PROGRAM DIRECTOR/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Emily Walkley, MA, LMFT, APCC

Emily is a licensed marriage & family therapist who has been working in the eating disorder field since 2012. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied psychology from New York University, as well as two Master of Arts degrees from Pepperdine University (general psychology and clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy). Emily began her training in the treatment of eating disorders working as a recovery coach in a residential facility for adolescents and adults. Since then, she has held many positions in both residential and day treatment facilities, working with folks of all ages and a variety of backgrounds. Over the years, she has gained experience in treatment planning and patient advocacy, as well as providing individual and group therapy to patients and loved ones in all stages of the recovery process.

In addition to her training in family systems and cognitive behavioral modalities, Emily is truly a humanist at heart, placing a great deal of value on personal experience and working to aid patients in freeing themselves from limitations and understanding authentic life goals. She likes to take an integrative, solution-focused approach to therapy, building on patients’ unique strengths, circumstances, and resources to implement changes to reach preferred futures. Emily’s warm and humorous, yet straightforward, nature provides a safe space for patients to challenge their eating disorders and strengthen their healthy selves. Emily serves as program director at the Del Mar and San Diego outpatient facilities, as well as executive director in the San Diego region, supporting the residential facilities in La Jolla and Del Mar.

ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Susan Zelenak, RD

Susan is a registered dietitian who obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in foods and nutrition from San Diego State University. She then completed her dietetic internship through Utah State University as well as her Master of Dietetics Administration degree with an emphasis on dietetic management.

Susan is passionate about helping patients on their journey to recovery. She has worked with adolescents and adults in residential and outpatient settings since 2017. Susan takes pride in creating a supportive space for individualized care centered around the principles of Intuitive Eating and aligned with the Health at Every Size® (HAES) approach.

Susan is currently working toward becoming a certified eating disorders registered dietitian (CEDRD) and is the secretary for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) San Diego chapter.

MILIEU MANAGER

Sara Burris

Sara Burris has a passion for health and wellness which is what brought her to Center for Discovery. Sara began her journey with Discovery in one of Connecticut’s eating disorder adolescent residential programs. She started as a diet technician while enrolled in Gateway Community College’s Nutrition & Dietetics program. She then joined the team at the outpatient facility in New Haven, Connecticut to further her career as a Facility Coordinator. After two years with Center for Discovery, Sara made the big move cross country to continue her journey in the Facility Coordinator role with the Del Mar team. Sara will continue to pursue her education in California with a focus on health and wellness, utilizing a focus on naturopathic medicine. Her long-term goal is to enroll in naturopathic medical school and continue to assist clients towards their recovery.

As the Facility Coordinator, Sara handles daily operations including administrative duties, research, clinical documentation, and customer service. Sara continues to strive to keep the clients and staff safe while keeping the facility a place they can call home.

Clinical Advisor

Cyndi Pulsinelli, LMFT

Cyndi Pulsinelli is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who serves as the Clinical Supervisor on the Del Mar Outpatient and La Jolla Residential teams. As Clinical Supervisor, she provides supervision and oversight to clinical interns on the treatment teams. Cyndi obtained her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in San Diego and also holds undergraduate degrees in Communication Studies and Psychology with a minor in Civic Leadership.

Cyndi has worked with Center for Discovery since 2013, holding positions at residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care as Primary Therapist and Program Director, as well as serving as the Southern California Regional Director of Eating Disorder Outpatient Programs.

Outside of her Clinical Supervisor role, Cyndi has a private practice specializing in treating individuals with eating disorders and trauma. The heart of her practice is the very essence of equipping individuals and families to live a life where they thrive. To thrive is a means of growth, to flourish, revive, change-state or turn.

Cyndi practices using evidence-based treatment modalities including EMDR, ERP, DBT, and CBT, while cultivating hope through a strengths-based approach. Over the years, Cyndi has had experience working with a broad range of issues including eating disorders, body image, grief and loss, perinatal loss, mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, family struggles, PTSD, and crisis intervention.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Liz Hardeman-Fikes, MA, AMFT

Elizabeth Hardeman-Fikes is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist who has been working in the eating disorder field for the past several years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Westmont College, and graduated with her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. 

Elizabeth has experience working with adolescents and adults, and has received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and family systems modalities. In addition to her work with eating disorders, Elizabeth has experience treating individuals with a variety of diagnoses, including anxiety, OCD, major depressive disorder, and ADHD. Elizabeth is passionate about using a strength-based and client-centered approach. Outside of work, she enjoys playing guitar and spending time outdoors.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Emily Andersen, AMFT, APCC

Emily Andersen is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University and graduated with her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University.

Emily has experience working with adults struggling with substance abuse and primary mental health concerns at detox, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care.  She also has experience working with men and women with eating disorders, as well as treating individuals with a variety of diagnoses and comorbid disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, body dysmorphia, bipolar disorders, and personality disorders.

