Clinical Director - Kostas Matheos, LPC, LPAT, CSAT

Kostas Matheos is the clinical director of A Bridge to Recovery. She has been working with people suffering from trauma and addictions for the past 11 years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Kostas received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Art from the University of Mississippi; she holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy, from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Kostas is a licensed Art Therapist, with a passion for helping clients explore underlying trauma.

Medical Director - Deborah V. Gross, MD

Dr. Gross went to medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she graduated in 1983. She completed her psychiatric internship and residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she finished as Chief Resident. She took individual training in the Masterson Approach, a specialized treatment method for personality disorders developed by the Masterson Institute in New York City. She is board certified in psychiatry and will soon be inducted as a Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Gross is a published author and a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and The Obesity Society. In the areas of Bipolar Disorder, Cocaine Dependence, Gambling and Alcohol Abuse/Dependence, Dr. Gross serves as Topic Editor for FIRSTConsult, an online medical information service for physicians published by Elsevier of London.

Dr. Gross has over 25 years of experience in taking care of patients with psychiatric and addictive disorders. For about four years, she served as Director of Psychiatry for Pine Grove Women’s Center, a long term residential treatment facility for women with Eating Disorder and/or Addictive Disorder. Now she is in private practice in Ridgeland, where she also sees patients in A Bridge to Recovery’s Intensive Outpatient Program.

“I am not a gardener,” says Dr. Gross, “but I come from a long line of women who were, and it is a joy and a privilege for me to work with people who are struggling, to watch them turn toward the light and grow into lives of fulfillment and peace. I am delighted to be working in such a beautiful garden with such talented fellow gardeners at A Bridge to Recovery!”
For more from and about Dr. Gross, please visit her website at www.feelingandhealing.com.

Chip Glaze, LMFT

Chip received his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1994 from Mississippi College and his Juris Doctorate from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2002. He lives in Jackson, MS, with his Wife, Laura. They have three Sons, Daniel (14), Mason (9) and Gray (4).

Denise Marsters, CADAC, CSAT

Denise left her native home in Ireland in 1981, with a background in Human Resources Development, to work in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, contracted by National Medical Enterprises, to assist in the implementation, staffing, organizing and training of individuals to effectively run the King Abdul Aziz Air Base Hospital.

Denise moved to the United States in 1984 and was employed by The Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS where she worked in the Educational Services Department from 1991 to 1996. In 1996 she transferred to their Chemical Dependency Unit and trained as an alcohol and drug counselor, obtaining her certification, and working in that capacity until 2001.

In 2001 Denise began working for COPAC, Inc. in Brandon, MS as a chemical dependency counselor. She trained as a sexual addiction therapist under Dr. Patrick Carnes in 2003 and has worked in that capacity since. In January of 2007 Denise joined A Bridge to Recovery and works with all addiction populations, facilitating group therapy, individual assessments and specialized individual therapy.

Denise is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Consultant for Sex Addiction Treatment. She also is trained in Equine Therapy (EAGALA) and Relapse Prevention Therapy (Gorski).

Denise is a member of MSAAP (Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals), SASH (Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health), EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) and IITAP (International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals).

Sheila Thomas, LMFT, CSAT

Sheila is a native of South Louisiana and makes her home here in Hattiesburg; MS. Sheila is the former Clinical Director of the Pine Grove Women's Center which is recognized nationally as a premier treatment center for women with chemical dependency, eating disorders and co-existing mental illness. She helped to train and supervise staff as well as develop the treatment protocols during her stay at Pine Grove, alongside Dr. Stephanie Covington, a renowned author, speaker, educator in the field of addiction treatment for women. Sheila has extensive treatment experience working with families hurting from the effects of mental illness and addiction. Sheila has a knack for treating those suffering from process disorders that manifest with food, sex and relationships, and money. 

