Director of Business Development - Clark Converse

I was given the blessing of sobriety years ago. Soon after getting out of treatment I wrote a business plan to open a treatment center and the first person I helped get sober looked at my plan.

He introduced me to a guy who owns one of the country’s top dual diagnosis networks of treatment centers and needless to say I was told I knew nothing about treatment centers or the business.

He even said he was not sure if I was even ready to manage my own life. For some reason he hired me on the spot and told me he would teach me all about the business. That was the day I believe God’s plan went into effect. I started out managing half way houses in Nashville, then moved into the call center and for the last two years I was the Community Outreach Specialist. This gave me the opportunity to learn many different aspects of the recovery business.

The main thing I have learned over the last few years is that most people with addictions have underlining issues. It is my goal at A Bridge to Recovery to treat people with a level of compassion not found in other programs to treat these underlying issues along with addiction.

I have 15 years of sales and marketing experience and had great success always followed by failures due to the fact I could not be successful or happy unless I was sober. Through the treatment center I went to, the willingness to go to therapy and to continue to work on myself I have been able to not only stay sober but find PEACE in my life.

My friends tell me I am really good at two things, one is being a dad and the other is helping people…both of them I consider gifts from God. My wife, Mamie, and I want everyone suffering to find the peace we have. We believe that A Bridge to Recovery and its staff may be the first step in finding it…..

I believe and I am a perfect example that “There is Always Hope in Recovery”

President - Ken Converse

Being the parent of an alcoholic and drug addict is no easy task. Having watched my son (Clark) go through this for numerous years was very painful to all involved. After completion of his rehab program he went to work in the Recovery industry.

One of his first wishes was to open a recovery center where he could help people obtain sobriety and get the peace in life that everyone deserved.

I have watched him grow in the past years, both mentally and spiritually and have seen how important a good recovery program is for a person to become sober and drug free and lay the foundation for his future.

God has led us here today. He has reshaped our lives and made it possible for us to open A Bridge to Recovery so that we may also lay the foundation for someone’s future.

Medical Director - Dr. Jorge Leal

Dr. Leal was born in Havana, Cuba in 1960. He immigrated to the U.S. in January 1971 and lived with his parents and brother in Pottsville, Pensylvania. In 1979, he attended Villanova University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biology (cum laude). He attended medical school at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico and completed his medical training in 1987 and returned to the U.S. to initiate internship and residency training at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y. At N.Y. Med, he was introduced into the field of addiction medicine by a very wise professor who taught the importance and need for training in this field.

Following his teacher's advice, he attended Yale University and New York University School of Medicine and completed two years of clinical and research training in addiction medicine. During this time, he was Medical Director of the Central Treatment Unit -Yale Univ. Dept of Psychiatry and later Attending Physician/Clinical Instructor at Bellevue Hospital/NYU Med Center in NY City. This was followed by a faculty appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1994.

From 1994-1995, he served as Medical Director of the Mentally Impaired and Chemically Addicted Unit (MICA) at the Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. In 1995, his fiancee and current wife, Diane Donohue, completed her Dermatology Residency. After much consideration, they decided to move to Memphis, TN that year where Dr. Leal's brother had established a Gastroenterology practice several years earlier and had repeatedly lauded the virtues of Memphis and Southern living. Moving to Memphis was a new and different experience after all the above travels, but Dr Leal was offered a position as Medical Director of the State Hospital (MMHI) and served there for 4 years.

He has since continued to work in several clinics, hospitals and nursing homes in TN and MS. During this time, he has acquired Board Certification in General Psychiatry, Addictions, Geriatrics, and Psychosomatic Medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and certification in Addiction Medicine from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. His wife practices Dermatology in Olive Branch, Ms. and they both live in Memphis with their 6 year old daughter, Erin.

Clinical Director - Debbie Harrison, LPC, NCC, MHSP

Debbie Harrison is a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider. Debbie brings a variety of experience to a Bridge to Recovery. She specializes in marriage and family counseling and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Memphis teaching counseling and interpersonal relationships. She has a B.S. degree from the University of Memphis in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Counseling and Personnel Services.

Incorporated in Debbie's therapeutic work is Sports Therapy with a focus on the client's motivational process. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy along with a family systems approach. Debbie is a member of the American Counseling Association and the International Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She is also a Stephen Minister Leader using that theology in her work as well as pastoral care.

Debbie has been in private practice and previously worked for the Samaritan Institute of the Mid-South. She is married to Greg Harrison for 27 years and they have two children, Jennifer and Kyle.

Therapist - Stephan McLaughlin

Twenty years ago Stephan began his personal recovery from the destructive power of addiction, codependency, and family dysfunction through an intensive outpatient program similar to the one here at Bridge to Recovery.

His road has been long and difficult at times, and thanks to the grace of a power greater than himself he been able to stay on course and reap the benefits and joys of sober living.

In large part due to AA, Al Anon, and other 12 step programs, and a variety of personal growth programs, workshops and trainings, like the Mankind Project, Stephan has experienced a bounty of learning, healing and growth. For the past 15 years part of this journey and his recovery has been to share this progress with others through his non-profit, human relationship work at HEAL. As an activist, workshop creator and leader, and interventionist he has helped many people deal with difficult personal issues in loving ways.

Now as a new member of the Staff at Bridge to Recovery, Stephan brings his experience, strength and hope to others as a life coach who supports clients and their families as they start across the bridge to a sober, happier, and more fulfilling life.

