At Siam Rehab, we have a team of professionals who are dedicated to providing the most effective addiction treatment programme available anywhere in the world. All of the counsellors had their own struggles with addiction in the past before learning to get and stay clean and sober as well as studying their for their counseling qualifications. They know firsthand the struggle with addiction, this allows them to connect on a deeper level with their clients. We have one of the best staff-to-client ratios in the rehab industry, with a level of direct contact (individual and group counselling sessions, and counsellor availability) that is difficult to find anywhere.
Besides our counsellors and client support, we have excellent staff for all the other amenities and needs of a full-service, residential treatment programme. This extends to our kitchen staff, hospitality, exercise and excursion programmes, groundskeeping, massage and security. We welcome you to learn more about us, and how we can help in the struggle with addiction and substance abuse.
Dr. Nattapatt Sukkhosawat, MD/Psychiatrist (Dr. Mark)
Medical Director
Siam Rehab is fortunate to be the only centre in Thailand with a qualified addiction psychiatrist as the medical director and head of treatment.
Dr. Mark has been practicing medicine for 19 years since graduating from the University of Chiang Mai's medical school and specializing in Addiction Psychiatry at Suan Prung Psychiatric Hospital.
Regularly on site, Dr. Mark oversees all the medical needs of our clients, as well as detox as an outpatient from his clinic or in the nearby hospital when required.
With a very calm and non-formal demeanor, Dr. Mark can very quickly put a client at ease and make them feel comfortable.
Theo de Vries
Founder, Programme Director
Theo de Vries is the founder of Siam Rehab. Originally from The Netherlands, now resides full time in Thailand and is onsite most days.
Ever since the age of 12, I have been struggling with addiction and all the problems associated with it. About 11 years ago I first entered rehab and it took me 5 different rehabs to finally admit to myself that my life was totally unmanageable, in all areas and I needed to do something new.
After several years in recovery, I started to dream about how I could help other addicts get clean, and how I could use my experience to help them to stay clean and enjoy a life without the compulsion to use drugs or alcohol.
After settling in Thailand, I found an amazing team of people who share my vision and my passion, and who also have their own personal experience with addiction. Siam Rehab was born, a treatment centre that is accessible to everyone who is willing to change their lives.
My biggest dream is that every addict who is willing, will get the opportunity to begin their recovery, and experience how beautiful life can be without having to use any mood-altering substance. My mission is to share with our clients the process that I went through to get clean, and also to share my experience of how life can be lived in recovery, free of drugs, and experiencing inner peace at the same time.
Please let Siam Rehab, and our balanced recovery programmes, help you get your life back on track. We will give you all the support you need, and will do everything within our power to help you through the challenges in recovery.
Sue Sandeman - BSc/CPCAB
Senior Counsellor
Sue, originally from the UK, is an experienced addictions counsellor and group facilitator. In recovery herself, Sue has been working in the addiction field in the UK, Australia and Thailand for the past 11 years.
Sue's formal qualifications include CPCAB Counselling Skills Level 2, NVQ Level 3 Substance Misuse, and most recently, following residential training in the USA, she is also an IRI certified Recovery Specialist. Sue has continued professional training throughout her career, with multiple short training courses in CBT, Working with Resistance, Integrated Practice, Motivational Interviewing, Vulnerable Adults, Child Protection, Mindfulness, ITEP (International Treatment Effectiveness Project), and Psychosocial interventions for adult substance misusers.
Karuna Sue Clancy - BA (hons) SWCS
Senior Counsellor
Karuna is a qualified psychotherapist from the UK. She has worked in various addiction treatment centres as a manager, a group worker, and as a therapist for over 8 years. She has over 30 years experience of recovery from addiction, and during that time has followed a varied path of supporting and helping others from many different client groups. Karuna first worked as a child protection social worker, then as a rehab manager, then as a group worker, and retreat leader. She is now a psychotherapist employed in private practice, working with many clients on their recovery from addictions, historical sexual abuse, low self esteem, suicide attempts, depression, personality disorders, eating disorders, and other related issues.
Karuna's formal qualifications include a Diploma in Social Work (Dip SW), and a BA (hons) in Social Work & Community Studies. Karuna is a Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA), and Provisional Teaching & Supervising Transactional Analyst (PTSTA). During her working career she has always kept up to date with recent trends in human development and psychology, and has taken many short courses to keep abreast of current thinking in the field.
