Michael Brodsky, M.D.

Medical Director

Instructor and Board-certified psychiatrist at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Graduated with honors from Yale College and from Yale Medical School. Trained in adult and child psychiatry at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.

Trevor Small, Psy. D.

Clinical Director and Psychologist

Psy.D. from Pepperdine University with expertise in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, personality/character disorders, substance abuse, addictive behaviors, and trauma.

Katie Gregory

Executive Director

Katie has served as marketing and business development director for treatment facilities both nationally and internationally.

Mary Lou Devlin, M.S. MFT

Regional Program Director

Mary Lou has more than two decades experience working within the addiction community and her experience as a psychotherapist also encompasses work with trauma, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders.

Alisa Land, M.D.

Josephine McNary, M.D.

Ann Davis, M.D.

Litos Mallare, M.D.

Jeffrey Gandin, M.D.

Nancy L. Goldman, Psy.D. MFT

Deborah Sandy, Psy.D

Eric L. Strang, Psy.D

Lynne Oliva, MFT

Gail Brodski, Ph.D.

Cynthia Brown, Psy.D. MFT

Katherine Niemela MN,RN

Cheryl Grant, MFT, CSAT

Kristi Foster, Ph.D., MFT

Ellen Ledley, LCSW

Judy Ho, Ph.D., ABPP

Nicki Holmes, RN

Darcy Lubbers, MFT, ATR-BC

Erika Holmes, M.A., MFT

Shannon Corrigan, M.A., MFT

Mike Piacentino

Goli Gabbay

Mary Beth LaRue

Meacie Fairfax

Jane Sutton

Mary Wells

Lene Taylor

Elena Nazabal-McManis, M.A.

Lucy Lau, M.A.

Our Administrative Team

Frederik Schulin

Tonda Williams

Qemal Shaholli

Joan Appleton

Jeff Schlund

Jackie Eaton

Heidi Wilder

Maren Conway

Kosta Condous

Shanna Young

Chefs

Coreen Peralta

Robinson Reynolds

Heidi DeSesa

Rodney Elizaga

Iliana Para

Margarita Evans

Housekeeping

Sonia Chamul

Trevor Small, Psy.D

Clinical Director and Psychologist

Psy.D. from Pepperdine University with expertise in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, personality/character disorders, substance abuse, addictive behaviors, and trauma. Further expertise in psychological evaluation with adolescents and adults and the understanding of early mental life.

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Alisa Land, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Land received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School and completed residency at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. She is a licensed adult psychiatrist with expertise in psychopharmacological management of a wide range of mood, anxiety, and thought disorders. She has a specific interest in women's mental health, managing illness that can be affected by menses, pregnancy, and menopause. With prior training in clinical social work, she focuses on integrating medications into a comprehensive approach to mental health and wellness.

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Josephine McNary, M.D.

Psychiatrist

M.D. from Tulane University. She completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and received training in Women's Mental Health, Psycho-Oncology, Mood Disorders, and Psychotic Disorders. Currently she is attending staff at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry. She serves as the Consult-Liaison Psychiatrist at Santa Monica Hospital and as the Staff Psychiatrist at the UCLA Simms-Mann Center for Integrative Oncology.

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Ann Davis, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Davis received her MD from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her residency training in adult psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, where she served as chief resident. Board certified in adult psychiatry. Interests in women’s mental health, mood disorders, anxiety, psychotic disorders, trauma, integrating psychopharmacology with psychotherapy.

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Litos Mallare, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Master’s Degree in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and decided to go to medical school at the American University of the Caribbean to specialize in Psychiatry. He developed an interest in Surgery while in medical school and did his first year of residency in General Surgery at the University of Vermont. Dr. Mallare completed his Psychiatry residency at UCSF. The scope of his psychiatric practice includes Adult and Geriatric inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, Consultation and Liaison, Drug and Alcohol Rehab, and Forensic Psychiatry.

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Jeffrey Gandin, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Gandin received his MD from Sackler School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency and geriatric fellowship at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA. He has a specific interest in geriatric psychiatry, addiction and transgender issues.

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Nancy L. Goldman, Psy.D., MFT

Psychotherapist/Psychoanalyst

Psy.D., Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles. Training and Supervising Analyst, Faculty, Member of the Board of Directors. Expertise in depression, anxiety, family and couples therapy, Bipolar Disorder, personality disorders, trauma, sexual abuse, Dissociative Identity Disorder, addiction, and attachment disorders. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Psychoanalyst.

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Deborah Sandy, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies. Expertise in eating disorders and addictions, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, personality disorders, sexual abuse, trauma, couples therapy.

