About Us
Gateway to Hope University (GTHU) is the training program of the Hope and Healing Center & Institute based in Houston, TX. We offer evidence-based mental and behavioral health training, resources, and ongoing support to individuals, faith communities, schools, and workplaces.
Who We Are
Our Mission
We mobilize individuals to effectively and compassionately meet the holistic needs of those who live with mental health challenges. The Gateway to Hope University mission is simple – to break down barriers to mental health resources and to empower you with the knowledge and skills to foster understanding and healing within your community. Our mission doesn’t end there. We’re all about personal growth too and helping you build on core training skills and knowledge.
Gateway to Hope University is a comprehensive solution – providing tested tools and ongoing support so you can quickly and compassionately manage challenges while helping build and restore lives to health and wholeness.
Who We Work With
Since our inception, Gateway to Hope University has worked to eliminate the barriers to mental health care for individuals and families struggling with mental health issues and reduce stigma. We are building a continuum of care in partnership with strong faith, school and workplaces community networks connected to our present system of mental health care providers.
We welcome inquiries from organizations who would like to collaborate and partner with us in making mental health care affordable, acceptable, and accessible.
About Our Staff
We are a team driven by a collective passion to remove the stigma of mental illness and make mental health care affordable, accessible, and acceptable in every community.
Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D. is CEO of the Hope and Healing Center & Institute (HHCI) in Houston, TX and adjunct professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital Institute for Academic Medicine. Dr. Stanford’s research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Christianity Today, and U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. Stanford earned his doctoral degree in behavioral neuroscience at Baylor University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Professionally he has worked with a variety of mentally ill clients, including those with aggression, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance dependence, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
As director of HHCI he writes, conducts training seminars, and serves individuals living with mental illness and their families. He is the author of five books, including his latest Madness & Grace: A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care and Serious Mental Illness.
Madeline Stiers, Ph.D., LCSW-S
Chief Clinical Officer
Madeline Stiers, Ph.D., LCSW-S works as the Chief Clinical Officer at the Hope and Healing Center & Institute, a faith-based mental health nonprofit in Houston, Texas. She has a Ph.D. in social work from Baylor University, an MSW from the University of Houston, and a BA in Psychology from Baylor University. Her clinical work is based on cognitive and behavioral approaches and takes a faith-based integrative approach. Madeline’s research interests include interpersonal trauma, integration of faith in clinical practice, and peer delivered services. As CCO of HHCI she writes, conducts research and training seminars, provides therapy to individuals living with mental illness, and provides clinical oversight to the agency.
Karen Allen
Vice President of Community Engagement
Karen Allen joined the Hope and Healing Center & Institute in October 2017 as Vice President of Community Engagement. She has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles as a corporate marketing and stakeholder engagement strategist for leading multinational companies. Karen has two sons and enjoys running, tennis, reading, and travel with her family.