Rutger Van den Berg (Rudy)
Counsellor
Rudy started to use drugs at 13. Ten years later he went into rehab, and through his own recovery he has become devoted to helping other addicts.
Rudy is convinced that the best help available for anyone struggling with addiction is one addict helping another addict. Clients feel comfortable going to Rudy with questions and he is a valuable member of the team at Siam Rehab.
I understand how early recovery can be, and so I'll do anything within my reach to help ease the ride. Hopefully I can also show how much fun recovery can be. I hope to welcome you soon at Siam Rehab, and get you on your way to a new life.
Emma Beck
Counsellor
Emma Beck is a social worker and counselor at Siam Rehab. She received a bachelors in Social Work and a Social Worker diploma from the University of Lund, Sweden. Emma has interned at three different social work organizations in Belgium, where addicts have been one of the many client groups she has been working with. Prior to studies in social work, she has graduated from Lund Art & Design School, studying Swedish health care law and ethics as well as psychology.
She wants to send her clients the message, that it's possible to go from darkness to a meaningful life where dreams are possible and you can become who you really are. Over the years, she has seen how the 12 step programme has helped many addicts to begin recovery and gain back control in their lives.
Martin Prein - MBO
Client Support
Martin provides client support at Siam Rehab. He is bilingual in Dutch and English and has a diploma in Social Work. Before coming to Siam Rehab, Martin provided social care support for teenagers for two years.
As with all our therapeutic staff, he is in active recovery, and understands firsthand the difficulties that addicts and alcoholics face in rehab. Through his experience and training, Martin helps clients understand how it is possible for those with substance dependence to start a new life, and become a disciplined, and mindful person.
Lai Voon Mei (Mei) - BA/Cert CBT
Client Support
Mei was raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is also an addict in recovery, as are all therapeutic staff members. She is grateful for the support she had in the programme that helped her onto the road of recovery and wants to give back this support to other addicts and alcoholics.
"Being in Siam Rehab myself as a client in the past, and going through the same process as the current clients do, I understand exactly how they feel and what their needs are. I have worked hard on my recovery, and because of that, Siam Rehab offered me a job as a support worker. Siam Rehab helped me to realise how important support and guidance is for an addict to start their recovery process. I will be spending weekends doing Art Therapy and interactive games, along with the Sunday outings. I hope to bring out the inner child in us that we have lost for a very long time, and bring back the smiles, that for many we have long forgotten. Hope to see you soon in our beautiful setting in Chiang Rai, Thailand."
Eric Van Poucke
Equine-Assisted Learning Coach
Eric Van Poucke is a therapist, educator, and published author on Equine-Assisted Learning and Equi-coaching. He has managed horses and conducted Equine-Assisted Therapy for more than 15 years in Thailand and Europe.
Eric is the Siam Rehab Equine-Assisted Learning Coach, and lead facilitator for all clients working with Equine-Assisted Therapy.
Patrick Moet
Netherlands/Belgium Case Manager
Patrick Moet is an Addiction Counselor, Interventionist, Sober Coach, and the Siam Rehab Netherlands/Belgium case manager. He has studied at the Dutch Academie for Psychotherapie, including advanced level addiction counseling, classical hypnotherapy. He is currently pursuing post bachelor degree in Mental Healthcare and Social Pedagogy (a long-standing traditional field dealing with individual and social learning, development, and inequity).
Inquiries from the Netherlands and Belgium are answered by Patrick, who is bilingual in Dutch and English. Patrick helps guide clients and their families through the process of being admitted to Siam Rehab, dealing with health insurance, and travel to Thailand.
Patrick has firsthand experience with the debilitating effects of substance addiction and understands the issues our clients and their loved ones are facing.
Santi Charoenwong
Physical Trainer, Traditional Thai Massage Therapist
Santi spent several years in Australia training and becoming certified as a fitness trainer and registered excercise professional. He has first aid training as well as physical therapy/rehabilitation training and masterclass credentials. Santi has experience and expertise in bootcamp and outdoor group motivation and training. He also has extensive training in traditional Thai medicine and Thai massage, as well as Western-style Trigger Point Therapy. For the past five years, Santi had been based in Bangkok. He has relocated with his wife to Chiang Rai to further develop the physical fitness and welness program at Siam Rehab.