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Eric L. Strang, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University with an emphasis in both psychodynamic and existential/humanistic psychotherapy. Areas of expertise include psychotherapeutic treatment of mood and anxiety disorders as well as psychodiagnostic assessment of personality functioning, learning disabilities, attention deficits, and executive dysfunction. Specialties include interpersonal psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and mindfulness.

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Lynne Oliva, MFT

Psychotherapist and completing training as a Psychoanalyst

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and ABD Ph.D. in psychoanalysis at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis in Los Angeles. Masters' degrees in both clinical psychology and art history and a B.A. in English Literature from Princeton University. She has extensive training and experience working with a wide range of issues including trauma, grief and loss, anxiety and mood disorders, personality disorders, and addictions. She is writing her dissertation and a related book on Art, Desire, and the Unconscious.

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Cynthia Brown, Psy.D., MFT

Psychotherapist / Psychoanalyst

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has worked with individuals, couples, and families in Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1984. Doctorate in Psychoanalysis from the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis in Los Angeles (ICP) in 2003, where she is currently a member and active on ICP's Office of the Dean and the Committee for Diversity. She has worked as primary psychotherapist in residential treatment since 2006.

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Katherine Niemela, RN, MN

Psychotherapist and completing training as a Psychoanalyst

Masters of Nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Postgraduate training in Gestalt Therapy and presently is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. Has provided psychological services for more than 20 years with inpatient, residential, and outpatient clients. Clinical practice focuses on the individuals capacity for affect regulation as addressed by Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) models, as well as Relational Analytic approaches.

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Gail Brodski, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Brodski has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University, NY and is licensed in both the state of California and New York. Her expertise is in depression, anxiety, trauma and personality disorders. Dr. Brodski's orientation integrates cognitive behavioral and mindfulness components within a primarily Object Relations framework.

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Cheryl Grant, MFT, CSAT

Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Therapist

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University Los Angeles. Specialty in trauma, sexual abuse, mood and symptom regulation, and addictive disorders.

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Kristi Foster, Ph.D.

Somatic Experiencing Therapist

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Santa Barbara Graduate Institute with a specialization in somatics. Expertise in insecure attachment; early life trauma and their sequelae; using touch in psychotherapy; relational trauma and shock trauma. Practitioner of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Somatic Experiencing, and an approved session provider for Somatic Experiencing students. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

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Erika Holmes, M.A., MFT

Group Therapist

M.A. with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Specializing in using Dialectical Beahvioral Therapy (DBT) for treatment of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

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Shannon M. Corrigan, M.A., MFT

Group Therapist

M.A. University of Southern California. Specialties include anger management, high-conflict relationships, domestic violence issues, and assertiveness skills training. She is a court-approved domestic violence group facilitator.

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Darcy Lubbers, MFT, ATR-BC

Art Therapist

Darcy Lubbers conducts our Art Therapy and has expertise in treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, and relationship and family issues.

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Goli Gabbay

Yoga Instructor

UCLA graduate and certified yoga therapist. Extensive expertise in yoga taught with precise alignment instruction for mind-body connection and awareness; sequences to help alleviate depression, anxiety, and trauma; and guided relaxation therapy for emotional well-being, a strengthened nervous system, mental clarity, and peace.

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August McLaughlin, CN, CPT

Nutritionist

Certified Nutritionist (AFPA, IFA), St. Cloud State University and Edison Institute. She holds specializations in eating disorders, special diets, cooking therapy, and sports nutrition.

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Mary Beth LaRue

Yoga Instructor

A Santa Monica-based vinyasa yoga teacher, Mary Beth LaRue received her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification from Flow Yoga Studio in Washington, D.C., and her 500-hour teaching certification from YogaWorks in Los Angeles. In a fast-paced world, MB works to guide her students into a practice of stillness, joy, and compassion.

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Mike Piacentino

Personal Trainer

Certified Fitness Instructor specializing in fitness lifestyle management. Teaching clients how to maintain regular and consistent exercise as a way to increase fitness level, self esteem, and overall wellness. 
 

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Ellen Ledley, LCSW

Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Therapist

Ellen received her training at USC School of Social Work and has been in the field for over 25 years. She specializes in working with survivors of trauma and this interest led her to being trained in EMDR in 1994 and has been practicing Somatic Experiencing since 2003. She also specializes in working with couples and relationship issues.

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Judy Ho, Ph.D., ABPP

Consulting Neuropsychologist

Dr. Judy Ho is a board licensed clinical psychologist and specializes in neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessments/evaluations. She spent three years post-doctorate conducting psychiatric research at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, and worked with community mental health providers to improve the delivery of evidence-based care to high-need populations in Los Angeles and New Orleans. Dr. Ho's clinical specialties include child and family interventions, culturally responsive treatments for ethnic minority individuals, and treatments for depression and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder.

