Kris DeFeo

Kristal DeFeo is Executive Director of New Horizons Recovery Centers-Kennett Square, PA location. She is a behavioral health clinician at heart while having a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Counseling from Saint Joseph’s University and was born in Philadelphia, PA.

With over 13 years experience in behavioral health field, she started as an addictions therapist for Merakey (Previously NHS) working at Parkside Recovery after grad school. She has experience working for both adolescent and adults populations in both substance use and mental health.

Some of her experience has led her to also assist various organizations with Program Development such as Merakey (Methadone Maintenance), Mainline Health-Mirmont Outpatient Adolescent Substance Use Program, and Resources for Human Development-Lower Merion Counseling & Mobile Services as Lead Addictions Specialist.

In the last four years Kristal began working non-direct care in Regulatory and Compliance as a Regional Quality Assurance Strategist/Lead Outpatient Clinical Surveyor with both Universal Health Services-Keystone Center as well as Recovery Centers of America. Kristal has knowledge of accreditation standards in both Outpatient and Inpatient Programs with a special focus in Care, Treatment, and Services (CTS).

She has worked across NJ, IN, IL, and MA to help out of state providers align with accreditation standards as well. Kristal has been part of countless state and national surveys including DDAP, OMHSAS, DHS, BSAS, and Joint Commission.

While taking a break from direct care, Kristal launched KDCOACHING LLC in 2021 to continue seeing clients and offers non-traditional therapy and effective coaching all while decreasing stigma and helping clients to find their true self. During this time she became a published poet and author.

She has also worked along side PA Huntsmen Elite Hockey Team based out of Chester County offering group processing and mental health support to athletes as well as LA fitness-Broomall and PA YouthMove (NAMI) to promote mental health support.

Kristal was featured in blogs for Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Services as advocate for recovery. Her favorite techniques are inspired by DBT, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing all of which she is trained in.

Kristal has so much passion and knowledge that she brings to NHR and is excited to be here!