recovery

Our Staff

James ‘Jim” Dopp

CADAC II, Executive Director: After serving with the US Army 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces (Abn) in Vietnam, Jim had a 30 year career in real estate managing shopping centers for ITT, General Electric, Prudential Insurance and The Traveler’s Insurance. His second career began with the Hazelden Foundation at their facility in West Palm Beach, Florida (Hanley-Hazelden). He began working on the men’s unit nights and week ends and when he left in his sixth year he was a member of the Clinical Leadership Team, the Executive Leadership Team and chaired the Education Team.
His responsibilities included supervision of the Addiction Professional Training Institute, the Physician Faculty Training Program, the Professional in Residence Program and staff development, which included internship programs with eight Master’s degree programs. He was sent to Costa Rica in 2002 as a part of a group making a presentation on the Minnesota Model to governmental agencies responsible for health care. He became the clinical director of ACERPA in San Jose, Costa Rica, having been asked to train the staff there in the application of this model as used at Hazelden. He introduced a women’s program and treatment in English. He is one of the founders of Costa Rica Recovery.

Dra. Ivania Salas Bogantes

Medical Director: Dra. Salas completed her post graduate studies in psychiatry at the University of Costa Rica, served as Chief Resident at the National Psychiatric Hospital in Pavas, Costa Rica and currently is assigned to emergency services there. She is a Professor at the University San Judas Tadeo and the University of Medical Science (UCIMED). She is an approved provider for the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Tim England – Addictions Counselor

Tim England, is responsible for 12 Step Facilitation and does relapse prevention groups based on the Cenaps, Corp. Model. More than several decades of personal experience working the 12 Steps of Recovery, both personally and with others, has given Tim the ability to connect with others and help them see things from different perspectives.

Tim’s previous employment includes 13 years in the Canadian Air Force where he was introduced to recovery and trained to run the military recovery aftercare programs. He also spent 5 years working for the military as a civilian contractor on flight simulators. In the late 90’s Tim moved on into the oil industry where he specialized in underground navigation systems for directional drilling. He still occasionally does some consulting in this industry. He has been with Costa Rica recovery since early 2007.

Tim’s personal life revolves predominantly around his girlfriend (and her son), his daughter in Canada, motorcycles, reading, and investing.

Suzanne L. Noel

Has a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology and is a Certified Focusing Trainer. She primarily works with psychologists teaching them Focusing and Focusing Listening, in person or on the phone. She regularly offers workshops in Domain Focusing and assists Dr.Robert Lee in his Focusing Oriented Therapy course.

At Costa Rica Recovery House, Suzanne offers classes and lectures on various subjects related to recovery; runs 12 Step and Relapse Prevention groups; and is developing her specialty of Recovery Focusing, crossing Focusing with the 12 Steps of Recovery, a powerful process that enables clients to take the Steps inside and gain rapid insights to further their healing. Suzanne’s Recovery Focusing groups are a favorite at Costa Rica Recovery House.

Suzanne has a warm and welcoming presence that helps clients feel safe so they are better able to be with themselves and honestly face their addictive process. In her Recovery Focusing groups, she gently helps them face the worst of their addiction while moving them toward the best that Recovery has to offer, enabling them to experience a deep, personal experience of sobriety.

She is Bilingual and Bi-Cultural and has lived in Costa Rica for 24 years.

You can visit her at her website at http://www.innerwisdoms.com

Dr. Mora

Luis Lopez Mora, M.D. completed his degree at the University of Costa Rica, did his residency in psychiatry at the National Psychiatric Hospital in Pavas where he worked with Dra. Salas. He is a member of the College of Medicine and Surgery.

John French

John French: has been involved in the field of addiction treatment, counseling and research for almost 40 years. John’s work experience with both federal and state governments has made him a valuable resource in the field of addiction treatment and education. John volunteers his time at CRR facilitating group workshops and patient discussion sessions.

Robert Valdes

Robert Valdes: Robert has worked with CRR for the past 2 years. He is responsible for managing all Admission processing for incoming patients. He is also involved in client case management.

Dra. Carina Castro

Dra. Carina Castro: Graduated with honors from the University Iberoamerica (UNIBE) in San Jose, Costa Rica with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She has a Master’s in Clinical Neuropsychology pending presentation of her thesis at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina. She served as the staff psychologist at ACERPA, an addictions treatment center in San Jose, Costa Rica and has had assignments at the National Psychiatric Hospital, Hospital Nacional Calderon Guardia, and the National Children’s Hospital. She was a cognitive therapist at Hospital FLENI. She does psychological testing and evaluations to identify barriers to treatment such as dual diagnosis conditions.

M.PsC. Paola Cravioto Pacheco

Paola Cravioto received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iberoamerica (UNIBE) in San Jose, Costa Rica. She rotated in State Hospitals such as National Children’s Hospital, Calderon Guardia Hospital and National Psychiatric Hospital. She received her licensure degree with a thesis of Alcoholism Prevention for teenagers. Before working in Costa Rica Recovery she was in charge of personnel selection and recruiting in a logistics company.

Karla Jacobs de Beer

Karla Jacobs de Beer – Graduate of the University of San Francisco with a BA in Sociology and Marketing. 25 years experience in the garment industry in Sales and Marketing.. Native Californian she moved with her husband and 13 year old daughter to Costa Rica two years ago. A ‘Friend’ of CRR she is now working at the Center as an Administrative Assistant where she can support the work
of the Center and be of service

Robert M. Woolf

Robert M. Woolf – Born in Chicago, Illinois. Resident of Costa Rica for eleven years. Alumni of Roosevelt University and Southern Illinois University. Over twenty years experience with addictions. Employed as House Manager for Costa Rica Recovery S.A.

Melba

Melba is our Chef at the residence facility. She prepares meals for patients and resident staff.

Alan Muir

Alan is our go to guy. He is our driver and the facilities maintenance manager. He brings great enthusiasm to the job and to the incoming patients.