Christopher Spaulding
Executive Director
Joining the executive team at Olympia House in 2014, Christopher worked alongside then ED Dr. Wayne Thurston and is credited with turning innovative ideas into actual policies. His commitment to our staff is only equal to the commitment he has made to each of our residents. Under his leadership, Olympia House continues to maintain and improve the quality of its programs, enhance the organization’s soundness, and extend its outreach to those responsible for finding the right program for their patients, and for those who have great concern for their loved ones, be they family or friends.
Senadhi Parakrama, Psy.D.
Psychologist & Clinical Director
Dr. Senadhi Parakrama is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been working in the field of mental health and co-occurring disorders since 2001. Born in Sri Lanka, he moved to the US when he was four. He grew up on the east coast in Washington DC before completing his undergraduate work at Vassar College in upstate NY. He earned his BA in psychology while doing fieldwork at programs in the area, including group homes, rehab centers, and prisons. After graduating, Dr. Parakrama moved to Manhattan where he worked as a supervisor and case manager at a residential home for formerly homeless and chronically mentally ill populations. Dr. Parakrama left Manhattan and moved to the bay area to complete his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. His clinical training at the Wright Institute extended to inpatient psychiatric hospitals, crisis residential facilities, jails, and outpatient clinics. These training experiences expanded his understanding of populations struggling with severe mental illness, addiction, and the experience of being trapped within systems and within one’s own mind.
Dr. Parakrama’s experience and training have led him, as the Clinical Director of Olympia House, to focus on developing an individualized treatment for those struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders, so they can break out of the long terms traps they have been stuck in, and finally experience a sense of freedom. In addition to working at Olympia House, Dr. Parakrama has lectured and provided training at local universities, schools, and clinics on addiction treatment. He has a (telehealth) consultation practice where he works with families, couples, providers, and alumni from Olympia House, on a short-term basis, to help provide assessment, guidance, and direction on treatment. Dr. Parakrama is passionate about continuing to understand, research, and collaborate on how to provide the most effective treatment for addiction.
Wayne Thurston, Psy.D.
Psychologist, Board Member & Former Executive Director
Although Dr. Thurston recently retired from his daily role with Olympia House, he remains a Board Member at Large and continues to offer his knowledge of clinical psychology for the betterment of our ongoing work.
Wendy Walsh, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Walsh is also skilled in treating the co-occurring disorders that often accompany chemical dependency and working with the families of our residents. Her approach to treatment utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and a family systems approach. Dr. Walsh also specializes in meeting the specialized needs of our LGBTQ residents. In addition to her work at Olympia House, she also serves as a board member for Positive Images, which addresses the needs of LGBTQ youth in Santa Rosa, California.
