EXECUTIVE AND CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Megan Ledet, LCSW

As Executive Director for Center for Discovery Houston, Megan Ledet oversees the residential and outpatient eating disorder facilities. She additionally serves as the Clinical Director at the residential level of care. Megan has over a decade of experience in the assess- ment and treatment of eating disorders, spanning across inpatient, residential, and PHP/IOP levels of care. 

Megan received her MSW from the University of Alabama and went on to serve as the PHP manager at a treatment center for eating disorders in Birmingham, AL immediately after graduation. In 2012, she moved in Miami, FL to work as a primary therapist at a residential ED facility treating adult women. There, she spearheaded the centers mindful movement program and was promoted to senior primary therapist in 2014– serving dual roles as therapist and clinical director. In 2015, Megan moved to Houston and served as a staff social worker at a nationally renowned inpatient mental health hospital before being promoted as the Director of Eating Disorder Services in 2017. 

Megan is passionate about the treatment of eating disorders and the co-occurring struggles associated with the illness. She is extensively DBT trained and sees this as an ideal modality to facilitate change in individual’s experiencing EDs. Megan is EMDR trained and a skilled, trauma informed clinician. She is also an advocate for the power of relationships in healing and recognizes the sacred nature between clients and their treatment teams. Megan believes a strong, unified team is essential in fostering client healing and is excited to continue and create an environment that strengthens both client and staff. 

Megan was raised in the suburbs of Birmingham, AL, although she and her husband now consider Houston home. When she is not at work, she can be found loving on her rescue pup, Mookie, crafting, planning home renovation projects, or (her favorite pastime) watching Alabama football– Roll Tide! 

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Avanti Bande, MS, LPC, NCC

Avanti Sule is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and is supervised by Meredith Riddick, LPC-S, CEDS-S. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Biology, from the The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of North Texas. Avanti is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals and is currently pursuing her Certified Eating Disorders Specialist certification. Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents, college students, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, life transitions, relationship concerns, and substance-related disorders.

Avanti uses an integrative approach to treatment which is client-centered, individualized, family-focused and incorporates CBT and DBT principles. Avanti’s approach is guided through empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard to build a therapeutic relationship and foster personal and interpersonal growth. She is passionate about helping individuals strengthen their relationship with food and empowering families to support their loved ones during recovery.

In her free time, Avanti loves to travel, watch Christmas movies (even in July), and spend time with family and friends!

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Elizabeth Marcum, LPC

Elizabeth is a Licensed Professional Counselor in good standing in Texas and Oklahoma who graduated from Oklahoma State University with her master’s degree. Elizabeth is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor (NCC) and member in good standing with The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp™), American Counseling Association (ACA), Houston Eating Disorder Specialists (HEDS) and Bay Area Mental Health Providers Net.

Elizabeth has eight years of clinical experience conducting individual and group therapy with adults, adolescents, couples, and families. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of settings, including university counseling centers, psychiatric hospitals, community based programs and in community mental health settings. She has provided treatment, conducted assessments, intakes, and on-going service plan reviews with a diverse client population, in addition to presenting and leading outreach events.

Elizabeth has worked in various settings (including inpatient, outpatient, and residential) for eating disorder treatment for several years and is currently working towards becoming a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist to further develop and pursue her passion for eating disorders and clinical issues that arise. In addition, Liz spent several years advocating and assisting with spreading awareness and education about eating disorders with the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association (OEDA). While working at the University of Houston, Elizabeth developed a curriculum and facilitated a Peace with Food and Body Group each semester, in addition to mentoring and supporting “I am Enough because…” body image project. In 2018, Elizabeth collaborated with the Body Project to implement a Peer Lead Body Project study, an Evidence-Based Body-Acceptance Program, at the University of Houston.

Elizabeth is a certified and trained QPR (Question Persuade Refer) Gatekeeper who has provided numerous trainings to aid in suicide prevention. Elizabeth worked for two years as a therapist on the PACT multidisciplinary team with clients struggling with chronic severe mental illness and co-morbid issues involving substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others. Elizabeth has worked with a diverse population and assisted clients with self esteem, anger management, eating disorders, substance abuse issues, social skills training, anxiety, depression, and crisis intervention, among others. She believes in a holistic approach to therapy utilizing an eclectic counseling technique and individualizing it for each client. Her preferred approaches in counseling include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Solution Focused, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Jessica Estep, LMSW

Jessica “Shay” Estep is a Primary Therapist and Licensed Master Social Worker. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She is currently pursuing her license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is under the supervision of Stacey Brittain, LCSW-S.

Her clinical experience includes clinical assessment/intervention and case management in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities for individuals living with a range of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and psychosis. She also has extensive experience working in the HIV/AIDS community in various settings including connecting individuals with emotional support, basic resources, and access to life-saving healthcare. Furthermore, Shay has experience as a public health social worker working with adolescents and adult women in connecting them with needed care and providing education about their health. In addition, Shay has a background in working with underserved youth in schools in learning crucial topics such as self-esteem, teamwork, bullying, conflict resolution, decision making, social development, and family.

Her approach utilizes a client-centered and strengths-based approach along with CBT, DBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing methodologies. She is passionate about empowering youth to see a future beyond the confines of the struggles they currently face.

