The Optimal Recovery Programme
T.O.R.P.
Welcome To Freedom
Meet The Team
The Clinical Team:
Clinical Psychologist, Addiction Specialist, Programme Founder & Director, Michael J. Theron
Michael has extensive experience in Clinical Psychology, both in the public sector & in private practice,
including many years in inpatient addiction treatment and involvement in the establishment of new treatment centres.
During this time, he’d experienced several weaknesses within the addiction treatment domain, and finally focused his clinical and research interests on
creating a much more holistic, humanistic framework (outcomes-based recovery model), aligning many psychological approaches & therapeutic interventions.
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T.O.R.P. effectively represents the conceptualization & implementation of Michael’s intended PhD project.
He found a team to help him bring the vision to life, and rolled T.O.R.P. out as
a refreshingly practical & progressive entry into the addiction recovery space.
It merges Michael’s personal experience & professional expertise into something truly impactful.
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Michael is an especially adventurous spirit, a nature-lover and caffeine-addict (one addiction that apparently doesn’t count!)
He loves animals, creativity, personal growth, Padel, mountain biking, and … the moon.
He is known for his wicked sense of humour & an almost superhuman intuition!
Programme Manager & Senior Recovery CoachJames Copland
James supports clients from their first steps into the program, helping them build structure, clarity and a sense of direction during a time that can feel very overwhelming.
His focus is less on fixing & more on helping people reconnect with themselves, develop accountability, and create rhythms that facilitate stability & sustainable recovery.
With much experience across inpatient, outpatient and sober living environments, James approaches recovery as the daily lived journey.
He brings personal experience and professional grounding - offering steady support while encouraging autonomy, responsibility, and growth.
James has several personal interests supporting a sense of presence, including music, vinyl record collecting & the California Punk Scene.
He values health & fitness as part of a balanced & sustainable approach to wellbeing.
For James, recovery isn’t about getting it right.
It’s about continuing to show up, learning from setbacks, and slowly building a life that feels steady, meaningful, and purposeful.
Recovery Coach & CounsellorJess Jones
Through experience working in clinical inpatient rehabilitation, Jess has walked alongside people during some of their most difficult and vulnerable moments.
Her approach is additionally shaped by her own lived experience, a deep understanding of and appreciation for recovery, along with the healing power of honesty, community and connection.
Her work is client-centred and holistic, grounded in the understanding that people are much more than their struggles. She helps clients reconnect with their strengths, values, inner resources;
supporting recovery as a process of growth, self-trust and renewed purpose.
On a personal level, Jess is naturally curious and enjoys research, quiet time and the outdoors. She values genuine connection with friends and family, and believes laughter is essential to healing.
A lifelong animal lover, her compassion for all living creatures runs deep. Jess is a natural adventurer, which has taken her skydiving & on many solo-travels.
She approaches life with curiosity, joy & wholehearted engagement!
Social Worker (Private Practice), Addiction SpecialistDeborah Anne
Wroe-Street
Deborah brings extensive professional experience in crisis intervention, individual & family counselling, psycho-education, medico-legal assessments and the coordination of safe care arrangements for vulnerable individuals.
She has authored and published a book aimed at supporting families navigating the challenges associated with traumatic brain injury.
Since her transition to private practice in 2016, she provides services in both therapeutic and many socio-forensic contexts.
Her involvement in the latter follows the guiding principles of ethics, neutrality, procedural fairness, careful observation and a strong child-centred focus.
Becoming a Mum herself had deepened Deborah’s understanding of & passion for family systems, attachment, child development.
A close & trusted professional colleague to Michael through the years - we’re super glad to have her on board the TORP Team!
Clinical Psychologist, Clinical SupervisorProf. Frederick Snyders
As a highly respected Professor Emeritus at The University of South Africa (U.N.I.S.A.),
Ricky brings significant expertise to T.O.R.P.
He has extensive (academic & clinical) supervisory experience, both nationally & internationally.
A trusted professional colleague & mentor to Michael through the years - we’re super glad to have him on board the TORP Team!
The Support Team:
Strategy, Technology (Snomer Solutions)Row Naidoo
A strange sort … a concerningly strange sort.
Row aligns with ‘Tech For Good’, as a personal philosophy & professional direction (Snomer Solutions).
As a friend to Michael, the startlingly simple, but powerful T.O.R.P. vision had left a lasting impression.
Row is the professional nerd on board — with a love for Computer Science, systems & systems theory,
purpose-driven collaboration & innovation; a focus on strategy, scalability, sustainability.
An experienced coffee drinker, dog lover, pianist & over thinker.
Healthcare AdministratorJuan Mentz
Juan works in healthcare administration, where organisation meets compassion.
Based in Johannesburg, he is passionate about building systems that genuinely work for the people inside them.
He holds a BSc. in Human Anatomy & Physiology, and a BHSc. Honours in Forensic Science (cum laude),
with a primary focus on forensic psychology, both from the University of the Witwatersrand.
With a foundation grounded in science, behaviour, and education,
Juan brings analytical thinking and structured problem-solving into complex healthcare environments.
When he’s not navigating policies and paperwork, you’ll likely find him on the Padel court or balancing
a strong cup of coffee with an even stronger to-do list!
Administrative AssistantNoh Msomi
Noh is our astute Administrative Assistant, with several years of experience providing comprehensive support to office & project teams.
She offers extreme proficiency at sustaining and improving operational efficiency (both day to day, and long term).
Noh’s committed to creating well structured work environments - allowing teams to focus on their core objectives.
(She really keeps us on the ball! Thanks Noh!)
