Additionally, our accomplished Professionals Recovery Track treatment team consisting of a Program Director, Psychiatrist / Addictionologist, and two Clinical Therapists, all with extensive experience working with licensed professionals, provide Pine Grove’s referral sources with detailed discharge recommendations that outline what the patient needs to fulfill in order to practice their occupation safely following their discharge from Pine Grove.
Leah Claire Bennett
Clinical Operations Director
Chaz Richardson
Psychiatrist
Lacey Herrington
Clinical Psychologist
John Herrington
Clinical Therapist
Michael Lester
Postdoctoral Fellow
Leah Claire Bennett
Chaz Richardson
Lacey Herrington
John Herrington
Michael Lester
Leah Claire Bennett
Dr. Leah Claire Bennett is a licensed psychologist with Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, where she serves as the organization’s Clinical Operations Director. In this role, she provides clinical direction and supervision for Pine Grove’s addiction treatment programs including the Women’s Center, Legacy, Gratitude, and Next Step. Dr. Bennett also oversees Pine Grove’s professional treatment programs, including the Professional Enhancement Program, known as PEP, and Pine Grove’s Professionals Recovery Track, which is designed for the organization’s addiction treatment patients who hold a professional license. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, TX and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. Dr. Bennett has worked with the Professional Enhancement Program since 2005 where the focus is working with professionals with vocational and relational issues, maladaptive personality problems, addiction, disruptive workplace behavior and sexual issues. Dr. Bennett’s primary focus is to help patients who have struggled in a variety of ways live their lives in a manner where they are able to engage at their highest potential.
Chaz Richardson, DO
Dr. Charles “Chaz” Richardson is a graduate of The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS where he also completed his psychiatry residency. Dr. Richardson completed his fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and is a member of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, and Mississippi State Medical Association. Dr. Richardson joined the Pine Grove staff in 2018 and currently evaluates and treats adult patients for Pine Grove’s inpatient and residential treatment programs.
Lacey Herrington, Ph.D.
Dr. Lacey Herrington is a licensed psychologist with the Evaluation Center at Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services. She is also works with the Professionals Recovery Track, which provides daily group therapy addressing issues of professionalism for professionals receiving treatment in Pine Grove’s residential programs. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Mississippi State University in 2008, as well as her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2015. Dr. Herrington completed her pre-doctoral internship at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, LA from 2014-2015. She was licensed in 2017. Her primary interests include: assessment, personality disorders, substance use disorders, forensic psychology, and trauma.
John Herrington, MS, LPC
John Herrington is the Clinical Director for Pine Grove’s Next Step and Legacy programs. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology and master’s degree in counseling psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. John worked for five years with Pine Belt Mental Healthcare at Oak Arbor working with clients struggling with addiction. He has experience working with drug court, VA, and other local and state resources. John began his work with Pine Grove in March of 2011 working with the Next Step and Sober Living programs providing individual and group therapy for those struggling with addiction.
Michael E. Lester, PhD
Dr. Michael Lester is a postdoctoral fellow with the Evaluation Center at Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, he is also involved with Pine Grove’s Professionals Recovery Track. Dr. Lester earned a master’s and doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS and completed his pre-doctoral internship at Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System in Biloxi, MS. Dr. Lester’s clinical interests include the treatment and assessment of personality disorders. His research has focused primarily on establishing the external validity of evidenced-based therapies.
