Ridgeland Staff

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 12 years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is a Certified Trained Sex Addiction Therapist. 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 Professional Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and EMDR II trained clinician 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.

Keith Hudson, PhD, LPC

Keith earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Counseling, and finally a Doctorate in Counseling. Keith has been working in the helping field in excess of 12 years, while treating adolescents, adults, and families. Keith has worked in a variety of settings which include: private practice, academia, in-patient, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP). Keith has particular interest in treatment modalities, with a primary intervention focus on, but not limited to, cognitive behavioral interventions. Keith firmly believes in seeking and challenging the reinforcing agents that sustain one’s faulty cognitive beliefs and undesired behaviors, which represent s the beginning to change.

Keith supports and seeks to aid in the recovery process to promote a holistic focus, which in turn will facilitate individual “Restoration.”

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).

Shuana Tillman-Fletcher, MA, CCAP, CMHT

Shuana is an alumni of Jackson State University and holds a Masters degree of Arts. She has over 15 years experience counseling populations diagnose with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders. Shuana is certified as a Mental Health Therapist with the Department of Mental Health, a member of (NAADAC) National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors and holds a International Advance Alcohol Drug counselor (CCAP) certification through (MAAP) the Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals. Shuana is also certified in (MRT)Moral Reconation Therapy- a cognitive behavioral program for substance abuse treatment and Domestic Violence Perpetrators.

Lyn Pruitt, MA

Lyn Pruitt is a therapist at A Bridge to Recovery. Lyn has worked in mental health counseling and administration for 23 years, including 19 years in addiction treatment with adults and adolescents. She has also worked with families in domestic violence crises, survivors of sexual abuse, the forensic population, and teenagers in residential foster care. Lyn received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Millsaps College and her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Mississippi College.

Leigh Ann Germany, LPC

Leigh Ann Germany is a Licensed Professional Counselor who does groups and sees individuals at A Bridge to Recovery. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Mississippi State University. She completed her graduate studies at Mississippi College with a Masters degree in psychological testing and counseling psychology. She has worked as a member of the forensic evaluation team at the Mississippi State Hospital and also as a therapist in private practice. She began her work in the field of addiction at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in 2003.

Morgan Litchfield, PhD, LPC

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.

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.