In her spare time, Shay loves playing video games. She also enjoys learning about anything to do with science. In her commute to and from work, you will find her listening to science videos and podcasts! She also loves her dog Abby to the stars and back and finds any excuse to spend time with her.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Lauren Newman, RD, LD

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Hannah Steffan, RD, LD

NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

Carley Campbell, BSN, RN

MEDICAL DOCTOR

Dr. Edward P. Tyson, MD

Dr. Tyson is the Physician at Center for Discovery Houston residential eating disorder program. He has been specializing in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders for over 25 years. Dr.Tyson completed his Family Practice residency and a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine, during which he had his first clinical training in eating disorders. He began to focus on eating disorders as a specialty while the Director of Clinics for the Adolescent Medicine Section, Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma. Upon moving back to Austin, he opened his private practice specializing in eating disorders.

Dr. Tyson speaks nationally and internationally on various topics about eating disorders. He also teaches to residents, medical students, nurse practitioner students, as well as undergraduate and graduate classes at the University of Texas. Dr. Tyson wrote the chapter on medical assessment for the recent text, “Eating Disorders—Bridging the Research-Practice Gap”. He is also a co-author of the AED’s medical guide on eating disorders, “Critical Points for Early Recognition and Medical Risk Management in the Care of Individuals with Eating Disorders”. Advocating for those with eating disorders has been a priority for Dr. Tyson, who has worked to develop legislation in the state of Texas to mandate insurance coverage for eating disorders.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Jennifer Nagel, RDN, LD, PA-C

Jennifer is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Dietitian, and the Certified Physician Assistant at Center for Discovery Houston residential eating disorder program. She has almost a decade of experience as a Physician Assistant and over a decade of experience as a Registered Dietitian. Her work experience includes primary care, urgent care, weight management, and psychiatry. Jennifer specializes in the medical evaluation and treatment of eating disorders. She discovered her passion for the field when she worked as a Physician Assistant providing medical care for both residential and partial hospitalization programs at an eating disorder treatment center in San Diego, CA. Jennifer found great benefit in working as part of a treatment team and encourages a collaborative approach with other professionals caring for eating disorder clients

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Sonal Rana, MD

Sonal Rana, MD, went to Stanford University for her undergraduate education. She pursued her medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco. She completed four years of adult psychiatry training at the University of California, Los Angeles’ Semel Institute of Human Behavior and Neuroscience and later returned to Stanford to complete her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. She is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

After completing her fellowship, Dr. Rana worked as the medical director for the intensive outpatient program for adolescents and families at the Bay Area Children’s Association, a non-profit agency in California. She has specialized training in mentalization-based therapy, structural family therapy, family based therapy for eating disorders, play-based therapies, interpersonal, parent-child interaction therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapies for children and adolescents.

She has facilitated adolescent groups on depression and anxiety, parent workshops on childhood anxiety, as well as, multifamily groups designed to improve family communication and cohesiveness. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with diagnoses ranging from anxiety and depression, to bipolar disorder, eating disorders, disruptive behavior disorder, personality disorders (with particular emphasis on Borderline Personality Disorder), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, high functioning autism, and schizophrenia. As a psychiatrist, she believes that medications are a useful adjunct to therapeutic modalities designed to bolster families and individuals. She moved to Houston, Texas in May 2015 and is excited to be part of the Center for Discovery family.

FACILITY MANAGER

Cristina Nanez

I am currently completing my Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have a background in Substance abuse treatment with co-occurring disorders in institutional facilities within Texas. I have worked with many mental health issues regarding depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and trauma. I also have a background in supervising a therapeutic foster care agency in training staff and parents on how to work with children suffering from emotional, mental and/or physical disorders and help transition them out of the system effectively. I am excited to work with the eating disorder population and continue to practice my skills in guiding others on the road of recovery!

FACILITY MANAGER - EDUCATION LIASON

Nirali Shah

Joining The Center For Discovery Houston Residential inaugural team in 2018, Nirali is the Facility Manager and Education Liaison. She earned a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Houston. Before joining Center For Discovery, she worked with individuals suffering from mental illnesses in an outpatient setting. Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, sexual abuse and alcohol/substance-related disorders.

Nirali now assists our diverse healthcare team in the rehabilitation and treatment of adolescents with eating disorders. Her passion is to help individuals overcome their internal obstacles and to realize their true potential.

On her downtime, Nirali loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and exploring the diverse culinary world of Houston.

Clinical Outreach Representative

Morgan Sinclair, MS, RDN, LD

Morgan Sinclair earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences as well as her Master’s of Science in Business from Texas A&M University. During her studies, she was a part of the performance nutrition staff through Texas A&M Athletics, co-founded The Move Initiative – a nonprofit that utilizes NCAA student-athletes to help elementary students develop a healthy relationship with food and activity, and completed nutrition-focused study abroad trips to northern Italy and Brazil. Morgan completed her dietetic internship through the University of Houston, including rotations at the Medical Center for Eating Disorders and with an outpatient eating disorder dietitian. She practices with a Health at Every Size approach as she works with clients to become intuitive eaters and help them develop a positive relationship with food and their body.