Clinical and Treatment Staff

Chief Executive Officer: Julie Queler
In the fall of 2004, Julie Queler founded The Orchid with the dream of helping women from all walks of life conquer addiction and become better, stronger, more independent individuals in the process. Now, as The Orchid's Executive Director, Julie makes that dream a reality every day by utilizing the groundbreaking research of Dr. Karen Dodge as the bedrock of The Orchid's treatment ideology. Dr. Dodge's philosophy of "relational growth" enables personal growth in women through strong support groups and interdependence within those groups. Currently, there is no other treatment program that focuses exclusively on women and utilizes this amazing modality for overcoming addiction.

Chief Operating Officer: Evelyn Olavarria
With over 20 years of experience in healthcare/substance abuse programs in Illinois and Florida, Ms. Olavarria brings a diverse set of talents and skills to The Orchid team. She has been at The Orchid since its inception and works closely with the Clinical Treatment Team, clients and their families towards the ultimate goal of "helping women heal". Her background as an administrator and facilities manager is blended with a special interest in helping to guide women with their spiritual and emotional journey in early recovery.

Outreach Coordinator: Loren Seaman
Ms. Seaman has been with The Orchid since its inception after deciding to make a career change that allowed a lifelong dream to come true of working in the substance abuse field. Her experience in marketing and public relations and her primary goal of "helping women heal" is what sparked her career at The Orchid. Loren's unfaltering dedication to her work is only shadowed by her ongoing commitment to be able to provide women with the quality treatment services that they deserve. "I am honored and blessed to work with our caring staff and inspired by all they do to change the lives of every individual who walks through our doors."

Administrative Assistant: Ashley Morales
Ashley has been an important part of The Orchid from the beginning. She began work as a behavioral health tech. Today her duties include overseeing the Orchid Alumni, assisting with admissions and verifying benefits and works closely with both the administrative and clinical teams.

Medical Director: Mark G. Agresti, MD, PA
One of the nation's top experts in the psycho-social aspects of addiction, Dr. Agresti brings his tremendous knowledge and extensive treatment experience to The Orchid. Dr. Argesti has been a practicing psychiatrist for over a decade and has proudly served as the Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the highly-prestigious Columbia Hospital.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: Karen Coakley, MSN, ARNP, BC
Karen is on staff as a Psychiatric Mental Health and Medical Nurse Practitioner. Karen's medical background spans over 30 years having started as an Emergency room Nurse. As each client is admitted, Karen expeditiously evaluates their medical and psychiatric needs. Karen combines her compassion and astute skill of medication management to formulate an individual protocol to effect a successful outcome for each of her clients.

CLINICAL TREATMENT TEAM

Clinical Program Director: Tina DePaolis, LMHC, NCC, CAP, CCJAP
Ms. DePaolis has worked in the field of addictions and mental health for over 20 years, with an emphasis on severe personality and mood disorders. Ms. DePaolis is the rarest of professionals, who has held high-profile positions at several levels within the industry, including therapist, director and consultant in a number of different modalities. Tina has also developed and supervised programs for managed care, legally involved clients, offenders and victims of domestic violence and genderl-specific treatment. Tina was trained in experiential therapy, family sculpting and psychodrama early in her career under the tutelage of Lois Klocek, MS who studied under Mary Lee Zawadski who was featured in Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse's video entitled "Another Chance". She is knowledgeable in all regulatory and ethical guidelines of treatment services. Tina is a skilled trainer and a nationally renowned speaker on a variety of topics related to substance abuse and mental illness. She is the Clinical Treatment Team Leader and oversees the clinical aspects of all client cases and provides supervision to the clinical staff. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Addictions Professional, and Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional and is also a Certified Pet Therapist.

Therapist: Mindy Appel, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW
After receiving her Master's Degree from the well-regarded program at Tulane University, Ms. Appel has focused her professional efforts on her passions: PTSD and women's issues related to addictions, codependency, anxiety and depression. Her therapeutic training and style lends itself to the special needs of those individuals with severe trauma and dual diagnosis. For 20 years, she maintained a successful private practice in New Orleans, Mindy relocated to South Florida and joined the staff of The Orchid. She received specialized training in experiential therapy, psychodrama and family therapy from Ann Salter, LCSW, and Carey Matthews, Med, both of whom studied family therapy under Virginia Satir, Gestalt and group therapy under John Heider and worked with Sharon and Joe Cruse in family and addictions focused experiential group work.

