Drug Treatment and Alcohol Rehabilitation Staff
Clinical Team
Clinical/Management Team
Executive Director/Founder: Julie Queler
The Orchid Recovery Center for Women was founded by Julie Queler in September 2004. She now serves as the Center's Executive Director. Julie founded The Orchid to fill the massive gap in addiction treatment for women. The Center's ideology is based on the research of Dr. Karen Dodge and stresses the importance of promoting "relational growth", which is a treatment modality that fosters personal growth through the encouragement of a high degree of interdependence and trust among women during the treatment process. The Orchid is the only treatment center of its kind in the United States.
Medical Director: Mark G. Agresti, MD, PA
Dr. Agresti has been practicing psychiatry for more than 10 years. He is a leading specialist in the U.S. in the psycho-social aspects of addiction and has served as the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Hospital. Dr. Agresti maintains a private practice and is a consultant to treatment centers throughout the country.
Program Director: Tina DePaolis, LMHC, NCC, CAP, CCJAP
Tina has been working with substance abusers with co-occurring disorders for 20 years. She has specific expertise in the area of severe personality and mood disorders. She has held positions of therapist, senior therapist and Clinical Director in a variety of programs including extended residential care, inpatient, intensive outpatient, as well as programs for legally involved clients and gender-specific programs. She currently holds the following credentials:
•Licensed Mental Health Counselor
•Nationally Certified Counselor
•Certified Addictions Professional
•Certified Criminal Justice addictions professional
•Certified Pet therapist
Ann Salter is a state licensed therapist, a diplomat in Social Work,and certified as an Addictions Specialist.She has taught courses at Barry University in Miami, FLand Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. She studied family therapy under Virginia Satir, Gestalt and group therapy under John Heider, and studied and worked with Sharon and Joe Cruse in family and addictions focused experiential group work. She specializes in group work, relationship work and use of 12-Step program philosophy in conjunction with psychotherapy. Ann isdiversely trained in order toprovide amore holistic treatment. She has conducted workshops and trained other professionals in Florida and nationally.Ann established the Center for Self Discovery in 1980.
Case Manager: Cristal Crane, BA CAP
Cristal has a degree in Psychology and is a Certified Addiction Professional in the state of Florida. She has experience working with dually diagnosed, legally involved, and those clients suffering from addiction. She has facilitated a variety of psycho educational groups including: anger management, coping skills, communication styles, domestic violence, parenting, relapse prevention, relationships in recovery and self esteem. Cristal has mostly worked in Palm Beach County and has knowledge of the resources in the area.
Therapist: Mindy Appel, LCSW, LMFT
Ms. Mindy Appel received her Master's degree from Tulane University and practiced in New Orleans for more than 20 years. Her clinical experience is both rich and diverse. Mindy has specialized in PTSD and women's issues related to addictions, codependency, anxiety, and depression. Her therapeutic practice has a strong focus on dual diagnosis patients. Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Mindy has relocated to the South Florida area and is welcomed by The Orchid Recovery Center for Women.
Therapist: Melissa Jerace Ph D , CAP, ICADC
Ms. Jerace holds degrees in both psychology and criminal justice, and is a Certified Addictions Professional in the state of Florida, as well as an Internationally Certified Addictions and Drug Counselor. She specializes in working with culturally diverse clients, legally involved clients, and clients who suffer from co-occurring disorders.
Experiential Therapist: Carey Matthews, MAC
Carey is a certified addictions specialist in practice at the Center for Self Discovery since 1983. She studied with Virginia Satir in family therapy, John and Pamela Heider in Gestalt therapy and group work and with Sharon and Joe Cruse in addiction focused family work. Carey specializes in psychodrama based group work and is eclectic in orientation. She is especially talented in working with addictions and facilitating 12-Step work.
Practitioners
Acupuncture: Dr. Randal Lyons AP, LAc
Dr. Lyons is a leading acupuncture practitioner in the U.S. He combines auricular therapy with traditional oriental medical techniques, both of which meld well with Orchid's spiritual approach to growth.
Meditation: Maya Malay, MA - Theology
Ms. Malay has been teaching in the area of personal discovery and transformation for many years. Her talks on the nature of the mind and her four-week meditation series meld perfectly with the holistic aspect of the Orchid.
Art Therapy: Frances Flanagan-Earl, M.A. CAP
Frances is a nationally acclaimed creative arts therapist. Her latest project was the development of healing arts modalities for Hanley Hazelden's new woman's center.
Yoga Instructor : Angelina Lucia
Angelina has been a yoga practitioner for more than a decade, a certified TriYoga instructor, a Level 1 & 2 certified Radiant Child instructor, and a certified YogicArtsT instructor having studied directly with Master Duncan Wong. She is the Founder and Director of Bindu Yoga Studio, and a nationally certified, state licensed massage therapist. Her background includes over 8 years of massage therapy with an extensive study in Thai Massage techniques, which roots are in yogic stretches and energy movement. She has traveled to many locations to study TriYoga with its founder, swami Kaliji, including time at the Malibu TriYoga ashram. Angel found an instant connection with yoga, and will be continually grateful for the changes and growth it brings to her life on and off the mat. "Yoga will be a lifetime of growth and learning not only from my teachers but also my students and I thank them all for sharing the journey with me."
How Can Orchid Help You?
(561) 433-2336
