship therapy. Andre has also developed a training programme for addiction counselling and trains other professionals in this field. Andre has a very strong understanding of the role the fellowship and the part 12-step programmes play in the recovery process.

Dr. Ryan Baskir
Consulting Clinical Psychologist

As a registered clinical psychologist trained in the USA and Canada, Dr Baskir has spent the past nine years working exclusively in the chemical dependency and addictions field within the primary, secondary and tertiary care environment. Dr. Baskir has previously run a private practice, successfully and discretely treating a wide range of patients, from senior members of the financial services community to several top rated business leaders, as well as international sports celebrities. Dr Baskir comes to Montrose Place as a respected member of the treatment community, enhancing the clinical foundation of our world-class programme.

Anne-Marie Louw
Senior Counsellor

Anne-Marie Louw is an addictions counsellor with over 10 years experience at the developmental face of addictions treatment in Cape Town. As both manager and senior family and addictions counsellor of one of Cape Town's renowned treatment centres, Anne-Marie comes to Montrose Place with a wealth of clinical and management experience, enhanced by continued study in Industrial and General Psychology. Over the years Anne-Marie has developed a well deserved professional reputation as a gifted counsellor.

Fonnie Hufke
Full Time Addictions Counsellor

Fonnie Hufke is a doyen of the 12-Step movement in South Africa and brings with him more than ten years of addiction counselling experience gathered in two of South Africa’s top addiction treatment centres and a superb knowledge of the Minnesota model which is a key component of the Montrose Treatment programme.

Patricia Domburg
Senior Nurse

Patricia Domburg has obtained her S.E.N.A. (Senior Nursing Auxiliary) certificate. She has worked for 14 years in the field of psychiatry and for 10 years the field of addiction. Her calm but strong manner and extensive knowledge and experience are wonderful assets to Montrose Place.

Shirley Abrahams
Senior Nurse

Shirley Abrahams is a registered nurse qualified in general nursing, midwifery and psychiatry. Shirley is also a qualified counsellor specialising in group work, family therapy and counselling young adults with difficulties such as borderline traits, anorexia, drug dependency, depression and anxiety. Her 27 years of experience as an addictions nurse and counsellor in Cape Town's top addictions clinics adds a wealth of experience to the treatment team at Montrose Place.

Johan de Goede
Counsellor

Over the past 12 years Johan de Goede has had extensive involvement at all levels of addiction treatment including providing preventative intervention and aftercare at government funded and private treatment centres. Trained at a national level, Johan has also worked as a representative of the Provincial Drug Forum.

Elke Hagedorn
Occupation Therapist

Elke Hagedorn is an Occupational Therapist who graduated in 1997 from the University of Stellenbosch. Her 10 years of experience includes working in the United Kingdom in various psychiatric hospitals and mental health teams, lecturing at the University of Cape Town, and working at one of Cape Town's most prestigious treatment centres within the psychiatric and Eating Disorder departments.

Shân Biesman-Simons
Dietician

Shân Biesman-Simons is a registered dietician who qualified at the University of Cape Town. Prior to her work at Montrose Place she worked as the senior dietician at
Groote Schuur hospital, has lectured at Florida International University in Miami and worked on numerous dietetic-related projects. For many years she has had a private practice specialising in Eating Disorders and Diseases of Lifestyle. Shân is also the director of Nutrition and Education at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.

CONSULTING THERAPISTS

Katy Menell
Family Programme Counsellor and Co-ordinator

With a background in education and training, Katy Menell has spent the last five years working as a family addiction counsellor with a focus on recovery from co-dependency. With a passion for 'caring for carers' Katy conducts group, couples and individual work with an emphasis on creating mutually growth-promoting relationships. Katy’s unique skill of supporting and inspiring personal transformation is a valuable addition to our array of therapeutic services.

Jean Dixon
Family Programme Co-ordinator

Originally a psychiatric nurse, Jean Dixon is now recognised as one of Cape Town’s most successful, experienced and valued addiction counsellors. Having worked in the field of recovery from chemical dependency, co-dependency and other addictive and compulsive behaviours since 1992, Jean has been instrumental in the development of several renowned treatment programmes and held the position of nursing services manager at two of Cape Town’s most prominent treatment facilities.

Helen Nicoloplos
Art and Drama Therapist

With a degree in Clinical Psychology and a Licentiate Drama Teachers Diploma from the Trinity College of London, Helen has many years of experience working with a diverse group of clients in South Africa and abroad. She provides specialised therapeutic programmes for individuals with addictions, compulsive behaviours and eating disorders. As a consultant therapist unique Helen's skills further enhance the comprehensive treatment offered at Montrose Place.

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