Thomas Antonek, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Director/Founder

     Dr. Antonek is an accomplished psychologist with over 28 years of clinical experience and is fully licensed to practice psychology in the states of Florida and Indiana. He has graduate training in marital and couple counseling as well as educational psychology. He has been specializing in the area of substance abuse treatment since 1981. He has dedicated his clinical practice to the assessment/evaluation of addictive disorders and conducted thousands of evaluations on addicts over the past three decades. He also has extensive therapy experience with adult addicts in treatment at inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, university counseling centers and prison settings.

     Dr. Antonek is an authority on providing intervention with dual diagnosed (substance abuse and behavior disordered) juvenile delinquents. He began developing his adolescent specialization in 1983 when he designed family education and intervention programs for a population of high crime-risk adolescents and their families in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Antonek has created and implemented psychiatric and chemical dependency programs for acute care adolescent inpatient hospital programs. He developed programs that were accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services (DAS). He continues to conduct psychological and substance abuse evaluations and treatment planning for incarcerated adolescents under the care of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

     Dr. Antonek began providing service to the Florida Medical Professionals Group (www.fmpg.org) in 2002. FMPG is a 27-year-old non-profit society whose membership consists of physicians and healthcare professionals in recovery. Dr. Antonek has been functioning as President of FMPG since he was elected to that office in December, 2006. Dr. Antonek also facilitates support groups for International Doctors of Alcoholics Anonymous (www.idaa.org) as well as the Professionals Resource Network: Impaired Practitioners Program of Florida (www.flprn.org). Subsequently, Dr. Antonek has developed an active private practice that is dedicated and committed to assisting impaired professionals in recovery.

Andre Benson, M.D.
Medical Director

     Dr. Benson is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Medicine. He has practiced medicine in Florida for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is fully certified in Florida in the specialty of Addiction medicine. In 2003 he was presented the prestigious national Nyswander-Dole Award for excellence and innovative work given by the American Association for the treatment of Opioid dependence. His extensive experience involves all aspects of treatment including detoxification, inpatient and outpatient programs, and the use of methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone) substitution therapy. In addition to promoting recovery through traditional treatment approaches, Dr. Benson also has an interest in progressive and alternative approaches which tailor treatment to the individual. He is also involved in medication monitoring and management of individuals that suffer from chronic pain and its complications.

Kristin Parker, M.A.
Therapist

      Kristin Parker obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. She identifies her approach to counseling as being built upon the traditions of humanistic philosophy and existential therapy. Kristin has experience working with adolescents and adults struggling with various addictions, including drug, alcohol and eating disorders. Kristin has also worked with individuals suffering from the pervasive effects of trauma resulting from childhood abuse and other traumatic life events. Areas of special interest include working with adolescents by helping them navigate though life obstacles such as divorce, relationship issues, peer pressure, depression, anxiety and academic underachievement. Kristin also specializes in women's issues and believes in working to empower women to make positive, sound choices in order to improve the quality of their lives. Kristin is experienced at facilitating psycho-educational and process-oriented group therapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Examples of groups she has led include eating disorders, trauma, addictions and support groups for women.

Jo Veazey, M.A.

Therapist/Addictions Counselor

     Jo Veazey obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the University of Alabama and a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. She offers a comprehensive perspective to counseling by combining her experiences in medicine, addictions and clinical evaluations for the purpose of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning. She is experienced in several modalities of treatment including individual, group and family counseling. She specializes in addictions treatment and women's issues. Jo relates her professional experiences in the therapeutic relationship through the practice of a reality based orientation, choice through the process of value clarification and a general humanistic approach to therapy as manifest in the unconditional positive regard she demonstrates toward her clients. Jo has worked extensively with individuals suffering from trauma. She also has several years experience working with addictions and recovery. Jo offers hope in these areas by creating positive alternatives and life choices for her clients. She has provided services for inpatient and outpatient drug and rehabilitation facilities, thus enhancing her understanding of addiction across a full continuum of care.

Gail Sabo, M.S.
Certified Family Mediator

     We are pleased to offer the services of Gail Sabo, our Director of Family Mediation for families and individuals.  Often we find that couples and family's are at an impasse in their journey, or that they have worked through their therapy and have both decided to finalize their separation with a divorce.  Gail is available to work with these families so that the transition is mediated in an impartial and fair manner.  As a part of our practice Gail brings with her years of experience in negotiation of complex impasses coupled with her Graduate Level Mental Health Training. Gail believes that given the right approach, working diligently to hear all sides of the issue will facilitate all involved parties coming to an amicable agreement.  Gail is available for mediating for Growth Center clients as well as those who have not had family therapy at our center.  We are proud to have Gail on our team offering her unbiased, professional mediation services for families and couples.  

Janice Smith, M.A., CAP, CAPP

Addictions Specialist

     We are pleased to offer the services of Janice Smith, our Family Services Coordinator and Addictions and Prevention Specialist.  Ms. Smith is of the belief that family dynamics contribute to dysfunction in family relationships. As a part of our practice, Janice brings with her 20 years of experience in individual and family intervention techniques, substance abuse crisis intervention, anger management, conflict resolution techniques, as well as, individual, family and marriage counseling. She has utilized her strengths and talents to help individual’s transition and improve the quality of their lives.  She has mastered a level of efficiency in understanding family dynamics and how it contributes to substance abuse and mental health disorders and has reached a level of proficiency in managing and directing drug impaired behaviors.  Her experiences have advanced her clinical strategies and skill level in remediation of conflict, identifying substance abuse risk and protective factors, as well as, in understanding and managing conflict with couples, families, and individuals.