Orrapin Cromie (Aon)
Yoga and Meditation Instructor
Aon was born in Chiang Rai and has been practicing yoga for 6 years and teaching it for 4 years. In 2015 she travelled to India to study at the Swasti Yoga Centre in Rishikesh, and graduated from the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program where she learnt yoga, anatomy, pranayama techniques, and meditation.
Aon enjoys teaching yoga and meditation at Siam Rehab, and her focus is on supporting our clients to become healthier, stronger, and more self-aware.
Wade Dupuis
Managing Director
When you first call or email, Wade is the one who replies and answers the phone. He personally manages all client inquires. Wade is also available to communicate with family members whose loved ones are having a problem with substance abuse and addiction. In many cases it is the family who reaches out first.
Originally from Canada, Wade has been working with addiction recovery programmes in Thailand and throughout Asia for the past 10 years. Wade helped build the very first addiction treatment programme for Westerners in Asia in 2007. Since that time, he has spoken with thousands of individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as their family members and friends.
Panjama Praimanee (Mint) BA Psychology/English
Operations Director
Panjama, or Mint for short has worked in the operations end of addiction treatment centres for most of the past 10 years. Mint graduated with a degree in Psychology and English and then started her career in Bangkok. Having also studied and worked in Australia and Canada for more than 7 years, she understands the needs of foreigners and an international treatment setting like Siam Rehab.
At Siam Rehab, Mint is responsible for making sure the business of the company runs smoothly, from legal compliance, visa extensions, recruitment of support staff, contracts with tour and medical providers and fixing all the problems travelers have from lost luggage, adjusted flight itineraries, etc. Mint is always happy to have a chat with you on what your needs are and how she can help.
Panwadee Boonyok (Au)
Housekeeping Manager
Au was born and raised in Udon Thani, in Northeast Thailand. She worked for many years in hospitality and is responsible for everything that has to do with the hotel part of Siam Rehab. From healthy food, massage, maintenance and housekeeping, she is here to support you and make your stay at Siam Rehab as comfortable as possible!
Somratchanat Luecha (Ying) - PhD
Accounting Manager
Ying graduated from Burapha University with her PhD in Accounting. Ying takes care of all the important back office administration issues that need to be addressed such as taxes, company compliance, etc.
As well as managing the accounting at Siam Rehab, Ying is an adjunct professor at Burapha University.
Praweena (Yo) - BA/Cert Nursing
Office Admin
Yo is an indispensable member of the Siam Rehab team, she received her BA from a local university before starting her career working in America and Thailand.
She handles the day to day bookkeeping as well as so many other tasks from translator, escort to the hospital, helping in the kitchen when needed, calling a taxi and the thousands of other things she is asked to do on a daily basis.
Jirapon (Aor) - BA/Hospitality and Business English
Office Admin
Aor has a background in hospitality, including a BA in Hospitality and Business English, and an internship at a 5-star hotel. She has worked at several of the famous hotels and resorts in Northern Thailand. Her focus on service-mindedness makes everything a bit smoother in coordinating the Thai staff and foreign client needs. She takes care of bookkeeping, translation, transportation and accommodation. We are fortunate to have her at Siam Rehab.
Rattana (Toi) - BA
Chef
Toi has a bachelor's degree from the local university in business but learned early in her career that she loved being in the kitchen preparing tasty and healthy food rather then behind a desk. Prior to coming to Siam Rehab she worked with several top restaurants as well as running her own catering business.
Woottirat (Op)
Chef
Op has worked with Siam Rehab since the facility opened in Chiang Rai. Originally from the local area and having spent years traveling throughout Thailand working at some of the premier resorts in the country, he was happy to come back home to work with Siam Rehab.
Yin and Yang
Therapy Canine Companions
Yin and Yang, two adorable pups have been re-homed to Siam Rehab to be therapy dogs in training. They look forward to welcoming you to the centre with a wet nose and a cuddle.
Lucky
Therapy Canine Companion - Emeritus
Lucky has gone on to greener pastures. He was the first therapy canine companion. He worked at Siam Rehab from day one and was himself an example of rehabilitation. Found on the side of the road, he was taken home and given a second chance.
Covered in mange and never having had a bath, his future didn't look good. After being taken care of and brought back to health, he considered it his mission to help the new clients feel at ease as well helping the night security guard do his job. He was a good listener and would never tell secrets to anyone else, providing you gave him a bit of a belly rub.
