George Betsos MA
Education and Training Assistant
George Betsos has a Masters degree with a concentration in Psychotherapy (courses accredited by The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy), from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. He completed an Honours B.A. from the University of Toronto, specializing in the phenomenon of Religion with minors in Psychology and English. He has three years of clinical experience, working on the inpatient psychiatric wards at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. George is an enthusiastic rookie to the Problem Gambling Project, functioning as the Education and Training Assistant. George_Betsos@camh.net 416-535-8501 X6331
Peter Chen HSC, CGC, BEd
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Peter has worked as an addiction therapist with the Problem Gambling Service (PGS) of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) since its implementation in April 1995. The PGS was the first publicly funded treatment program for people affected by problem gambling in the province of Ontario. He has also been one of the provincial trainers for the Problem Gambling Project of CAMH since its inception in 1998. He has worked in the Addiction field for the past eighteen years and was on faculty for five years at Georgian College, Orillia campus in their Addiction: Treatment and Prevention post-graduate diploma program. He is a certified gambling counsellor and supervisor and has contributed to the two provincial CAMH resources: Helping the Problem Gambler and the award winning Promoting Community Awareness of Problem Gambling-Resource Package. Peter has also presented on various topics at International Gambling Conferences worldwide. His specialty areas include Grief, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy and Adult Education and working with Ethnocultural populations. Peter is also a martial arts practitioner and instructor. Peter_Chen@camh.net 416-535-8501 X3910
Chantal Dubois BA, CPGC
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Chantal Dubois has an Honours BA in Psychology from Laurentian University, as well as a post-graduate diploma in Addictions from Georgian College. She is also currently completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She has worked in the field of addictions since 1999. In the fall of 2003, Chantal joined the Problem Gambling Service and the Problem Gambling Project, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in the role of Addiction Therapist and Trainer. She is also certified as a Canadian Problem Gambling Counsellor, through the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification Board. Chantal_Dubois@camh.net 416-535-8501 x3923
Sylvia Hagopian BA
Online Content and Community Coordinator
Sylvia Hagopian is the Problem Gambling Project’s Online Content and Community Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating the development, implementation and ongoing content enhancement of the Problem Gambling-CAMH online resource. Sylvia enjoyed several exciting years as CAMH’s Media Relations Coordinator in the public affairs department promoting research, programs and resources and was eager to apply her communication and writing skills and talent for building relationships in her new role with the problem gambling team. She has a broad knowledge of the mental health and addiction field and a capacity to translate that information into resources that can be readily used by targeted populations. Sylvia has a degree in psychology, public relations and advertising. Sylvia_Hagopian@camh.net 416-535-8501 x4757
Lianne McKay
Education and Training Associate
Lianne is an Education and Training Associate with the Problem Gambling Project. She has worked at the Centre for the past thirteen years in a variety of administrative roles. She has successfully completed the Training and Development program at Ryerson University. Lianne_Mckay@camh.net 416-535-8501 X4253
Stephen Meredith BSW
Senior Project Coordinator
Stephen Meredith is the online training coordinator for the Problem Gambling Project at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He coordinates online courses for gambling counsellors and other helping professionals and manages the online courses website. He organizes a webinar series, some classroom training and an annual conference. He is involved in the development and delivery of Responsible Gaming training for casino managers in Ontario. He is a social worker who has worked in a variety of settings in the field of addictions for the last 18 years. As part of his work with CAMH, Stephen has taught a variety of courses and been a frequent presenter in the community. Stephen is interested in exploring the role that technology plays in supporting communities of practice and adult learning. He is currently completing his MEd. in Adult Education at the University of Toronto. Stephen_Meredith@camh.net 416 535-8501 ext. 4551
Robert D. Murray MSW, I.C.A.D.C.
