Faiwinds Treatment Center Clinical Team
We Will Treat You Like Family
The Fairwinds Clinical Team has an exceptional amount of clinical experience and patient experience. Our therapists are highly trained and a patient can expect superior counseling and results from treatment at Fairwinds. Being a 30-bed facility, each patient has significant time devoted to their treatment by a specific therapist. Fairwinds Treatment Center specializes in individual care to restore your family.
Jess Loven, Clinical Director, CAP
Jess brings over 30 years of experience working in the addictive field in a variety of roles ranging from primary therapist to CEO. Jess has been a Certified Addictions Professional (C.A.P.) in Florida since 1987. Jess has an extensive background in working with adolescents and adults, specializing in co-occurring disorders and impaired professionals.
Jess also has a range of special skills relative to quality assurance and improvement from his years working in facilities that were both State of Florida licensed and certified through the Joint Commission of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Most recently he spent the past year and a half as a licensing specialist for the Department of Children and Families, and was the authorized agent for many local treatment programs in the Tampa Bay area.
Jess sums up his treatment philosophy in these simple terms, “Everyone deserves recovery and an opportunity to have the best care possible. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t want to get better on some level; no matter how hopeless or helpless they may feel. Sometimes we may feel we’re beyond help but I’ve spent my entire adult life working in treatment centers, and I know that its the work that keeps me energized. I do not believe in “lost causes.” I do believe strongly that there is always hope for a new future in recovery.”
Greg Kaufman, M.A., LMHC, NCC
Greg is the lead therapist in the Fairwinds Treatment Center's Substance Abuse/Dual Diagnosis Program. With more than 20 years of experience in the mental health and substance abuse field, Greg's specialty is working with clients who have extensive emotional problems related to substance abuse, sexual abuse and family dysfunction issues. Greg's work in private practice built the foundation for his individual and family psychotherapy skills. He also has extensive experience in the area of supervisory and clinical leadership.
Greg is terrific at making his patient's feel comfortable and open to speaking about certain issues. We are very proud to have Greg on our therapist's team.
Jeanne M. Szanto, MSW
Jeanne served as Fairwinds Treatment Centers' first Clinical Director from 1989 through 1994. Her experience consists of treatment of adults and adolescents with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders since 1974.
In 1998, upon returning to Fairwinds Treatment Center as a program therapist, Jeanne was recruited by Dr. Pauline Powers to work in the Eating Disorders Program directly with patients and their families. Jeanne has had training in both traditional and esoteric therapies, enjoying a creative approach to her work and her life. Jeanne is an amazing asset to our Eating Disorders program.
Susan R. Wachter, MA, LMHC, NCC
Susan is a full-time therapist at Fairwinds who has been working with the dual diagnosis addictions and eating disorders program at Fairwinds Treatment Center since 2005. Previously, Susan worked in a private practice setting in Maitland Florida working both with adults and adolescents as well as group therapy. Susan's specialties include: eating disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse issues, dissociative identity disorders, sexual abuse issues and relationship issues.
Susan connnects very well and builds strong relationships with her patients in our Eating Disorders program.
Kourtney Gordon, M.S.R.D., L. D., C.E.D.R.D.
Kourtney has been with Fairwinds Treatment Center since 2000 and serves as our Clinical Dietitian and Eating Disorder Program Manager.
She is an active member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and is currently the President-Elect for the local iaedp Tampa Bay Chapter. She was also recently awarded certification through iaedp as an Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDRD).
Kourtney is responsible for the weekly nutrition groups and outings to re-familiarize/ desensitize patients to healthy eating habits and attitudes about food in normal community activities. Kourtney is involved in facilitating and counseling patients to begin recovery eating patterns and weight stabilization through educational and experiential activities, as well as act as liason between departments to ensure the eating disorder program is meeting it’s goals in facilitating the patients recovery process.
Simon J. Hebert, NCC, LMHC, CAP
Simon has over 35 years experience in human services as a National Certified Counselor, Mental Health Counselor, and certified Addictions Professional. He has worked in the areas of dual-diagnosis, eating disorders, family therapy, codependency and spirituality in recovery. Simon has theological training and background which brings a God-centered spiritual dimension to his treatment approach. Simon is able to provide individual Christian counseling services at the request of the patient and family.
Simon is the lead therapist for our intensive outpatient program for substance abuse.
Victoria Thompson, MED, EDS, IMHC
Victoria holds a Masters of Education and Education Specialist degree in mental health counseling, with a specialization in addiction and dual diagnosis, from the University of Florida.
Her expertise includes the cognitive-behavioral model, dual diagnosis clients, impaired professionals, and families. Prior to joining the Fairwinds team, she was an addiction counselor at Shands Florida Recovery Center, University of Florida, where she also did her internship. Victoria earned a BA in Psychology from Holy Names University, Oakland, CA.
Theresa Ritz, MS, CAP, CRC
Theresa has extensive experience working with persons with addictions. She has worked in residential treatment, outpatient treatment and in alternative sentencing programs with substance abusing offenders. She has trained extensively in holistic and complimentary practices as applied to addiction treatment. She leads patients in a variety of meditation methods and disciplines useful as coping skills. Prior to coming to Fairwinds, she was employed by the State of Pennsylvania as an addiction specialist working in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Washington, Pennsylvania. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her work at Fairwinds. She currently holds license as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania and is seeking licensure in Florida. She holds certifications as an Addictions Professional and as a Rehabilition Counselor.
Kathleen Sullivan- Art Therapist, ATR-BC, MAAT
Kathleen has been with Fairwinds Treatment Center since 2009. She started with our art therapy program as an intern before attaining her Masters of Arts in Art Therapy in 2010. Kathleen has clinical experience with adult chemical addictions and eating disorders with an emphasis on dual diagnosis. She also works closely with adolescent eating disorder patients. At Fairwinds, Kathleen is responsible for individual and group art therapy sessions, development of art therapy interventions, and staff presentations. Before joining Fairwinds, Kathleen worked as an art educator and private instructor for many years.
Kathleen is a current member of both the American Art Therapy Association and the Florida Art Therapy Association.
