Gioia DiMicco, BA, MPS
Partial Hospitalization Program Lead
Gioia DiMicco earned a Masters of Art Therapy and Creative Development from Pratt Institute. She began her studies at University of Redlands where she received a Bachelor’s in Studio Art with a concentration in painting and drawing. While at Pratt Institute, Gioia completed her clinical art therapy practicums at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Renfrew Center at Spring Lane. She worked with children with acute and chronic illness and adult women and those identifying as women with recurrent and severe eating disorders, respectively. Gioia completed her graduate thesis called Sewing Stigma: a phenomenological study using arts based research to explore the impact of social stigma upon women with eating disorders using textile-based art therapy techniques.
Since completing her master’s degree, Gioia has worked as an art therapist with Seeds of Hope Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs in Center City, Philadelphia. Gioia works diligently to encourage and foster a safe space for clients. She believes that imagery and art-making may offer communicative and therapeutic opportunities when verbal language seems too much or not enough. To promote a space where clients may heal and grow, Gioia hopes to lead each day with empathy.
Gianna Damis, MA
Secondary PHP Therapist
Gianna holds a Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University. She began her studies at Temple University where she received a bachelor’s degree studying art and psychology. Gianna found her passion for mental health early on working with people in acute levels of care; experience in medical, educational, and therapeutic settings has added to her skill base.
Gianna has completed a clinical practicum at Friends Hospital working with adults and teens with mental illness. She also has clinical experience in Delaware County Intermediate Unit, an alternative education setting for school-age children. She completed her clinical internship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where young people with medical diagnoses also received therapeutic support. Since completing her master’s degree, Gianna has worked as a therapist with Seeds of Hope Partial Hospitalization and The Light Program Intensive Outpatient programs in Paoli and Philadelphia.
With her degree in art therapy, she is able to integrate expressive therapies into treatment as a means of facilitating healing while also utilizing a combination of mindfulness, CBT, and DBT techniques in order to best meet the needs of each individual. She operates from a strengths-based, harm reduction perspective and strongly believes in principles of self-determination and social justice.
Tiana Matthews-Martinez, MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietician
Tiana Matthews-Martinez holds a Master’s of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetics from Howard University in Washington, DC. She began her studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where she received a Bachelor’s in Food Service Management with a concentration in Business Administration. While at Howard University she completed a full year of clinical practicum at Suburban Hospital where she had the opportunity to work in the psychiatric unit as well as a residential addictions center. During this time, Tiana discovered her passion for helping individuals whose nutritional status has been compromised due to poverty, addiction, disordered eating, mental health conditions and a lack of education around food. In conjunction, Tiana completed a primary research study exploring the relationship between internalized perceptions of race and food choices in African-American adults in Washington, DC.
As the registered dietitian in the Center City Seeds of Hope Partial Hospitalization Program, Tiana takes pride in helping people to identify and overcome the barriers to obtaining a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. She also loves to help people explore the satisfaction factor of nutrition with an emphasis on creating flavorful foods and an “all foods can fit” healthy eating model.
Katie Gillespie, ATR-BC, LPC
Clinical Supervisor, Seeds of Hope Outpatient
Katie Gillespie has worked within the Seeds of Hope program for over 13 years in the areas of program development, direct care and as clinical supervisor. Prior to working at Seeds of Hope, she interned at Friends Hospital within the eating disorders unit. Additionally, Katie worked in the Renfrew programs. She is passionate about helping others break free from eating disorders and disordered eating so that they can live fuller lives.
Seeds of Hope’s recovery philosophy is built on a holistic approach focused on tapping into passions and individual strengths, strengthening relationships and reconnecting to the self with compassion. Katie believes all people struggling with eating disorders can recover and live enriched lives. The process of recovery has the potential of creating a deeper and more connected way of living that can be life changing. Katie believes that the most powerful recovery programs provide experiential opportunities that help the person in recovery experience and practice a new way of living.
Mary Andracchio
Community Liaison
Mary joined Seeds of Hope in 2017 as Community Liaison for the parent company Onward Behavioral Health and its outpatient programs, connecting with providers and members of the community to raise awareness for eating disorders, mental health, and substance abuse. In 2020, Mary transitioned to her new role as Community Liaison for all Seeds of Hope programming, focusing her outreach on helping those access the care they deserve for primary eating disorder treatment at the intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential levels of care.
Contact Mary at 267-414-9094 or mandracchio@pyramidhc.com