Therapist: Mindy Agler, LMHC
Ms. Agler is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Masters degree in Counselor Education from Barnard College. She has specialized in counseling clients with multiple addictions and severe mental health disorders within and outside of managed care settings. Mindy has also provided intensive therapy to families, mentored school aged children of alcoholics/addicts and educated community leaders on the devastating effects of chemical dependency.

Therapist: Nina Powell, MS, CAP
Nina Powell received a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She also completed the Women's Studies Certificate Program at Florida Atlantic University and specializes in women's issues. Ms. Powell is also a Florida State Certified Chemical Addictions Professional. She has been working with chemically dependent women since 2001 focusing specifically on women with domestic violence, PTSD, eating disorders, and codependency issues. Ms. Powell also works with women having co-occurring mental health issues.

Case Manager: Cristal Crane, BA, CAP, ICADC
Ms. Crane holds a degree in Psychology, is a Certified Addictions Professional in Florida and is an Internationally Certified Addictions and Drug Counselor. She has experience in working with a variety of addictive disorders, dual diagnosed and those clients with legal involvement. Cristal has an excellent working knowledge of resources needed to assist clients in developing comprehensive aftercare plans that will assure for their ongoing success in recovery. Ms. Crane has been a key cog in a variety of psycho-educational groups including: anger management, coping skills, communication styles, domestic violence, parenting, relapse prevention, relationships in recovery and self esteem.

HOLISTIC ADJUNCT PRACTIONERS

Acupuncture: Dr. Randal Lyons AP, LAc
Dr. Lyons is one of the United States' top acupuncturist and seamlessly melds auricular therapy with proven-successful traditional oriental medical techniques. He is a Board Certified Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbologist, a licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine and consultant to treatment centers throughout the world. He is the author of "Opening the Eyes of the Heart".

Meditation: Maya Malay, MA - Theology
Ms. Malay hold a Masters degree in Theology and is a Pastoral Counselor. She incorporates the application of a variety of modalities including: rebirthing, meditation and breath work. Maya is able to help clients to address their painful issues through loving support and an open heart. Her experience and techniques are in perfect harmony with the holistic approach of The Orchid.

Creative Arts Therapy: Frances Flanagan-Earl, M.A. CAP
Ms. Flanagan-Earl has earned a nationwide reputation as one of the top creative arts therapists and Certified Addictions Professionals in the world of addiction recovery. She has decades of experience developing and facilitating healing arts programs for women in recovery. Additionally, Frances utilizes a variety of artistic mediums such as imagery, collage, color and clay to assist in the development of spirituality, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Yoga Instructor: Angelina Lucia
Angelina has spent the past decade-plus mastering her craft as a yoga practitioner. She is a certified Tri Yoga Instructor, a Level 1 & 2 certified radiant Child Instructor and a Certified Yoga Arts Instructor who studied directly under the tutelage of the heralded Master Duncan Wong. She is the founder and Director of Bindu Yoga Studio and is a nationally certified and state licensed massage therapist.

Conscious Eating: Giri Bek, RHN
Giri's own healing journey brought her to the Healing Arts over 15 years ago. She is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Transformational Breath Facilitator and Reiki practitioner. As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, she offers the clients at Orchid an Introduction to the "Conscious Eating" paradigm, an expanded approach to nourishment on all levels; mind, body and spirit.

Nutritionist: Kathy Willow, NC
Kathy Willow is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and graduate of the Global College of Natural Medicine in Santa Cruz, CA. She is committed to teaching the women at Orchid how to make a healthy diet a part of their lifestyle; and why it is so important during times of healing and recovery.

Massage Therapy: Julie Feldman, L.M.T.
Julie is a well trained, heart centered professional with over 20 years of exprience in the field of massage therapy, working primarily with women in recovery. She blends Swedish, Deep Tissue, Raindrop Therapy, Reiki, Chakra Balancing, Active and Passive Stretching and Breathwork into her massage sessions. She is also a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor and a glass artist with a line of recovery jewelry.