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Meet the Team at EHN Guardians Nanaimo

Bringing patients the effective care for their addiction recovery

All our trauma and addiction counselors are highly qualified and are deeply committed to professionalism, integrity, and, most importantly, the well-being of the patients who participate in the trauma program. Each counselor follows a structured daily routine that incorporates meditation, mindfulness practices, and a strong emphasis on self awareness. Our ultimate goal is to guide our patients in their journey to recover from the lasting effects of their traumatic experiences and, in the process, assist them in rediscovering their authentic sense of self. We believe in providing the highest standard of care and support to help individuals heal and rebuild their lives.

Dr. Christina Basedow

RCC, CSAT, CMAT; Chief Operations Officer

Dr. Christina Basedow is EHN Canada's COO and is responsible for overseeing operations, clinical program development, as well as the building and expansion of new facilities. In her previous roles with EHN Canada, she served as Clinical Director, Manager of Outpatient Programming, and Supervisor of Extended Care. Her initial work within EHN Edgewood Nanaimo was as a Clinical Counselor. She also worked within corrections, eating disorders for adults and youth, and sexual abuse intervention services for children and youth. Christina has also worked as an Instructor at Vancouver Island University, and she 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).

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 EHN Edgewood Nanaimo 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.

Maria Chadwick

Operation & Business Services Director

Maria supports EHN Edgewood Nanaimo as the Director of Operations & Business Services where she looks after several different teams and the overall operations of the facility. She spent the first part of her career working in the telecommunications industry where she spent 28 years supporting operations and developing as a caring and passionate leader before her path lead her to EHN. With her background in leading local and national teams, Maria is an experienced people leader who is skilled in, collaboration, coaching, building team engagement, and culture. Always eager to learn and develop, Maria's drive for personal and team growth is matched only by her desire to build team culture and nurture leadership development. She is personally inspired by authentic and vulnerable leadership, driven by care, respect, and integrity. Her own life and lived experiences have instilled in her a deep passion, care, and understanding for mental health and addictions which brings her pride in being part of the EHN team and having the opportunity to share her knowledge along the way.

Dr. Gary Richardson, M.D.

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 EHN Edgewood Nanaimo in 2002, where he is currently the full-time physician.Dr. Richardson obtained his ASAM certification in 2004, and re-certified through the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2014. He is involved in Addiction Medicine education, and is the co-facilitator of EHN Edgewood Nanaimo’s 5-Day Physician Training Program.

Dr. Mel Vincent

Director of Psychiatric Services B.A.Sc., M.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.(C), ASAM

Dr. Vincent received his BSC in Nutrition from the University of Guelph and MSC in Nutrition from the University of Toronto. He received his Medical Degree from McMaster, and completed Psychiatry training in 1988. He worked at Homewood Health Center in Guelph, and passed the American Society Addiction Medicine exam. In 2002, he became Director of Psychiatric Services at EHN Edgewood Nanaimo. Committed to education, he facilitates an addiction training workshop for physicians, and is an Instructor for Dept. Psychiatry UBC in the Addiction Division. He is the author of “Diagnosing and Treating Addictions: An Integrated Approach to Substance Use Disorders and Concurrent Disorders.”

Dr. Ian King

Psychiatrist

Dr. Ian King started working as a psychiatrist at EHN Edgewood Nanaimo in 2022. He completed medical school and psychiatric residency training at the University of Alberta. During the final year of his residency, he concurrently completed a Royal College accredited fellowship in Addiction Medicine. He is a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC, and has been involved in supervision of medical students and psychiatric residents interested in learning about addiction.

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Meet the Team at EHN Guardians Nanaimo