Robin Lefeverhas a BSc in Psychology from the University of Kent and is the Managing Director of PROMIS Clinics.A leading researcher in the field of addiction, Robin has studied addiction treatment for over twenty years, publishing numerous articles and papers in international scientific journals. Robin is also a skilled therapist and his clinical interests include a wide range of therapies including EMDR, NLP, EAP, Psychodrama, CBT, DBT, Sand Play, Ropes Course, Family Therapy and Intervention.‘What makes PROMIS so different is that we still understand how it feels to have had these problems ourselves as well as being able to offer cutting edge psychological treatments that will help people recover.’

Arlette Lefeverhas a French Baccalaureat, with a specialist option in ‘Philosophies and Lettres’. She then moved to the UK where she obtained a Proficiency in English Certificate (French being her native tongue) and obtained a City and Guilds Certificate in Computing and Business.She completed a year of a Business Management and Marketing course at Christ Church University in Canterbury before becoming Clinic Manager at PROMIS, overseeing the housekeeping, staff and looking after the ‘hotel’ side of our services. Having a keen eye in interior design, Arlette treats PROMIS as an extension of her home, making sure our premises offer the most comfort as well as appealling to the eye. Arlette also enjoys helping our clients feel totally at home and relaxed during their stay with us.

Clair Vainola attended London University where she obtained a B.A. in Philosophy and then a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Northumbria.
Clair worked for the British Government as part of their Drug Intervention Program, setting up the first 24 hour service for addicted populations seeking assistance. Clair undertook DANOS training in Drug and Alcohol Knowledge, Motivational Interviewing, and Brief Solution Focused Therapy, in addition to a certificate in Counselling Skills.Clair has worked as a senior therapist in Lebanon in an attempt to introduce Twelve Step Recovery and Addiction Treatment in the Middle East.Clair has experience facilitating group therapy and family groups, utilizing the Minnesota 12 Step Model. Clair’s speciality areas include addiction, compulsive helping, women’s group therapy, conjoint and family sessions.

Linda Stevenshas worked at PROMIS since 1993 and has achieved many qualifications, including: Practitioner skills for eating disorders (awarded by the British Psychological Society,) an addictive behaviours counselling diploma (from AEB) and a CSCT diploma in counselling. Linda’s interests include eating disorder addiction/recovery, family therapy & counselling.‘As an addict in recovery myself, I’ve experienced the devastation addiction has on families: by the time a person goes into treatment they are usually broken in every way a person can be, physically, emotionally and spiritually. However with support and understanding and a gentle environment, it’s not long before the peace, joy and laughter returns into their lives and as importantly, into the lives of their families. This is what PROMIS offers.’.

Georgie Bainbridge gained a BSc in Psychology from the University of Kent and is currently a Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist in training. She joined PROMIS last year and is responsible for the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy programme, which is a therapy that reaches to the core of self through experiential learning. ‘People have great fun too‘.Georgie is the manager at Hay Farm and responsible for the Family Programme; believing that family involvement, wherever possible, is key to a healthy and sustained recovery. She has deep insight into the destructive havoc that addiction can reek on a family.‘PROMIS offers a programme of support, education and understanding about addiction specifically geared for family members.‘

Dr Max Zöttl obtained his medical qualification in Freiburg, one of Germany’s premier medical faculties. He trained as psychiatrist in Hamburg and Klingenmünster and as a psychotherapist at the Institute of Clinical Behavioural Therapy and the Heidelberg Psychodynamic Curriculum. He has been a Consultant Psychiatrist in the NHS since 2006, where he is Clinical Lead for Early Intervention and Rehabilitation Services in East Kent. His special interests include Addiction and Adult ADHD. ‘Psychiatry needs to be accessible.I practise a holistic approach that integrates medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions. This is not just about acute treatment of symptoms but also about learning how to overcome past and present difficulties and lead a healthy and emotionally balanced life. My work outside of the UK has also afforded me a valuable cross cultural perspective and I have a particular interest in how living in a foreign country can affect your mental health.’

Chris Diffordis co-founder and front-man of the legendary band Squeeze, whose relentless 2008/09 touring schedule climaxed in sharing the main stage at V with Amy Winehouse, The Feeling and The Verve, and a sold-out gig at Radio City Music Hall in the US. His lyrics have been covered by Lily Allen, Elton John, Bryan Ferry and many others beside. Chris has also managed to reach out and write with a wide and eclectic mixture of people. Last year he picked up his second Ivor Novello award from Mark Ronson and two weeks later a lifetime achievement award from Lily Allen. Both were proud moments.Chris is now embarking on an adventurous dream to bring songwriting to the small screen with a number of varied and, hopefully, inspiring films for the BBC. At PROMIS, Chris offers inspirational work to our patients by sharing his own story interspersed with his music- some of his own compositions and some belonging to others.‘I came to PROMIS for treatment 18 years ago, it was a huge moment in my life. My journey has had its up and downs but without the foundations of a good program my life would have been so much darker. PROMIS is a placefull of loving people who care about each other, and the nest that it provides is a good place for most people to start to find themselves, whatever the addiction. I have always wanted to work at PROMIS and now I have the good fortune of running music therapy groups there once a week.’

Caroline Lathamjoined PROMIS in late 2009. Although her background was originally in the business world, she has worked as a therapist for over twenty years, being one of the few to receive referrals from the NHS. She set up and runs the ‘Canterbury Tibet Link’ and has two books published (The ‘Heart of Healing’ by Findhorn, and ‘Gargantua Now’ under the pseudonym of Rabelaise). She has a BA (hons) in French and Russian from Bristol University, many years of training with the ‘Psychology of vision’ model, and is a full member of the NFSH. She has been on a part-time retreat overseen by the Dalai Lama’s teacher for the last eight years requiring three hours a day training.Her work at PROMIS enables patients to learn life-long tools to develop inner calm and thereby inner freedom.‘I am so impressed by the genuine dedication of the team at PROMIS who are devoted to their patients’ welfare. My intention is to do as much as I am able to support this.’

Having grown up in the world of professional sport and being one of the top ranked junior tennis players in the world Miles was exposed to the world of exercise and nutrition from early on. After experiencing a career ending injury at a young age Miles became a qualified personal trainer and turned his attention to training others in elite sport. He then studied for 4 years at the ‘College of Naturopathic medicine’ to become a nutritional therapist. He now works with patients with a variety of medical conditions to use the power of food to assist in their healing. “When working with addictions it is vital that the body is supplied with optimal nutrition in order for the brain to obtain key nutrients it needs in order to think clearly and for the body to heal. Making sure patients attain the key nutrients from foods that the body needs can help them stay focused on the path to recovery. I treat each patient as an individual and work with them to create individual dietary plans based on their specific needs in order for them to regain their health and reach mental balance. My aim is to educate patients about the importance of good nutrition and the amazing impact it can play on ones health”.

Oliver Brady trained as a Master Practitioner in NLP, TimeLine Therapy and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy in 1998. He has been practicing ever since offering one-to-one sessions and group seminars/workshops. He later obtained a Diploma in Life Coaching in 2005. His therapy sessions combine an experience as an artist and as a coach, helping participants to be truly present and access awareness of the Reality of life.‘PROMIS is a wonderful haven, where transformational change can happen. A patient can feel safe in the warm, loving and compassionate space that is held so earnestly by the remarkable people who work there. Time spent at PROMIS is time that most human beings will never get: an opportunity to be truly still and maybe, for the very first time, to get to know the wonder of who they truly are, beyond addiction and pain.’