BRIDGEWATER OUTPATIENT EATING DISORDER PROGRAM

Linda Mullin

Linda Mullin is a board certified licensed professional counselor and clinical supervisor with extensive expertise in operational and crisis management. Linda’s breadth of clinical work includes serving individuals, groups and families in community, outpatient, hospital inpatient, and private settings. Her approach is to aid individuals to live their best life possible in spite of their fears, regain control and repair what is most important to them. She believes wholeheartedly in the human connection and our ability to help one another through life’s challenges and to celebrate one another’s successes.

Linda imparts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) enhanced by evidence-based frameworks of CPT, TEAM, and EFT for the treatment of trauma, panic & phobia, OCD, social anxiety, general anxiety, anger, and depression. As an enhancement to her therapeutic services, she is also trained in therapeutic hypnosis.

Ariyel Whitehead, BSHA

Ariyel Whitehead earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from University of Phoenix. Prior to working for Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program, she worked in case management as a coordinator for a hospital in New Jersey. She honed her skills of providing quality care, by caring for patients with various mental conditions such as Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease. Ariyel also has clinical experience providing care in sub-acute and rehab settings.

As the Milieu Manager, Ariyel handles daily operations in the Outpatient program including administrative duties, research, clinical documentation, project management, systems development, and customer service.In the winter of 2021 Ariyel became the Senior Milieu Manager of the Bridgewater program in addition to becoming a Licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator. In her new roles, Ariyel supports with training new Milieu Managers. As a Licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator, she provides a safe space for each individual to find their voices while making peace with the bodies they’re in.

Ariyel takes pride and joy in assisting others with their healing journey. She is grateful to be a part of the Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program team.

Katie Hawkins MS, RDN

Katie is a registered dietitian at Center for Discovery (CFD). She graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics. After obtaining her registered dietetic technician credential, Katie worked as a dietetic technician at a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio for a few years. She then went on to complete her Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition from Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine and Science and completed a distance dietetic internship with Nutrition Ink. After passing her registered dietitian exam, Katie went on to work in endocrinology with patients living with diabetes. While completing her master’s degree, she focused on eating disorders and related topics whenever possible, as it has always been an area of nutrition she has felt passionate about. Katie firmly believes in fostering healthy relationships with food, both in her own life and most importantly when working with patients and clients. She is very excited to be a member of the team at CFD and is honored to be a part of the treatment team and journey to recovery of every patient that passes through our doors.

Dr. Nicole Dorio, DO

Dr. Nicole Dorio is board -certified in general and forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in psychiatry at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and a forensic psychiatry fellowship at Rutgers University- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Since completing her training, Dr. Dorio has provided clinical psychiatric services to incarcerated and civilly committed chronically mentally ill adults and is the owner of Mentis Forensic Psychiatry LLC. She has experience in serving on a treatment team and as a team leader, and she recognizes the importance of building and involving a support team around everyone she treats.

In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Dorio also serves as an expert witness in psychiatry in New Jersey Superior Court and has been asked to provide testimony in courts across the state.

Cathy Lane

Cathy Lane joins Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program as the Clinical Outreach Representative for New Jersey. She has dedicated the entirety of her professional career to the treatment of eating disorders, having held leadership positions in admissions and outreach over the past decade. Cathy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies from The College of New Jersey.

With a caring, patient heart and detail-oriented mind, Cathy’s goal is to create a path to recovery for those struggling with eating disorders by sharing what makes our Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program programs unique and assuring access to these services is as seamless as possible for the members of our community.

Cathy proudly lives near our beautiful New Jersey beaches with her husband and two boys, and enjoys crocheting, camping, and making sure each day includes a little bit of sunshine.

Jenna Colacci, MS, LAC

Jenna is an associate therapist at Center for Discovery. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and obtained her undergraduate degree from Monmouth University where she was a full-time student athlete. Jenna has previous experience working with adults and adolescents with eating disorders in both residential and outpatient settings, as well as an understanding of a variety of evidence-based practices.

Jenna emphasizes the importance of integrating an open and non-judgmental approach to all situations, creating a warm, calm and comforting therapeutic environment. She provides care based on each client’s needs, values and unique experiences. Jenna validates the hard work that can accompany treatment and prioritizes the importance of recognizing and celebrating any type of progress made, no matter the size. She aspires to support clients in discovering their authentic selves and hopes to empower them to live an independent, self-compassionate and genuinely fulfilling life free from their eating disorder. Jenna always welcomes humor into her sessions and conversations about dogs.

Kristin Urena

Kristin is a registered dietitian nutritionist. She graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. After graduation, she then attended Montclair State University’s accredited Nutrition and Dietetics Post-Graduate Program. Kristin completed her dietetic internship with Priority Nutrition Care, where her concentration was entrepreneurial health and wellness. She also focused on pediatric care, public health and intuitive eating during her studies. Kristin is an active member of both the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and New Jersey’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Kristin is excited to support patients and share her passion for both Intuitive Eating and Health and Every Size ® here at Center for Discovery.

Ashley Reed

Ashley is a licensed professional counselor with 5+ years of experience in the mental health field. Ashley’s specialties include at-risk female youth, substance use disorders, women and families working through domestic abuse, low-income and other at-risk related populations, those who are chronically ill and those with disordered eating. She has worked in community, partial care, in-patient and outpatient settings. Ashley has a zest for going the extra mile to meet patients at their level, so they can reach their highest happy potential primarily through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She looks forward to having a positive impact on those she will have the pleasure of serving.

Samantha Renfree

Sam is a Licensed Associate Counselor here at Center for Discovery. Sam holds value for the process of growing towards living our lives as our authentic, true selves. Sam views healing as a journey rather than a goal. She strives to meet people where they are in their journey and walk beside them as they discover patterns that may be holding them back. Sam employs a foundation that believes people are innately resilient and capable of growth when given the appropriate tools. Operating out of a holistic view, she aims to find approaches that complement each individual’s needs, attending to the factors outside of themselves that influence where they are now and how they have come to be. Sam is passionate about incorporating a practice of embodying authenticity, compassionate self-awareness, radical acceptance and living wholeheartedly. She has worked with clients in childhood through adulthood, in individual, group and family settings. Sam has experience with clients in the PHP/IOP/OP level of care working with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, substance abuse, bipolar as well as others. Sam exerts a humanistic approach with components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as well as others. Sam received her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University and her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.
“Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It’s going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.” – Brené Brown