Office Manager - Angie Garrett

I began using drugs and alcohol at the age of 12. By the age of 32, I had given everything to my addiction including my material possessions, my marriage, my family, my health, and any resemblance of self worth I may have had. From my bottom, I basically crawled out of a storage building and into a treatment center in Dublin, MS in January of 2006 where I was introduced to a loving God and a recovery family that saved my life. I was amazed at the compassion I found there. I was amazed that people would give of themselves to help “someone like me”. I remember thinking that if I could ever get clean and stay clean I wanted to be one of those people who cared enough to help another suffering person find hope. After a year of struggling to stay clean, I finally surrendered. My journey since has been peaceful, serene, and full of wonder.

In November of 2007, I began the necessary coursework through MAAP (Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals) to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and am currently pursuing the required contact hours necessary to complete the certification process. In January of 2008, I started a 12-step meeting in my hometown. In March of 2009, I was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of ABTR and to realize the dream of working with an organization and a team of people who share my passion for reaching out to those who are struggling to find their way to a better life as they embark on their own spiritual journey of recovery.

And speaking of blessings; through the miracle of recovery and with the help of a wonderful and gifted therapist, I am beginning to reclaim those things I gave away and I am rebuilding the relationships that my addiction abolished. Today, I am able to be a loving and caring mother to my three amazing children; Jake, Maggie, and McKenzie. Today, with the help of God as I understand Him, I am able to face life on life's terms without the use of chemicals. Today, I am free to become the person I was created to be.

Lenn Harris Milam

Lenn Harris Milam is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist. She has a B.A. in Religion from Goucher College in Baltimore, Towson, Maryland and a Masters of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.  Lenn has been an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for over thirty years.

She has pastored a local Memphis church, been  Associate Director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Memphis been a hospital chaplain at Methodist  University Hospital in Memphis and at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas, and trained seminary students how to offer pastoral care in the hospital setting. Lenn’s training in psychotherapy began with a two year clinical residency at The Pastoral Counseling and Education Center (PCEC) in Dallas, Texas.

After completion of the residency, Lenn was invited to join the staff at PCEC.  After being on staff at PCEC for six years, Lenn and her husband returned to their home in Memphis and she was on the counseling staff at The Samaritan Counseling Centers of the Mid-South for over fourteen years. Lenn is a Clinical member of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She has extensive training as a group facilitator and has over twenty-one years experience working with individuals, couples, and families.

Lenn uses a variety of therapeutic approaches such as cognitive/behavioral therapy, family systems theory, and transactional analysis to help clients journey towards healing. Lenn has been married to Carl for twenty eight years; she has a step-daughter, son-in-law, and three extroverted grandchildren!

Catherine Dixon, LPC Biography

Catherine Dixon is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider.  She specializes in the treatment of substance abuse/dependence and dual diagnosis.  She is also a nationally Certified Rehabilitation counselor.  Catherine has a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling degree from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

Catherine brings a variety of therapeutic approaches to her work including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness based treatment.  She is intimately familiar with Twelve Step programs and for those who are willing she encourages participation in a program of recovery to aid the healing process.  Catherine is also in the process of moving toward ordination in the United Church of Christ and incorporates spiritual guidance and pastoral counseling in her work for those open to pursuing a spiritual path.

Catherine is in private practice and has previously worked at various hospitals in Connecticut and Pennsylvania providing pastoral care and counseling.  She also has worked for Marworth, a chemical dependency treatment center in Waverly Pennsylvania.  She looks forward to helping others gain the insight and tools needed to experience peace and contentment in their lives.

Debra B. Fitzgerald, CRC, LPC/MHSP

Debra received her BA in Psychology (2002) and her MS in Counseling (2004) from The University of Memphis.  Debra is a licensed professional counselor, along with holding a national certification of CRC, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.  Debra has worked in mental health settings for the past five years and is in private practice.  Debra is a member of American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychological Association (APA), Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA), and National Rehabilitation Association (NRA).  She has presented at both state and national conferences on various counseling topics.  Debra uses Cognitive Behavioral, Solution-Focused and Motivational approaches to therapy.  Debra is an advocate for eliminating the stigma associated with being in recovery.  She believes that education, along with family involvement, is essential in treatment.

Debra is currently completing her Doctoral degree in Counseling at The University of Memphis, and has been an adjunct instructor there in the past.  Debra has been married to John for 11 years and has a 32 year old son, Dave.

Cindy Westcott, LCSW

Cindy Westcott is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 23 years of experience in the fields of mental health and addictions. Cindy holds a degree in Health and Physical Education from Milligan College, a degree in Clinical Psychology from The University of North Carolina, and a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Arkansas.

She has specialized for more than 22 years in helping adult survivors of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse to recover from the pervasive effects of trauma. She also has extensive experience in helping individuals to restore their lives in the aftermath of rape, violent assaults, natural disasters, catastrophic and sudden death of a loved one, loss of relationships, and other traumatic experiences. She developed and has facilitated the inpatient grief and trauma recovery program at Lakeside Hospital in Memphis since 1996, and is a cofounder and psychotherapist in private practice with The Psychological Trauma and Wellness Center of Memphis. Cindy has spoken locally and nationally on various mental health issues including Adult Children of Alcoholics, grief and traumatic loss, cultural diversity, Women and Self Esteem, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Cindy has been a member of a 12 step recovery program since 1991 and she has absolute confidence that individuals can and will heal from ANY pain or loss if they make the decision to heal and are provided with direction and the most effective tools for recovery. Cindy utilizes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Gestalt, Internal Family Systems, and other experiential therapies to assist individuals in the healing process.

Cindy has a strong interest in issues related to the protection of the environment, animal welfare, and in helping victims of psychological abuse at interpersonal, familial, and cultural levels to gain hope and empowerment. Cindy is honored to be a part of the ABTR clinical team and looks forward to sharing the knowledge she has gained through education, experience, and her own journey of recovery to help others find hope, serenity and healing.

 Kelli H Davis, MS NCC, LPC, MHSP