The Discovery Story

Deandra Christianson, MA

Deandra received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her master’s degree in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology including a specialization in counseling specialization with a focus on the treatment of children and adolescents.

In addition to serving as COO of Alsana, a regional eating recovery treatment provider, she has also held both clinical and administrative positions at Center for Discovery from 2013 to 2021. She has been afforded many opportunities to speak at conferences and other engagements throughout the country. Deandra has worked with individuals with eating disorders, self-injurious behaviors, mood disorders, and other co-occurring issues in both residential and outpatient treatment settings. Additionally, she has worked with schools in program development and implementation that focuses on student leadership and bullying prevention and intervention. Deandra is passionate about eating disorder awareness, advocacy, and treatment.

Amy Costa, PsyD, LMFT, CEDS-S

Dr. Costa is a licensed marriage and family therapist in San Diego, California, and is the vice president of clinical operations for Center for Discovery (CFD). Dr. Costa has worked at CFD since 2014, and was previously the vice president of operations for the West Coast division. She brings a wealth of clinical experience to operations in order to help elevate Discovery Behavioral Health, the parent company of CFD, to a level of excellence in the mental health field. In her newest role at CFD, Dr. Costa is working to improve clinical programming; ensuring the division continues to use the best in evidence-based treatment modalities; and supporting the training and growth of the clinical team. She is also a member of the REDC as well as a member of iaedp as a certified eating disorder specialist and supervisor. Before coming to CFD, Dr. Costa began her career in the eating disorder field in 2004, first as a residence counselor at the Klarman Center at Mclean Hospital. Dr. Costa worked as a therapist in a variety of settings throughout California, with experience in residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and private practice treatment programs. Dr. Costa has received advanced training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy. Dr. Costa’s areas of concentration have been in treating eating disorders, self-injurious behaviors, mood disorders, and other co-occurring issues in both adults and adolescents. She has hosted numerous CE events that have focused on DBT, trauma, burnout, dietary/clinical treatment of eating disorders, and the connection between eating disorders and substance use disorders. 

Dr. Costa is a graduate of Endicott College in psychology and went on to earn additional degrees in marriage and family therapy. Dr. Costa received her master’s and doctorate degrees from Alliant International University. She says that even as a teenager, going into a career like psychology felt like a calling. Dr. Costa has experienced a sense of community and support as she has ventured down this career path. When she got her first job in the field, she says she felt immediately passionate about supporting individuals struggling with eating and mental health disorders. Dr. Costa finds that the work constantly motivates her to discover effective ways to help patients receive real-life recovery. When Dr. Costa is not trying to help change lives for the better, you can find her enjoying he arts, music, movies and food, as well as staying connected to her Portuguese culture and heritage.

Jen Henretty, PhD, CEDS

Matthew Ruble, MD

Dr. Ruble is the chief medical officer of Discovery Behavioral Health, the family brand of Center for Discovery. Dr. Ruble has a deep passion for advancing the behavioral health industry through training,

publication, innovation, payer relations and collaboration. He spent 20 years of his career working with the Cambridge Health Alliance, a health system affiliated with Harvard Medical School, responsible for training clinicians, residents and medical staff in core evidence-based practices including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Psychiatric curriculum development

• Research

• Publications

• Speaking nationally on evidence-based practices • Integrated behavioral and physical health care delivery

As lead medical director overseeing clinical behavioral health strategy and operations for Humana, he was part of the team that reviewed and advised on all behavioral health technology innovations for investment and implementation. His expertise spans consistent delivery of innovative and value-based, industry-leading and integrated behavioral health programs and services.

Dr. Ruble earned his bachelor’s from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. From there, he attended the Carver School of Medicine at the University of Iowa, earning his doctorate. He then attended Harvard Medical School in Boston to intern at the Department of Medicine and became a resident at the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Ruble became chief resident of the psychopharmacology at Cambridge Health Alliance as well as a physician educator at the Academy at Harvard Medical School.