PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Jim Christopher

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Jessica Beauchene, MD

Dr. Jessica Beauchene completed her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of the Pacific. She then worked on a Master’s Program before attending UC Davis for medical school. She did her psychiatry residency at UCSF-Fresno Campus. While at UCSF she treated several eating disorder patients and trained at the Stanford-Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. She has now returned to Sacramento where she is working with the Placer County Mental Health Services and is the staff psychiatrist for the Center for Discovery in Sacramento.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Crystal Langford, LMFTA

Crystal Langford is a registered Associate marriage and family therapist supervised by James Christopher, licensed marriage and family therapist. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Nutrition from Waldorf University and her Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from the University of San Francisco. She has been working with Center for discovery since 2015 as a floor counselor and is now one of the primary therapists. She has a passion for supporting individuals struggling with an eating disorder and co-occurring mental health diagnoses and specifically has training in different treatment approaches including dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and shame resilience. Crystal is trained in brain spotting therapy to address symptoms of trauma especially in correlation with eating struggles. She did her internship during her masters program at life practice counseling group, a non profit outpatient mental health agency treating individuals, families, and children gaining experience working with a wide variety of mental health diagnoses. Her favorite aspects of center for discovery’s treatment modality are the all foods fit philosophy and the health at every size approach to heal body image distress and food judgements. She loves spending time with her friends and family, is a christmas enthusiast and loves anything Harry Potter.

FACILITY MANAGER

Carolyn Willis, BA

Carolyn Willis received her BS in Community Mental Health Psychology with a Certificate in Addiction Studies from William Jessup University. Prior to joining Discovery, Carolyn worked with YCCC Harmony House specializing in adults with mental health disorders. Carolyn has been working with Center For Discovery Sacramento since 2015. Carolyn has worked in both adolescent and adult residential eating disorder treatment. Carolyn’s favorite aspect of Center For Discovery is the small treatment setting and individualized care that she is able to give clients. Carolyn enjoys hiking, camping, and anything coffee related.

PHYSICIAN

Dr. Sara Shakked, MD

Dr. Shakked is the primary care Physician at Center For Discovery Sacramento residential eating disorder program. She is a family physician that particularly focuses on working with patients with psychiatric issues. Dr. Shakked’s hope is to help clients find and make meaning out of their life narrative. She also has a particular interest in dialectical behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and archetypal patterns as they play out in the individual. Dr. Shakked authored a curriculum manual for therapists who provide care to physicians and has an interest in the physician experience as a sociological construct.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Kelly Melanson, RD

Kelly Melanson is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Body Positive Facilitator who
specializes in providing nutrition therapy to adolescents and adults struggling with
disordered eating. She is currently the Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery’s
Eating Disorder Residential Facility for adult women.

Kelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics with a minor in Biology at California State
University Sacramento and later completed her Dietetic Internship at Stony Brook
Medicine in New York. During her Internship, Kelly explored various areas of
nutrition and was given the opportunity to work with a private practice Dietitian
specializing in eating disorders. This experience was a turning point for Kelly and
ignited her desire for working in the field of eating disorders and mental health. She
is passionate about providing personalized nutrition care and counseling to
individuals and their families and enjoys helping people reject the diet mentality
while learning to make peace with food.

NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

Madeline Hubbard, RN

Madeline is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She has worked in various mental health outpatient settings and began her nursing career to provide direct care that addresses individuals’ physical and emotional needs simultaneously. Her trauma-informed approach to nursing aims to empower individuals wherever they may be along their path of recovery and she is proud to be part of the team at Center for Discovery, helping to support the growth and autonomy of our residents.