Edgewood Treatment Centre

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Meet the Team at Edgewood Treatment Centre

Bringing patients the effective care for their addiction recovery

Edgewood’s philosophy of care involves equal parts expertise and empathy. Every member of our interprofessional team was handpicked for their experience and commitment to excellent care. Edgewood’s B.C.-based staff consists of physicians, nurses, counsellors, nutritionists, occupational and family therapists, and fitness trainers. Our full-time, on-site doctors and counsellors are certified addiction medicine experts and have over 100 years of combined experience treating 20,000 patients.

For those who come to Edgewood, we become caregivers, confidants, and cheerleaders. We show them how to leverage their strengths to build the skills needed to be the hero of their stories and steer their addiction recovery.

Dr. Christina Basedow

Vice President Western Canada | EHN Canada

Dr. Christina Basedow leads EHN Western Canada, responsible for overseeing operations, clinical program development, and the building/expansion of new facilities in this region.  She continues to also serve as Executive Director at Edgewood Treatment Centre, the largest in-patient facility within EHN.  In her previous roles with EHN, she served as Clinical Director, Manager of Outpatient Programming, and Supervisor of Extended Care. Her initial work within Edgewood Treatment Centre was as a Clinical Counselor.  Prior to returning to EHN in August 2016, Christina worked as a senior research associate on an international grant. She also worked within Corrections, Eating Disorders for adults and youth, and Sexual Abuse Intervention Services for children and youth. Christina has worked as an Instructor at Vancouver Island University, and runs a small private practice.  Christina holds a PhD in Psychology, a Masters in Psychology, and a BHSc in Addictions Counseling. She is also a Registered Clinical Counselor (RCC) in B.C., a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT).

Carrie McVeigh

Executive Director

Carrie McVeigh has 30 years of experience in people and business leadership in all sectors, including private, public, and not-for-profit, with extensive experience within the education sector. She has held executive level roles including that of Chief Operating/Financial Officer and Associate Superintendent, Human Resources & Labour Relations, and currently leads as the Executive Director of Edgewood Treatment Centre, the largest in-patient facility within EHN. As a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, strategic and transformational leader, she has experience with building culture, breaking down silos, leadership development, financial management and succession planning. Her core belief is that patient care is at its best when staff are engaged, have a sense of support, hold accountable, understand their role, have a sense of belonging and work in an organization committed to diversity, inclusion and equity. She vows to ensure every decision she makes is in the best interest of patients, by keeping them at the centre of conversations and decisions. Her personal commitment is to show-up and be seen, be vulnerable, be courageous and to lead with heart, honesty, respect, and integrity.

Joel Hughes

Clinical Director, MA

Joel Hughes received his Masters degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C. and has worked at Edgewood in a Clinical Supervisory capacity since 2008. Joel has worked in the counselling field for over 25 years and has an extensive breadth of experience to draw from. Joel’s passion is to collaborate with individuals, families, communities, and organizations offering addiction services and education to provide effective treatment options.

Dr. Gary Richardson

Director of Medical Services

Dr. Richardson received his medical training in Johannesburg, South Africa, graduating in 1989. Immigrating to Canada in 1992, Dr. Richardson spent five years in Emergency Medicine at the Royal University Hospital, in Saskatoon.He moved with his family to Vancouver Island in 1998, and was in General Practice in Nanaimo, until becoming the Medical Director at Edgewood in 2002, where he is currently the full-time physician.Dr. Richardson obtained his ASAM certification in 2004, and recertified through the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2014. He is involved in Addiction Medicine education, and is the co-facilitator of Edgewood’s 5-Day Physician Training Program.

Lisa Stockton

Referrent Relations Manager, Western Canada

Lisa Stockton is the Referent Relations Manager at Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo, BC. This role ensures all referring professionals experience a smooth, efficient and hassle free experience when they contact any EHN facility and while their person is in our care. Prior to her role as Referent Relations Manager, Lisa spent 18 years in various roles at Edgewood, with the majority of it working as an admissions coordinator, a position that helped her build on her customer service skills when supporting professionals and families who were seeking treatment for addiction. Lisa holds a Business diploma from Vancouver Community College and has continued to work on educating herself from both an addictions perspective as well as attending VIU in the Community Support Worker program. She has sat on the Board for B.C. Community Living in Parksville, B.C., currently belongs to 100 Women Who Care and has recently joined the Board of Forward House Community Society.