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Nicki Holmes, RN

Registred Nurse, Aftercare Planner

RN from Northern Virginia Community College School of Nursing.
Experience from Dominion Virginia Hospital, INOVA Fairfax Hospital’s Mental & Behavior Health Services, Heart and Vascular Institute and Orthopedic Surgery.

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Meacie Fairfax

Masseuse

Meacie is State-certified and combines massage modalities, such as myofascial, neuromuscular, shiatsu, and other techniques, offering a dynamic approach to client healing and recovery. Her bodywork offers insights and tools to help listen to what is present on all levels - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

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Jane Sutton

Masseuse

Jane Sutton has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1996. She is trained in multiple techniques including Swedish, Acupressure and Lomi Lomi . Her massages address chronic muscle tension holding patterns in order to allow the body to access its own natural healing processes and provide a state of well being.

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Lene Taylor

Masseuse

Lene is a California State Licensed Massage Therapist and member of the AMBP. She has been in practice since 2001 in the Los Angeles area. Lene has worked in Residential Treatment since 2004. She received her training and certification at the Touch Therapy Institute. Lene furthered her studies at the Tao Healing Arts Center- Shiatsu School of California and Deon Thai Yoga School Of Massage in Ojai California. She apprenticed under Master Healer Fatima Abate in 2004 and is an ordained Minister and Certified Light Worker using the Quantum Energetic Method. Lene brings a unique talent, training and life experience to the Healing Arts. Her primary focus is to help facilitate the specific needs of each individual client, bringing balance while initiating the body’s natural healing ability.

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Mary Wells

Masseuse

Mary is a remedial (deep tissue) massage therapist, living and working in Los Angeles since 2009. She completed her 504 hours of training in Britain where she focused on manipulations, mobilizations and some neuromuscular work, regarding muscular-skeletal injuries. The intuitive therapeutic connection she has with a client is the most important aspect of her work. Mary has continued her training with Susan Ross at the Ross Clinic in Scotland and completed training in Hot Stone therapy in California.

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Elena Nazabal-McManis, M.A.

Acupuncturist

Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor's College in Santa Monica. Licensed to practice acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal medicine by the State of California. Acupuncture treats the body, mind, and spirit to create balance in your life and restore your body's own healing abilities. Elena specializes in the treatment of anxiety, stress, depression, pain, and other emotional conditions. She is also a trained Reiki practitioner

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Lucy Lau, M.A.

Acupuncturist

Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor's College in Santa Monica. Licensed to practice acupuncture, acupressure and herbal medicine by the State of California. Lucy believes vitality and well being are about finding and maintaining balance in both body and mind. She specializes in treatment for anxiety, stress, depression, pain and optimizing health. She enjoys assisting individuals in finding that balance and achieving great health.

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Our Administrative Team

Katie Gregory

Executive Director

Katie Gregory has been working in the behavioral health field for approximately 20 years in both senior level management and clinical positions. Katie has served as marketing and business development director for treatment facilities both nationally and internationally. Katie is completing her Master's at USM and received her B.A. in Psychology with honors from Ursuline College in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Frederik Schulin

Administrator

M.SC in Business Strategy and Management, Aarhus School of Business, Denmark. Administrative experience as president and VP in the fashion and medical industry.

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Mary Lou Devlin, M.S. MFT

Regional Program Director

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who served as the Executive and Clinical Director for a residential treatment program specializing in the treatment of addiction and co-occurring disorders. Has more than two decades experience working within the addiction community and her experience as a psychotherapist also encompasses work with trauma, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. She holds an M.S. in Counseling from CSUN, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy.

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Tonda Williams

Admissions Director

More than 10 years of experience in Admissions Development and Training in the Chemical Dependency and Mental Health fields, ranging from assessments to placement.

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Qemal Shaholli

Controller

Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting from La Trobe University, Australia. Current CPA (Aus) status with more than 10 years experience in international and domestic accounting standards and business practice

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Joan Appleton

Interior Designer

BA in International Business/Marketing, and has been an Interior Designer for 19 years. Specializes in both residential and commercial spaces. Her expertise includes acting as project manager and designer on large residential projects, as well as coordinating, supervising and hiring, contractors, architects, and landscape architects. She also specializes in historical restoration projects, apartment buildings, commercial office spaces, grand ballrooms, retail stores, entertainment venues, and residential treatment facilities.