Manager, Problem Gambling Project
Robert is the Manager of the “Problem Gambling Project” at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Ontario, Canada. This program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is an important component of Ontario’s problem gambling strategy. The Problem Gambling Project is devoted to providing specialized training and support materials to Ontario’s government funded specialized problem gambling treatment programs, allied professionals and communities on issues related to problem gambling. The Project also sponsors this website, www.PoblemGambling.ca, which has a broad range of resources and online training targeted at the issue of problem gambling. He also works with the gaming industry on the development and implementation of effective responsible gambling policies, procedures and training. Robert has been actively involved in the field of addictions for many years, is a professional social worker and a certified addictions counselor, and delivers training and conference presentations over the world. He can be reached at Robert_Murray@camh.net
Lisa Pont MSW
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Lisa Pont has a Bachelor of Social Work from Ryerson University and a Master of Social Work from York University. She has worked for the Problem Gambling Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as the Older Adult Specialist since January 2007. Prior to that, she coordinated the Telephone Support Line at CAMH since it’s inception in 2003. In all of her professional roles, she has been a strong advocate for people living with mental health and/or addiction issues. Her experience in counselling, outreach, community work and training led her to her position as a Trainer/Therapist with the Problem Gambling Project and Problem Gambling Service at CAMH. Lisa_Pont@camh.net 416-535-8501 X 3931
Janine Robinson M.Ed., CPGC
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Janine is a certified Canadian Problem Gambling Counsellor and international problem gambling trainer. Since 1998, she has been involved with problem gambling treatment and training for the Province of Ontario. She has successfully worked with hundreds of problem gambling clients and their family members. A major focus of her work always has been on cultural competency and gambling treatment. Recently, this has included cultural knowledge systems concerning luck and (problem) gambling. In the last several years, she has developed and delivered Responsible Gambling Intervention training to casino staff in Ontario. Janine holds a post-graduate diploma in “Addictions: Treatment and Prevention” from Georgian College, as well as a Masters of Adult Education from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in community development and health. Janine_Robinson@camh.net 416-535-8501 X3917
Doriann Shapiro MSW, RSW
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Doriann has a Master in Social Work degree with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions from the University of Toronto. She has also completed an Honours B.A. in Psychology and a degree in Commerce. Doriann has worked in a research capacity at the Hospital for Sick Children, York University and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health and has worked in a clinical capacity at Mt Sinai Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. In the spring of 2009, Doriann joined the Problem Gambling Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in the role of Addiction Therapist. She recently joined the Problem Gambling Project at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in the role of Addiction Therapist and Trainer. Doriann_Shapiro@camh.net 416-535-8501 X 3929
Brenda Teasell, BSW, RSW
Addiction Therapist/Trainer
Brenda has an Honours B.A. in Social Work, a B.A. in Sociology and a Certificate in Criminology from the University of Windsor. She has been working in the field of addictions for the past 17 years, both in the United States and Canada and has trained and worked specifically with people who have a gambling problem for the past 12 years. She has facilitated numerous workshops on problem gambling both nationally and internationally and has written for several publications on problem gambling. Brenda is a specialized problem gambling trainer for the Problem Gambling Project and a problem gambling therapist with the Problem Gambling Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Brenda_Teasell@camh.net 416-535-8501 X3911
Colleen Tessier BSW
Senior Project Coordinator
Colleen has been working in the field of health promotion and prevention with the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) and CAMH for the past 15 years. During that time she has been involved in a wide variety of regional and provincial health promotion initiatives, including developing partnerships and providing consultation to the public health and education systems. Colleen’s work for the Project is focused on promoting awareness of issues related to problem gambling within allied professional systems in Ontario and on the development and dissemination of customized resources and training. Colleen_Tessier@camh.net 416-535-8501 X 4550
Kathryn L. Weiser MHSc in Health Promotion
Research Analyst
Kathryn has an Honours B.A. in psychology and a Masters degree in Health Promotion. She spent 4 years Coordinating the Women’s Wellness Outreach Centre at York Central Hospital where she organized, promoted and implemented many health events and oversaw a multi-cultural breast cancer education project. At Toronto Public Health, she assisted with the development and implementation of environmental health policies. Kathryn’s first experience with CAMH was with the Policy, Education and Health Promotion Division where she developed community partnerships for the purpose of promoting mental health and wellbeing, Besides having experience working within the community, Kathryn also has extensive research experience and has worked at many hospitals including, Princess Margaret, Toronto General, St. Michael’s and Sick Kids, Kathryn is excited to be back at CAMH and, currently, as Research Analyst, is building and updating the research component of the problem gambling website and responding to the research needs of our problem gambling team. Kathryn_Weiser@camh.net 416-535-8501 X 4783