Life Works Staff
Life Works has recruited its staff from both the US and the UK to provide its clients with one of the most experienced and highly qualified addiction teams in Europe.
Don Serratt is the founder and CEO of Life Works and has over 20 years business, finance and management experience combined with 25 of years of continuous sobriety. Don has decided to use his personal experience and passion for recovery to help others face their addictions, trauma and self-destructive behaviours by bringing together the best possible staffing and therapeutic techniques in a comfortable and safe environment. Don holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas and a Masters in International Relations from Cambridge University. Read Don's story
Dr. Anton Valmana is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Life Works. He has extensive experience in the mental health field with a special interest in addictive behaviours and dual diagnosis. He is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and he holds a MSc degree in Addictive Behaviour from the University of London. Dr. Valmana works both within the NHS and the independent sector. He has extensive psychotherapy, teaching, and audit experience and he has had a number of research articles published in peer reviewed journals.
Dr. Tom Guilder M.B. ChB DRCOG MRCGP FP Cert - is the Medical Doctor at Life Works. He conducts the initial medical health assessments and works alongside the clinical team to ensure that all clients receive excellent medical care. Dr Guilder has been practising medicine since 1978, working within the private sector since 1998. During his career he has worked with the police and been a Medical Advisor for Adoption and Fostering for National Children’s Home in England. Dr Guilder works extensively within the addiction treatment field. A member of the GMC, MDU, BMA and IDF Dr Guilder holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Aberdeen and a Diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Barny has been involved in the management and development of treatment centres since 2002. Prior to starting at Life Works he was working at The Ripple Project in Bradford, working both as a counsellor and assisting in the development of their criminal justice system program. Barny helped set up the new Life Works Duke Street day program, before moving to become operations director at The Grange. He has five years experience as an army officer, a Masters degree in Business Administration from Bradford University, and a Certificate in Counselling from Leeds University. In April 2001 Barny ran the 155-mile Marathon des Sables across the Sahara desert to raise money for RAPT.
Alan Bore is the Clinical Director at Life Works with 11 years experience in the Drug and Alcohol field. He has a BA in Psychosocial Studies, Post Graduate Diploma in Transpersonal Psychotherapy and Clinical Supervision. He has just completed an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Alan's most recent position was at The Drug & Alcohol Foundation. DAF offered help and support to people with substance misuse problem and other addictive disorders. He was the Project Coordinator and later the Clinical Services Manager managing the clinical team, Dual Diagnosis Programme and a non-residential Day Programme. Alan's current role encompasses clinical management tasks and supervision.
Phil is the Clinical Manager at Life Works with 17 years experience in the Drug and Alcohol field. Most recently at Turning Point, Newbury, he developed and managed the drug and alcohol counselling service. Specialising in abused and traumatised clients, he worked for almost a decade doing missionary work in London, Ireland and East Africa with addicts, sex industry workers, HIV positive clients and other marginalised groups. With a BA in Theology and an MA in Counselling, he has completed a certificate in supervision with the Society of Analytical Psychology.
Keith joined the Life Works Clinical Team in summer 2009. He is a UKCP and BACP registered Integrative Psychotherapist, having trained at the Metanoia Institute in London and the Centre for Somatic Studies in New York City. He also undertook post-qualifying training in clinical supervision at the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust, London and a foundation in Art Therapy with the British Association for Art Therapists.
Keith has extensive experience of working individually and with groups of clients living with mental health issues, addictions, eating disorders, and HIV/AIDS. He worked in a community mental health setting for seven years as both psychotherapist and consultant supervisor, followed by work with staff and students in universities, men and women living with HIV/AIDS, and as a consultant clinical supervisor within NHS primary care in London.
Before training in psychotherapy Keith read Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge and then trained and worked as a bodywork practitioner. This has influenced his approach to health and healing, seeing mind, body and spirit as an integrated whole and being able to reflect on the familial and cultural contexts in which addictions and eating disorders develop. He is also a classically trained musician and practices Anusara Yoga, having had a daily meditation practice for over twenty years.
Shannon Yates is a Nutritionist at Life Works and brings 25 years of in- depth knowledge and experience in nutritional counselling, that she has gained working in various capacities including universities, hospitals and corporations. For 11 years Shannon worked as the Senior Dietician at Surrey Oaklands. Her responsibilities included providing nutritional counselling for adolescents, initiating and co-chairing groups on self-esteem and mind and body and co-chairing the day patient group. More recently, Shannon has worked as a Nutritional Consultant for various treatment centres across the UK. Shannon has an MSc in Institutional Administration, Texas Women’s University; and a BSc in Home Economics majoring in Food Nutrition and Insitutional Management, University of Alabama. She is also a member of the British Dietetic Association, the American Dietetic Association and the American-European Dietetic Association.
Simon Leigh is a UKRCP Registered Independent Counsellor specializing in the treatment of Addictive Disorders. He qualified with a Masters Degree in Addiction Counselling and is both accredited by, and an examiner for, the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP).
In addition to his private practices, Simon has held the positions of Treatment Director and Director of Outpatient Services for a leading UK residential and Day-Care treatment centre responsible for their London based Secondary programmes. More recently, Simon has worked very closely with Life Works, as a consultant in the set up and opening of the Secondary Unit at The Grange and now running the Aftercare Programme as well as handling our London based assessments.
Shani has been a part of the LifeWorks therapeutic team since it’s opening in 2004. She now works freelance and provides holiday cover for counselling staff, out of hours enquiries, and facilitation of the Family Workshops. She is a qualified addictions therapist and trainer. Her experience includes work for the NHS as a Primary Care Counsellor using a CBT model for patients suffering clinical depression, the Criminal Justice System as a counselling advisor, creating and running motivational and self esteem workshops for women over 40, and as a primary counsellor for a variety of residential addiction units. Shani resides in Devon and runs a busy private practice in Totnes and Paignton.
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