Trevor Sigmundson

Clinical Supervisor

Trevor is one of the Clinical Supervisors at Edgewood and brings over 14 years of experience to the team. He received his education at the University of Victoria and has worked at Edgewood since 2014. As an alumnus of Edgewood and being 18 years in recovery, Trevor’s skill set, lived experience and passion for helping others is a huge asset to those patients and family members he works with. As a mentor to others, he has the ability to work through difficult situations and his calm, consistent presence is welcomed by colleagues, patients, alumni and staff alike.Trevor was born in Winnipeg, MB and raised in Victoria, B.C. While not at work, Trevor enjoys spending time with his family, particularly swimming with his 9-year old daughter, Aria.

Carolyn Simpson

Expressive Arts Therapist

Carolyn is a graduate of the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute and UBC. Having worked within the mental health industry almost 2 decades her experience and client base has been diverse. Carolyn is committed to assisting people in the discovery of their own inner guiding strength and wisdom on their path to recovery. As well as utilizing the creative process as a healing tool, her work is informed by ongoing interest in mindfulness practices. When not at work, Carolyn spends her time with her 2 daughters, puttering in her garden, creating art, reading and hiking this beautiful island with her family and dogs.

Kaitlin Ellis

Lliam Broderick

Clincial Counsellor, MA (Cand.)

Lliam received his Bachelor’s Degree from Vancouver Island University in 2020 and is scheduled to complete his Master of Arts Degree from VIU in the Fall of 2022. As a man in recovery, an Edgewood alumnus since 2018, and an active member of the recovery community, Lliam is passionate about assisting others experiencing substance use disorder. Lliam is honoured to be able to come to work everyday, give back to others and claims the greatest gift of all is to be able to see the “lights come on” for others as it did for him. He is a firm believer that leisure is a coping resource for supporting recovery and in his spare time enjoys engaging in outdoor recreation such as snowboarding, surfing, and hiking.

Mekaela Geoghegan

Clinical Team Lead and Counsellor

Mekaela’s personal life has been deeply affected by addiction, with members of her immediate family receiving professional help at treatment centres in addition to peer support within 12-Step recovery groups in order to address their substance abuse and process addictions. Her own recovery experience has spanned over a decade and has included the same aforementioned supports. Over her years working at Edgewood as a clinical counsellor, she has garnered additional certifications including being trained in the eye-movement technique Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) as well as working towards becoming a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) in order to better serve those who experience process addictions. Day-to-day, she works with clients to help establish improved self-esteem and find recovery from their substance abuse, and specializes in working with female clients who struggle with addictive behaviours regarding sex, love, and relationships.

Nick Abraham

Clinical Counsellor

Nick was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and started working as a clinical counsellor at Bellwood Treatment Centre in Toronto in 2019 as part of their CORE program for substance use and mental health. Nick moved to Nanaimo with his family in 2020 and has been working at Edgewood since. Prior to his work with EHN, Nick worked in Addictions at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Toronto and at Recovery Counselling Services (RCS) in Toronto, providing outpatient services to those with addiction issues. Nick completed his Master of Arts in Addiction Counselling at Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School in 2018 and is thrilled to be in the process of completing his training to become a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). The privilege and honour to sit with people, hear their stories and help them find themselves empowers Nick to come to work every day. Nick has been a sober, active member of his recovery community for over 14 years. Nick is married and has a 3-year-old daughter, and when he’s not working you can find him hiking, acting in theatre, listening to music and dancing in his kitchen!

Jim Edwards

Clinical Counsellor

I am a registered social worker in British Columbia and a certified addictions Counsellor in Canada. I utilize the Satir Model of family systems (Virginia Satir et al) to help clients cultivate personal awareness, internal resources, change and healthy relationship with self and others. I promote and model a balanced lifestyle including; contemplation, exercise, solitude, ceremony and connection. I have demonstrated passion and enthusiasm for helping people heal for over 35 years as a youth worker, addictions counsellor and social worker. Simplicity, gratitude, love and service are my guiding principles.

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Meet the Team at Edgewood Treatment Centre