Thomas and Thomas Consulting Group is now a career priority for Sheila as she focuses her energies on providing quality treatment and education for those with addiction issues.  In her current work, she maintains a private practice in Hattiesburg, MS.  Sheila is also a facilitator of Families in Focus workshop in Chattanooga, TN at Focus Healthcare, a center for Eating Disorders and Chemical Dependency.  She also provides clinical oversight for this facility as well as Riverside Center for Behavioral Health, a psychiatric and chemical dependency unit, in Riverside California. 

Jennifer Barbieri, LCSW, CSAT

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist. Jennifer’s expertise lies in trauma resolution and addiction and includes the creation of the URGES process; a “kinder, gentler” trauma resolution method (as published in the Journal of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 2008). Jennifer graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996 with a Master’s degree in social work and has worked extensively in the field of trauma and addiction for the past twelve years. Jennifer is certified in EMDR, clinical hypnotherapy and is trained in Thought Field Therapy, Theta Healing and is a Reiki Master.

For more information about urge reduction, please visit her website: http://www.theurgesclinic.com

Katie Newman Windham, LPC

Katie is a clinical therapist at A Bridge to Recovery. She has been working with individuals with eating disorders, addictions, and trauma for the past 3 years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Katie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. She also has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Southern Mississippi. Katie is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is passionate about working with clients struggling with eating disorders, unresolved trauma, and family/relational issues.

Tedra Brister

I am a long term resident of Jackson, MS. After struggling with addiction during my teen years and early adulthood, the concept of sobriety was introduced to me in June of 2006. I developed a passion to help those who are in the shoes that I once stood in battling the disease of addiction. I completed the necessary coursework for Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals for certification in alcohol and drug counseling in 2007 and am currently working toward my certification in Eating Disorders through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

 I have several years experience in the field of alcohol and drug counseling.  I was drawn to the approach and concepts of A Bridge to Recovery and am very pleased to be involved in this company and happy to be a part of their treatment team.

Dietician - Olivia McCay, RD

Olivia McCay was born and raised in Mississippi. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi where she decided to pursue a career in nutrition, earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition. Olivia completed her Dietetic Internship through Southern Miss at University Medical Center. 

Olivia was exposed to activity and nutrition early through beginning ballet at the age of four and standing on stools in her grandmother’s kitchen helping cook.  She continued dance and learning about food and nutrition until college where she was able to combine the two while becoming a dietitian.  Now she enjoys teaching others about nutrition and how to incorporate healthy nutrition into every lifestyle

Prior to joining A Bridge to Recovery, Olivia has worked with an in-patient eating disorder clinic in Hattiesburg and on the campus of Southern Miss where she provided one-on-one nutrition counseling, created an on-campus weight loss program, worked with student athletes, performed nutrition lectures and seminars, and assisted with other wellness programs. She has also worked as a Consultant Dietitian and Clinical Dietitian for long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals and has taught as an adjunct professor at Hinds Community College, teaching several Basic Nutrition courses.

Olivia is a Registered Dietitian and member of the American Dietetic Association, through which she holds a certification in Weight Management.

Yoga - Chris Timmins

Chris started practicing yoga in 2005 as a way to continue the healing of his body, mind and spirit that had begun with his sobriety and 12-Step work. He has found that the practice of yoga beautifully compliments the 12 Steps and vice versa.

Chris completed a 200 Anusara Yoga Teacher Training with Scotta Brady at Butterfly Yoga in Jackson, MS. He has also studied with Anusara Founder, John Friend, and other wonderful teachers such as Shiva Rea, Rod Stryker, Erich Schiffmann, Rolf Gates, Desiree Rumbaugh, Sianna Sherman, Martin and Jordan Kirk, and Doug Keller.

Chris enjoys playing guitar, percussion and hand-drums, listening to music too loud, watching movies no matter how crappy, and eating sushi.

Kimberly Porter

Kimberly Porter is an office assistant. 

Judy Matheos

Judy Matheos is an office assistant.  She and her husband have owned Bill’s Greek Tavern for the past 38 years.  She is now taking a different path by working with her daughter, Kostas Matheos.  She has 2 daughters and 1 grandson. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and sports.