Emily is passionate about working with clients with eating disorders. She integrates Health at Every Size, Anti-Diet, and Intuitive Eating into her therapeutic approach with clients and is passionate about using a strengths-based, client-centered approach.  Emily believes that every client is different and therefore will have different needs in therapy and likes to pull from multiple therapy modalities including family systems, psychodynamic/psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys doing calligraphy and other projects, home décor, and exploring San Diego.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Jay Alarcon, MBA, MA, AMFT, NACP

Jay Alarcon is a Primary Therapist at Center for Discovery – Del Mar Outpatient. Jay is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, having received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Diego. His educational pursuits and achievements also include a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Stanford University, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from San Diego State University, a Master’s in Business Administration from University of Southern California. Jay is currently a Doctoral Student at California School of Professional Psychology, with research interest focusing on sexual assault and trauma in BIPOC (Biracial, Indigenous, People of Color) populations.

He practices using evidence-based treatment modalities including DBT, TF-CBT and EMDR, with a family systems and feministic perspective. Jay has experience working with issues including eating disorders, severe emotion dysregulation problems, self-harm, chronic suicidality, sexual assault, personality disorders, severe anxiety/mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and PTSD.

Jay has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital where he completed his graduate level internship and RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) as a crisis responder. Jay provided individual, family, and group psychotherapy to adolescents with severe trauma history and co-occurring disorders. During his graduate studies, he had received intensive DBT training and supervision from Lucene Wisniewski PhD, world-renowned eating disorder expert.

He has utilized his clinical skills and perspective to invoke, change and affect his local community. Alongside other advocates, Jay establishing the first Diversity and Inclusion commission in Riverside County and serves as an Executive Officer for Riverside County NAACP. As a combat retired Marine, Jay has enjoyed traveling to multiple parts of the world, giving him the ability to experience new cultures. He enjoys spending time surfing and snowboarding in the Sierras, watching Netflix documentaries, cooking, and spending time with his wife.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Sherry Pinneo, MS, RD

Sherry Pinneo is a registered dietitian who recently received her Masters from San Diego State University in Nutritional Sciences and Exercise Physiology. She has previously worked in clinical nutrition for the past 2 ½ years at various acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities. Before that, she completed her dietetic internship at Cal Poly Pomona and earned her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition. Sherry has worked with adolescents and adults with eating disorders in the Residential, Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient levels of care. She also has experience working with collegiate and professional athletes helping them with their performance nutrition and fueling for their sport. Sherry is excited to grow in the field of dietetics and loves getting to be able to spread the word of nutrition.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Megan Connolly, MS, RD

Megan Connolly is a Registered Dietitian who first developed an interest in nutrition when navigating nutrition-related health conditions in her personal life. Megan completed her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at UCLA, after which she sought opportunities in the field that allowed her to utilize her background in psychology while further exploring her growing interest in nutrition. Megan worked as a counselor at one of Center for Discovery’s residential treatment centers where she learned about the many connections between nutrition and mental health. It was this experience that solidified for Megan that becoming a registered dietitian would give her the opportunity to perfectly combine her interests and skills, while fulfilling her lifelong intention to serve others in her profession.

After committing to this career path, Megan received her master’s degree in nutritional sciences at San Diego State University and completed her dietetic internship at UC San Diego Health. She is passionate about delivering thoughtful, individualized, evidence-based care, and incorporates Intuitive Eating and Health At Every Size (HAES) principles into her nutrition philosophy and work with clients. Megan plans to further develop her specialty in eating disorders by becoming a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian. In her free time, Megan enjoys traveling, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.

Diet Tech

Molly Goldring

Molly Goldring grew up in southern California where she quickly grew to love the beach, hiking, and general sunshine that the coast offers. Knowing that she needed to stay in a warm, coastal climate, Molly attended San Diego State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition. At San Diego State, Molly also achieved certification in the Didactic Program in Dietetics, became an active member in the Student Nutrition Organization, and volunteered at various hospitals and food banks affiliated with the nutrition department in order to identify her main interests in the field. Molly is working toward and aspires to become a Registered Dietitian and is excited to gain experience working with clients at Center for Discovery – Del Mar Outpatient.

DIET TECHNICIAN

Stephanie Lu, BS

Stephanie Lu is a dietetic technician who obtained her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition from San Diego State University. After completing her undergraduate courses, Stephanie began working at one of Center for Discovery’s residential treatment centers, initially as a dietetic technician and then as a counselor as well. In her dual roles, Stephanie supported clients day-to-day in their recovery journey from their admission day throughout the duration of their stay. She worked for over a year at the Del Mar Residential facility before joining the team at Del Mar Outpatient.

Stephanie is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University. Aside from her studies, she also works as a teaching assistant as well as a research assistant. In addition to the treatment of eating disorders, Stephanie’s areas of interest in the field of nutrition include community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and the research of functional foods.

One of Stephanie’s career goals is to help battle food insecurity and implement better nutrition education within local communities. She was inspired by her time as an international volunteer, where she learned about the successful food redistribution efforts and nutrition education infrastructure in Lisbon, Portugal. Upon completing her masters, Stephanie hopes to complete the didactic program in dietetics and obtain her registered dietitian licensure. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys exploring different cuisines and yoga.