Our Staff

Our medical director, Dr. Kishore Thampy has been involved in the field of psychiatry as well as medicine for over 40 years. He has gained a high level of expertise through his work in addiction psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Forensic Psychiatry and American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

He was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya where he began his medical studies until later continuing his education in the U.S. and eventually obtaining a psychiatry residency in Chicago, Illinois. He received numerous awards for his work in the medical field and provided education in psychiatry as a Clinical Assistant Professor. In 1996 he received certification as a forensic psychiatrist and worked to apply his psychiatric expertise to legal issues. He also served as medical administrator and medical director in several different psychiatric facilities before joining our team. His years of training and wide-range of experience make him a valuable asset to the community of recovery.

Keisha Dean has had 20 years of experience as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and has been in a managerial role for 10 of those years. She graduated from Computer Dynamics Institute School of Practical Nursing in 1995 and went on to work in a number of nursing roles including assisted living and retirement communities. She then advanced from her position as Charge Nurse to Director of Nursing, and on to Assistant Administrator, experiencing all aspects of resident care. Her goals have always been to provide quality care and efficiently manage communities while working closely with families to achieve the best outcome for each patient.

Claire Draper has been working as a Registered Resident Nurse for several years providing in-home care as well as inpatient assistance for rehab patients. She received her nursing degree at Florida State College at Jacksonville in 2011 and went on to gain valuable experience as an RN in a health and rehab center working closely with patients and colleagues to improve processes and treatments. As a caregiver she was able to provide patients with her compassion and emotional support while coordinating treatment with families and doctors for the best quality care. Her enthusiasm and strong medical ethic make her a valuable addition to our team.

Teresa Halderman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of mental health and addiction. She has worked as a counselor for 15 years and focused on substance abuse treatment for the past 8 years. After receiving her Masters of Social Work from the Florida International University in 1999, she began her career as a residential counselor providing individual and group counseling and eventually started supervising a clinical team and support staff at treatment center in Miami. She has also taught clinicians and students in academic as well as clinical environments. She provides our community with her expertise in dual diagnosis programs to give patients quality care in both mental health and addiction therapy.

With her considerable experience as a therapist and a manager of clinical services, Maxine Lebowitz brings high quality skills and expertise to our therapy team. She has a PHD in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and has since dedicated more than 20 years to helping adolescents, adults and families through counseling and therapy. She has also spent many years managing and directing clinical staff, overseeing aspects of treatment and working to develop and implement more effective programs. As both a therapist and a manager, she has focused on making a significant contribution to people with mental health and substance abuse problems so that they can reach their goals and improve their wellness.

As a Licensed Practical Nurse, Travis Norden has gained years of experience working in the field of rehabilitation. After receiving his LPN certification and credentials in 2012 he began working in a treatment center in Jacksonville, Florida providing patient care and helping residents achieve therapy and wellness goals. In Green Cove Springs, he worked as a nurse in a local rehabilitation center to assist both long term residents and short term patients receiving care. As a resident nurse, his goal is to improve the quality of life for all clients and help patients function safely and independently through education.

Ralph Manning has studied and worked with a number of conditions as a mental health therapist providing motivation for people struggling with problem behaviors. He received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology as well as his counselor certification from Union College in Kentucky in 2014. He began his career as a mental health therapist in Florida where he worked closely with patients experiencing substance abuse issues and helped to develop and implement treatment plans for each individual patient. He has developed strong skills in conflict resolution and has a desire to motivate patients so that they can work to eliminate their problems and produce lasting change.

An excellent driver with over 25+ years experience. Also, a very empathetic and compassionate man that always makes time to make sure your needs are met with a smile. I pride myself on being a grateful and humbled problem solver. I always have time to listen and be there for anyone in need.

James D. Malone, MS, Registered Clinical Mental Health Intern, MCAP, NCC
James has been employed by Spencer Recovery Center as a mental health therapist since November 2016. Having worked predominantly as an addictions therapist for the last 7 years, James has experience in outpatient, residential, and therapeutic communities. James has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. James is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Having a specialized focus in counseling addictions within a diverse range of individuals, James has an immense amount of experience utilizing evidence based treatment methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, as well as his expert knowledge and vast amount of experience with the 12 Steps.

Tish has been a Registered Nurse for over 18 years. Tish has worked in many areas of nursing including trauma, NICU, oncology, behavorial health and Life Flight. She is currently pursuing her MSN in psychiatriatc medicine as a nurse practitioner. She has worked in a dual diagnosis setting for over 8 years of her career. Originally from the Midwest, she now calls Saint Augustine home.

Kaitlin has been the Lead Residential Assitant and floor manager for the organization for over a year. She has many years of past managerial experience and is currently furthering her education in Business Management.She takes pride in working with clients who are striving for success in their own recovery.She is originally from South Carolina, but now calls Saint Augustine home.

Sarah Beth Certified nursing support in three states 14 years of experience in nursing support CPR, AED, First Aid certified Bloodborne Pathogens certification
hands on training and education with mentally and physically challenged adults and children