Clinical Staff

Dr. Ron Lim, BSc, MD, CCSAM, CASAM, CISAM
Clinical Director

Ron combines his passion for addiction treatment with his experience and expertise to help maximize the effectiveness of our programs at Top of the World Ranch. Dr. Lim attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry as well as a Doctor of  Medicine degree.  Over the last 7 years he has been practicing Addiction Medicine. He is certified by the International Society of Addiction Medicine, American Society of Addiction Medicine and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. He is presently Clinical Lecturer for the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary. He is Medical Director for the Addiction Network and consulting physician for the Chronic Pain and Addiction Service and Concurrent Disorders Program of the Foothill Addiction Centre in the Calgary Health Region. He is the consulting physician to AADAC's (Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) Opiate Dependency Program and AADAC's Renfrew Detoxification Centre. Dr. Lim is also involved in the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons' methadone guidlines committee and is one of the presenters for the colleges methadone workshops. He regularly gives presentations for the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine Continuing Medical Education on topics related to Addiction, Chronic Pain and Methadone Maintenance.

Eric - BA, MDiv, CAS, CCC, RPC  
Counsellor/Addictions Specialist

Eric is an internationally Certified Addiction Specialist in alcohol, drugs, gambling and sex addictions.  He worked for over a decade in a 28 day addictions treatment centre, in the dual role of Clinical Therapist and Spiritual Issues Counsellor.  His education includes a BA in person-centered psychology, a Master's degree with an emphasis in clinical counselling and several additional years of specialized graduate level counselling courses.  He speaks of the privilege he has had to witness the profound and lasting changes in many people's lives, as a result of their time in treatment.  For years Eric has had a dream of doing in-depth psycho-spiritual therapy in a log lodge with a large fireplace.  When he found Top of the World Ranch Treatment Centre he could hardly believe it.  For the first while at the Ranch, he had a very limited vocabulary......."wow", "awesome", and "unbelievable".  
Eric's international certification as an addiction specialist is with the prestigious American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders.  He is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling Association and a Registered Professional Counsellor.  He has a deep passion for working with persons on their journey in recovery and he says "the Ranch is not only everything I have ever imagined an addictions treatment centre could be, but far more than I could have imagined".

Nancy - MSW, RSW, LCSW
Family Therapist / Clinical Counsellor

Nancy is a clinical counsellor and one of the facilitators of Top of the World Ranch’s Family Programme. She brings many years experience as a counselor and family therapist in addition to a rich background as a youth and addictions specialist to the position. Nancy is committed to assisting both the families and our residential clients in the process of adjusting to changes that newly sober loved ones bring to the family dynamic. Nancy’s therapeutic orientation is “strength-based” and “solution focused”. She is a successful private practitioner with a broad scope of mental health experience, and is Level II trained in EMDR for trauma and PTSD. Nancy provides individual counselling to our clients and facilitates Top of the World Ranch’s family education and therapeutic programme.

Christy - RN, AAC
Addictions Counsellor

Christy is a registered nurse with years of experience in supporting individuals of all ages to access the best that life has to offer, regardless of their skill, strength, or ability level. She is artistic and sensitive. Christy is experienced as a facilitator of many creative therapies. She has a compassionate and motivating energy about her. She gently puts clients at ease as they confront the many fears and uncertainties of lifestyle change and recovery. She is an efficient leader and excellent role model for follow-through and responsibility. As a life skills coach, she offers both encouragement and education in reducing the chaos that often complicates recovery from dysfunctional patterns. Christy is also a wellness programme facilitator and recreation leader at Top of the World Ranch Treatment Centre.

Elizabeth - BHSc., RPC
Addictions Counsellor

Elizabeth recently completed her Bachelor Degree in Addictions Counselling at the University of Lethbridge.  She possesses extensive experience in the field of addictions counselling.  In addition to her strong academic background, Elizabeth brings many years of personal knowledge of addictions through her own personal journey of recovery.  Her psychodynamic, interpersonal and spiritual counselling techniques support individuals seeking recovery.
Elizabeth has worked in the field of addictions for several years.  Her professional career includes working with families struggling with addictions and documenting the intergenerational trauma of First Nations people resulting from the residential school system.  Elizabeth applies special skills and knowledge in the areas of mental health, cultural issues and First Nations healing practices.  Through her academic background, professional practice and personal experiences, she brings a full understanding of how gender issues affect women in their struggles with addiction.  Elizabeth’s empathic and compassionate counselling skills, as well as her belief in those with the courage to embark on their healing journeys, speak to the nature and effectiveness of her therapeutic counselling approach.

Dr. Vicki - Ph.D., M.Ed., CCC, RCT
Clinical Counsellor

Dr. Vicki holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. She also has a M.Ed. in Counselling and B.A. in Sociology. Working in the counselling field since 1993, she has dealt with the direct and indirect consequences of substance abuse and other addictions. For several years she worked as a therapist in a very successful treatment program for persons with sexual addictions, most of who also abused substances. Her passion for the work of counselling, and her respect for those with the courage to make the journey to wellness, spring from her own experience on this road. She combines a warm and caring presence with well-honed therapeutic skills in the counselling philosophy of the Ranch, known as “carefrontation”. She has also done extensive study in, and makes practical use of dream work and the expressive arts in therapy as a way to help clients further their personal growth and healing. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor through the Canadian Counselling Association and a Registered Counselling Therapist.

Barbara
Continuing Care Coordinator

Barbara is a Calgary native who was educated in Calgary Alb, London England, Houston Tx, and Father Murrays Notre Dame College of Saskatchewan. She has had a long and varied career in the energy buisness of Western Canada. After a few hills and valleys in her life she realized that she should return and utilize the philosophies taught by Father Murray at Notre Dame. He believed that life has many challenges that had to be mastered and that each individual accept the Greek thought "Every life is insignificant until you yourself make it great."
Barbara is an energetic people person with a great sense of humour, compassion and empathy. She enjoys helping people face their challenges and meet their goals. Barb facilitates our Continuing Care Program and works directly with our clients developing their relapse prevention program. Barb is an instrumental part of our clients overall recovery. She provides the supported needed when our clients leave our facility and begin facing early recovery.