Our Team
The Nova staff is comprised of a diverse group of individuals with various personal and professional experiences with addiction. Our team members are fully committed to providing the best possible care in every aspect of addiction treatment and strive to create a caring and supportive recovery environment at all times. Please take a moment to read about our team members.
Leadership Team
Executive Clinical Director
Colleen Culton has worked in addictions counseling for almost 20 years and earned her credentials as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in 2000. She has extensive experience working with adults in both outpatient and residential treatment settings. Colleen’s approach to addictions counseling is founded on the belief that people can achieve long-term, positive change. Since 2009, she has worked in a supervisory capacity with both clinical and non-clinical staff.
Colleen recently completed studies for American Sign Language Interpreting at Austin Community College. One of her future goals is expanding service options for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing adults who struggle with the disease of addiction.
A lifetime bibliophile, Colleen can frequently be found immersed in the pages of a good book. Her other favorite activities include spending time with family and traveling.
Therapist Intern / EMDR Trained>
Lora has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in studio art from Texas State University and the University of Kentucky, respectively. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Fort Hays State University. Before being the Clinical Intern, Lora was an RA at Nova for three years. In her current role, she regularly completes intake assessments for new clients, facilitates process groups, and fills in for the clinical team as needed. Lora enjoys meeting with clients one-on-one and making new clients feel welcome and heard. In her free time, Lora likes to do Hot Yoga, walk her dog, and travel.
Recovery Specialist Director
John has worked in the addiction treatment field for more than seven years. He has served as a team member in various roles, including a Resident Care Associate, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Recovery Manager, and a Recovery Specialist, helping numerous clients implement the 12-step values as they transition from rehab to independent sober living. Currently, he also leads 12-step groups, co-facilitates Nova’s three-day intensive Family Program, and oversees the Recovery Specialist Department and the Clinical Department with the goal of maintaining the unification and culture on the Nova campus. John has been with Nova since October of 2014 because he firmly believes in the company’s vision. “Nova is not centered on creating an image or producing a cookie-cutter version of someone in recovery,” he says. “Nova is very interested in maintaining one’s truth, while at the same time, introducing them to a community in which one person cares about another.” In his free time, John enjoys playing music in a band, spending time with friends, playing golf, and meditating. He is also married and has a fourteen-year-old son.
Our Licensed Counselors
Cathy Gould, LMSW, LCDC
Therapist, CEA Certified
Salvador Velazquez, LCDC Counselor, CEA Certified
Jaime Valdez, LCDC
Therapist, CEA Certified
Cary English, LCDCI
Counselor Intern, CEA Certified