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Jeff Schlund

Community Outreach

In 2003 Jeff started his career in the addictions field working with chemical dependency programs. He soon extended his expertise into dual diagnosis, eating and psychiatric mood disorders. He has a passion for helping people find the most appropriate level of treatment and he is thrilled to be working with an organization as prestigious as Bridges to Recovery.

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Jackie Eaton

Assistant Program Director

After living most of her life overseas in Europe and Southeast Asia, Jackie moved to the United States to pursue an education and career in Psychology. She graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelors Degree in both Psychology and Intercultural Communication. She has previously worked in applied behavioral analysis, volunteered with at-risk youth, and has approximately five years experience in residential mental health treatment. She hopes to further her education in mental health by pursuing a masters-level degree in social work in the near future.

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Heidi Wilder

Office Manager

Heidi studied psychology at Sierra College and has six years of experience working in licensed treatment facilities in various positions as direct care staff and in administration. She feels that working at Bridges to Recovery has been a very rewarding opportunity and it has encouraged her interest in psychiatric nursing, which she plans to pursue further by completing her nursing degree in the near future.

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Maren Conway

Pacific Palisades Program Manager

Obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University. Recently graduated from Argosy University with Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology/MFT. She has previously worked at family agencies providing counseling and crisis intervention. Plans to obtain a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.

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Kosta Condous

Bel Air Program Manager

Kosta received his Bachelor of Psychology, with honors, at the University of Adelaide, Australia. He is currently completing his Masters of Counseling Psychology (MFT) at Argosy University Orange County. Kosta has five years experience in the mental health field.

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Shanna Young

Santa Monica Program Manager

Ms. Young joined the Bridges To Recovery team just under two years ago. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pitzer college, a member of the Claremont Consortium. In the fall of 2011 she was promoted to House Manager, and is enjoying the challenges of this new role. As Ms. Young continues on her journey of pursuing a career in the field of psychology, she is grateful for the invaluable experiences gained at Bridges.

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Chefs

Coreen Peralta

Executive Chef

Coreen has been the owner and operator of a Los Angeles Personal Chef Service since 1993. She has experience in menu design, staffing, inventory control, budgeting and special dietary needs. Coreen has been managing the food program at Bridges to Recovery for 7 1/2 years. It is her passion and pleasure to offer healthy nurturing meals while using only fresh and local ingredients. She finds that rotating the chefs at Bridges to Recovery keeps the menu selections fresh and new, while being able to meet the culinary needs of all of our guests.

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Robinson Reynolds

Chef

Robinson graduated from CSCA Pasadena in 2005 and later interned at the Ritz Carlton Pasadena. Robinson feels working at Bridges to Recovery as a personal chef has been a very gratifying experience. He specializes in healthy Mediterranean cuisine, focusing on the dietary needs of all guests.

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Heidi DeSesa

Chef

In 2000, Heidi was a stay at home mom cooking for family and friends. She had recently begun studying with a master of meditation and compassion. Heidi studied the techniques of cooks who had come from all regions of the world, and learned what it truly means to cook farm fresh organic food. She has followed these precepts during her years at Bridges to Recovery and incorporates them into every meal she cooks.

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Iliana Para

Chef

In 1999, Iliana got the chance to work in a Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Hollywood as a prep chef. Eventually she was asked to permanently work the line where she soon found her passion for cooking. Shortly after, she started working as a Personal chef, and catering private events. The feedback from her clients, friends and family sparked her realization that this was something she wanted to do full time. She started taking courses for vegan and vegetarian cooking in order to expand her knowledge and interest in food. Now her passion is making healthy food tasteful and enjoyable.

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Rodney Elizaga

Chef

Rodney attended and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu. Upon graduating, he acquired experience in restaurants of different cultural backgrounds, broadening his ability to cook different cuisines. With over nine years of experience in the food industry, Rodney has worked for a number of established restaurants, catered for events and cooked for celebrities as a private chef. In the professional kitchen, he has experience as a line cook, sous chef, executive pastry chef, head chef, and chef consultant. With his insatiable curiosity, he believes his food is innovative and creative while still maintaining the respect for classic cuisines.

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Margarita Evans

Chef

Margarita was born in Santiago, Chile and later moved with her family to Barcelona, Spain in 1982. She lived there for 14 year where she learned to appreciate Catalan Cuisine. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu, where she got her associates degree in Culinary Arts. Margarita has had the pleasure to work with Italian, Spanish, Chinese and different types of fusions, and most recently experimented with North Indian cuisine.

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Sonia-Chamul

Lead House Keeper

Sonia has worked at Bridges to Recovery for over seven years and is now the lead housekeeper. She takes pride in making the house feel like home for all of the guests. She enjoys taking care of the house and assisting the guests with anything they need. Sonia is always willing to lend a helping hand.

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