Twin Rivers
Team

DAVID BRISKHAM

Founder & Director

KATHARINE BANISTER

Director & Head of Admissions

Katharine is warm and empathetic making her perfect for her role in admissions for Twin Rivers.  She has personal experience in helping family members into treatment and has extensive knowledge of what treatment means to both the extended family and the client themselves.  Katharine studied Modern History at Somerville College Oxford and is a Founding Director of a successful property business in the UK.  Prior to this she worked at a high level at Proctor & Gamble, Johnson and Johnson and L’Oreal.

EMAIL: katharine@twinriversrecovery.com

TEL: +44 (0)7775 782185

CHRIS KEMSLEY

Director

Chris, Katharine’s husband, having lost a sister to addiction is passionate about helping others into Recovery.  Having forged a successful career in the property world,  he has been fortunate to have the resources to invest in a sector close to his heart and in a part of the world he was brought up in.

EMAIL: chris@twinriversrecovery.com

AGCOBILE SIMANI

Counselling Team Lead

Agcobile Simani holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and has over three years of experience working in the addiction treatment field. She will be furthering her professional development by pursuing an Honours degree in Psychology.
As an addictions counsellor and administrator, Agcobile is passionate about supporting individuals on their recovery journey by providing consistent, compassionate, and client-centred care. She empowers clients to recognise their strengths, build resilience, and develop the skills needed to sustain long-term recovery, while reinforcing the belief that everyone deserves a second chance.
Agcobile creates a safe, non-judgemental therapeutic environment where clients are encouraged to explore past trauma and gain insight into how unresolved emotional pain and life experiences contribute to addictive behaviours. Through guided self-reflection and practical intervention, she supports clients in addressing the root causes of addiction, developing healthier coping strategies, and reclaiming a sense of hope, purpose, and personal agency in recovery.

AUSTIN SMITH

Counsellor & Wellness Consultant

Austin Smith is a Wellness Counsellor and Yoga Practitioner at Twin Rivers Addiction Recovery Centre. He works primarily within addiction recovery, supporting clients through the psychological, emotional, and relational challenges associated with substance use, trauma, and co-occurring mental health difficulties.
His work draws on counselling psychology principles with a strong focus on emotional regulation, self-awareness, attachment patterns and rebuilding a stable sense of self during recovery.
Austin integrates structured therapeutic counselling with mind body practices such as yoga, breathwork and mindfulness to support nervous system regulation and embodied recovery. His approach is grounded, direct, and recovery oriented, helping clients develop accountability, insight and practical coping skills. He is committed to providing a safe, contained therapeutic environment that supports long term recovery, emotional stability and personal growth.

BENTON RATHBONE

Counsellor & Programme Development Consultant

Addiction recovery is not just what I do for work… it’s what I live! As a certified addiction counsellor and life coach I am committed to helping all those struggling with addiction to find and navigate the path to recovery and wellness.
As a recovering addict myself I am committed to walking that path of recovery for the rest of my life.
Understanding that addiction is a chronic illness, which as yet has no cure, means that recovery too needs to be an ongoing process. I am passionate in assisting clients at Twin Rivers to create a solid foundation in recovery and arming them with the tools and support structures necessary to live a life free from the pain of active addiction. I combine counselling and coaching skills with the practical knowledge and experience of multiple years of 12 Step recovery. This enables me offer insight and guidance for clients who are new to recovery or perhaps have experienced a relapse along their journey.

TERESA ANGLESS

Clinical Social Worker Consultant

Teresa Angless is a highly experienced therapist with training in trauma informed psychotherapies and a trained clinical supervisor. She brings wisdom and compassion to the team enabling them to do their best work through clinical supervision and training.

Teresa is hungry for new knowledge and enlarging her skill set, a lover of art and appreciates the healing power of Plettenberg Bay’s natural beauty.

EMILIO PHEKULA

Nursing Manager

Emelio is a Professional Registered Nurse with 12 years of experience, including five years in psychiatry and addiction and mental health rehabilitation. My passion for nursing lies in its holistic nature caring for both physical health and psychological recovery.

I am deeply committed to working with the Twin Rivers Recovery clients, ensuring they feel supported, healthy, and empowered to focus on their overall well-being. Nursing is more than a career for me; it is a calling rooted in compassion, professionalism, and dedication.

TERESA KAPP

Facility Manager

Info coming Soon

NOSIPHIWO MBANGU 

Head Housekeeper

Nosiphiwo (Nosi) has been a valued member of the Twin Rivers Recovery team since inception in 2011 and has remained reliable and dedicated.

As head domestic staff, Nosi plays an important role in creating a warm, welcoming, fresh and clean environment for everyone at the centre.

Nosi is known for her kind and compassionate nature. She has a natural ability to connect with colleagues and clients, forming strong, trusting relationships through her openness and friendly approach. Her genuine care extends beyond people and she had a special affinity with all the dogs that have been part of the family at Twin Rivers Recovery over the years.