Our Staff
Our Treatment Team
All our practitioners are fully insured for both public liabilities and professional indemnity and undertakes regular supervision and professional development
The Camino Recovery Centre has gathered a high-calibre team of clinicians to support our clients' long-term healing.
We have specialist knowledge and over 30 years’ experience in the treatment of addiction and associated conditions, known as 'dual diagnosis', such as trauma, depression, anxiety, mood disorders/bipolar disorder, eating disorders/body image concerns, grief and loss, anger and rage, relationship conflict, family of origin issues, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and ADD/ADHD.
Don Lavender, BA M.Div, is the Centre’s Programme Director. He is an American psychotherapist. Over the past 30 years, he has held clinical management and consultative positions in some of the most effective treatment centres in the world. These include the Priory Hospitals in the UK and Sierra Tucson in Arizona, where he was Director of the Family Programme and a key player in setting up a 70-bed eating disorder facility.
Don Lavender is renowned for his Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) work, which he helped to develop in US treatment centres some 20 years ago.
Dr Vince Gradillas, BSc MBBS MPhil MRCPsych, is a Consultant Psychiatrist who qualified as a doctor at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, in 1996. He trained in General Adult and Forensic Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London, between 1998 and 2006. He also has a Master of Philosophy degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. Dr Gradillas has held Consultant posts at Broadmoor Hospital and at Three Bridges, West London Mental Health Trust, where he worked from 2006 until 2009 after which he became an independent practitioner. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist in London's Harley Street and The City, as well as in a regional secure unit in the independent sector.
Dr Gradillas specialises in all areas of psychiatry, including mood, anxiety and stress-related disorders, psychosis, drug and alcohol problems.
Dr Charles Triay, MBBS, is a Consultant General Practitioner who qualified in London. He has been practising in Southern Spain for the last 25 years, running his own medical centre. Dr Triay also owned a private, English-speaking 12-Step treatment centre; he ran a methadone programme for 60 patients and an outpatient detox for 30.
Dr Triay specialises in drug and alcohol rehabilitation and has directed the Local Authority drug rehabilitation programme for 10 years.
David Donaldson is the Clinical Director of Medicare Nursing Services Group and heads the team of specialist nurses who provide on-site detoxification at the Camino Recovery Centre. Working with our psychiatrist, GP and therapists, David and his team are able to deliver the latest treatment to ensure that the detoxification phase of an individual's recovery is achieved. Medicare's British-trained nurses have many years' experience in both general and mental health nursing.
David Donaldson and his team specialise in alcohol and drug detoxification.
Meena Lavender is a Family Therapist who trained in addictions counselling at Greenwich University, London, in conjunction with Promis Treatment Centre, Kent, in 1999. For the past 10 years Meena Lavender has worked as an addiction counsellor, with a particular interest in family dynamics and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming (EMDR).
She specialises in trauma resolution using EMDR and Family Work.
Raksha Kumari is a Transpersonal Therapist who trained and qualified at The Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education in London in 1997. Since 1998 she has worked as a therapist in Spain, London and India.
She is a person-centred therapist with a special interest in addiction and compulsive obsessive disorders.
Catherine England is an Integrative Therapist who trained in addictions psychology and counselling from Southbank University, London, in 2006. Catherine has worked for major UK treatment centres such as The Recovery Centre, Promis Treatment Centre and the Priory Hospitals. She has also worked in private practice in London’s Harley Street and West Sussex.
She specialises in eating disorders and body dysmorphia, addictive processes and behaviours which include dysfunction loss, grief and trauma.
Ameet Braich is a Primary Therapist who was born and educated in London. He has a Bachelor's degree in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. Ameet also has a Masters in Addiction Counselling from Hazelden, Minnesota, USA and is a licenced member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium. As well as addiction, his other training includes non-violent crisis intervention, adolescent behaviour, gambling, multicultural issues and family interventions.
He specialises in addiction and trauma resolution.
Hannah Rushforth is a Key Worker who trained and worked in various different roles. Initially trained as a Chef and worked as Head Chef in UK in early 90´s. Later worked for many years as Support Worker progressing with approapriate training as Key Worker for NHS. Hannah has extensive experience as she has worked in Mental Health, dealing with drug and alcohol.