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.

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.

Jamie Atkins-Huerta RD, CEDRD-S

Jamie (she/her/hers) is the Director of Nutrition and Wellness, for the residential level of care at Center for Discovery and has a private practice, where she utilizes a non-diet and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) informed approach combining both nutrition and psychology. Jamie received her Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics from California State University of Long Beach, with a minor in psychology and completed her dietetic internship with Oakwood University. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian & Supervisor (CEDRD-S), and a certified Be Body Positive Facilitator.

Jamie is most passionate about both supporting people on their journey to finding their authentic selves and helping clinicians seeking supervision to do the same.  She has worked in the eating disorder field since 2007 with experience working at all levels of care.  Jamie is passionate about creating an inclusive space for all folx and putting an end to weight stigma.  She speaks publicly at the national and international level on size acceptance & challenging weight normative approaches, and other various topics related to eating disorders.  Jamie believes the most important step in helping someone improve their relationship with food, mind, and body is meeting them where they are, and helping them build a life they can see for themselves.

Kacy Grossman, MS, RDN, LD, CEDRD-S

Kacy earned her bachelor’s of science in Clinical Nutrition and minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. She then earned her master’s of science in Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition and completed her dietetic internship at California State University Northridge. After fourteen years in the field of eating disorder treatment, Kacy is now the Director of Nutrition and Wellness, Outpatient, for Center for Discovery where she has developed the outpatient dietary program that has been implemented in over 28 facilities nationwide and has been part of the development and implementation of a diagnostic specific Binge Eating Disorder treatment program at Discovery. Central Kacy’s work is a belief in an inclusive not exclusive approach to food and evidence-based practices. Kacy is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Supervisor, has served on the executive committee for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Behavioral Health and Nutrition dietetic practice group 2014-2018, was the Secretary for the Los Angeles IAEDP chapter and has spoken at national conferences on topics such as the gut-brain connection.

LB/Lindsay Birchfield, MS, RD, CEDRD-S

LB grew up in Chicago, IL, completed their bachelors in dietetics from Miami University, received their masters in clinical nutrition from New York University and completed their internship at the James J Peters VA Hospital in New York City. They are a certified weightlifting coach (L1), and they are currently pursuing a certificate in somatic therapies. LB has practiced body and nutrition therapy across the continental US within various eating disorder treatment programs for the past 12 years prior to joining Center for Discovery. Their areas of specialization include disordered eating across age and genders, somatic therapies to support compulsive movement, trauma-informed weightlifting, nutritional healing following gastric surgeries, food-related trauma, and exposure therapy.

LB is the Executive Director of CFD’s Path-to-Peace Virtual IOP and Path-to-Peace Outpatient Programming. In their spare time, LB finds inspiration within the classroom where they teach masters-level dietetic students about the complexities of health and body oppression within traditional healthcare. When looking for rest and relaxation, you can find LB at a Seattle Storm game, walking their dogs, or exploring various cuisines in their kitchen.

Shayne Tinsley

Abby Hamdan

Abby Hamdan is an exceptional professional who is dedicated to supporting others. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and joined Center for Discovery in 2012 as a counselor at the residential eating disorder treatment program in La Habra, CA. Her commitment to helping patients achieve their recovery goals led to her promotion to the Milieu Manager position within her first year. Abby used her extensive experience and leadership skills to create a positive working environment and staff culture, highlighting the strengths of each team member.   

Abby has mentored and guided all Milieu Managers in the Eating Disorder Residential Facilities for the past ten years. She has also conducted certification courses for Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), CPR, and First Aid for all facilities nationwide and developed streamlined systems to provide organization and tools at the facility level.   

In her most recent role as Director of Operations, Abby manages the organization’s RTC program growth and development, EMR System Administrator, and division compliance. She is passionate about empowering program-level people with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their roles.  

As a former softball player, you can catch Abby watching baseball games, and visiting a new stadium every chance she gets. Go, Angels!