PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Brittany Broughal, M.A., LMFT

Brittany was drawn to the field of mental health to inspire others to become catalysts for change in their own lives. After earning her Master’s Degree in marriage and family therapy from Fairfield University, Brittany became dually licensed in the state of New York and Connecticut. Her skill set is a culmination of having applied systemic analysis to the treatment of eating disorders within residential, partial hospital, intensive outpatient and outpatient settings. Brittany believes in taking a client-centered approach to treatment which is rooted in the philosophy that true wellness is about reconnecting with your authentic self. While in private practice, Brittany began to recognize that our relationship with food often mirrors our soul’s experience in life. This led to furthering her education at the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, where she became certified as an Eating Psychology Coach. Brittany is also trained in EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Structural/Strategic Therapy.

Having worked in both clinical and supervisory capacities, Brittany aims for the personal evolution of each individual client and staff member. Brittany originally joined the Discovery family in 2014 as a counselor for the residential adult facility in Fairfield, CT. She later went on to serve as a program therapist for the adolescent residential facility in Southport as well as the outpatient program in Greenwich. She has experience providing individual, couple, family and group therapy within both private and non-profit organizations. In addition, Brittany has previously worked in a leadership role as an Assistant Clinical Director for an eating disorder outpatient program in New York. She particularly enjoys providing clinical supervision to help others develop their strengths around supporting their clients’ journey in recovery. Brittany is excited to be returning to the Center for Discovery team as the Program Director for the eating disorder outpatient program of Greenwich, CT.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Kelsey Riesbeck, RD, CD-N

Kelsey Riesbeck is a Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery Greenwich. Kelsey earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics from the University of Connecticut in 2018. She continued her education by completing her Dietetic Internship, obtaining experience in hospitals, schools, and outpatient facilities around Connecticut and Massachusetts. She passed the national registration exam that same year to become licensed to practice in CT.

Kelsey’s specialized treatment of eating disorders began as a Psych Tech in an inpatient facility where she learned to provide individual therapy and lead group sessions. Kelsey is passionate about teaching others the importance of good nutrition for the body as well as the mind. She truly practices the “all foods fit” motto in her daily life and is excited to share her love for food and nutrition with others throughout their recovery process. Kelsey is trained in culinary education will use this knowledge to help others become more comfortable in the kitchen and dining environment. She is looking forward to continuing her career in eating disorders and leading others in their path to recovery.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Devra Braun, MD

Devra Braun, M.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill-Cornell Medical College, where she remains actively involved in teaching.  She is on the medical staff of Greenwich Hospital since 1997 and was Director of the Department of Psychiatry from 2014-2016.

Dr. Braun graduated from Cornell University and NYU Medical School.  She did a Residency in psychiatry and a Fellowship in Eating disorders at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Division.  She remained at NY Hospital-Cornell as Medical Director of inpatient eating disorders until 1996.  After working at Barnard Student Health Service and the Northeast Center for Trauma Recovery, she opened Integrative Medicine and Psychotherapy of Greenwich in 2002.

When Dr. Braun joined the staff at the Center for Discovery in Greenwich last year, she was continuing her longtime work in the field of eating disorders.  She was Principal Investigator on an NIMH eating disorders research grant and has written more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, mainly about eating disorders.

DIETITIAN

Virginia Aloi, BS

Virginia Aloi is a Registration Eligible Dietitian at Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program Greenwich. In 2013, Virginia earned her Associate’s degree in Foods and Nutrition at the State University of New York’s Westchester Community College. Driven by her growing passion for nutrition, she continued her studies and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the City University of New York’s Lehman College, becoming a Dietetic Technician Registered in 2015. That year she joined the Center for Discovery Greenwich team as a Diet Tech, where she has been making a lasting impact in the lives of countless clients on their path towards recovery. In 2018, Virginia completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Delaware, obtaining her field experience at Greenwich Hospital, New York’s Office of Mental Health, and Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services. In her new role as a Dietitian at Center for Discovery Greenwich, Virginia is looking forward to continuing to help improve clients’ lives by guiding them on their path to reconciling their relationship with food.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Stacie Handel, LMFT

Stacie Handel is a Primary Therapist at Center For Discovery Greenwich and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Stacie attended Southern Connecticut State University where she received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. 

Stacie has experience working with children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families in various levels of care.  Stacie joined the Center For Discovery team in 2016 and has supported adolescents at the residential programs in both the Counselor III and Primary Therapist roles facilitating DBT groups, Multifamily groups, Shame Resilience and Body Acceptance groups in addition to individual and family therapy.  She is passionate about working with families and practices from a systemic lens when working with individuals. Stacie believes that each person’s treatment is individualized and each person’s treatment plan is created based on individual needs.  Stacie focuses therapy on empowering the family system and fostering family communication.  

FACILITY COORDINATOR

Kristie Shannon, BS

Kristie Shannon is the Facility Coordinator at Center for Discovery Greenwich Outpatient Program. Kristie received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a focus in Nutrition and a minor in Psychology and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Human Nutrition at the University of Bridgeport. She began working at the Center for Discovery in the Adolescent Residential Eating Disorder Facility in Southport as a Diet Tech and Counselor. Kristie’s goal is to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist and continue working with clients to help them overcome their eating disorders.

Kristie is passionate about teaching others how to manage the allostatic load to help people live the best life possible. Kristie believes that food is medicine and that all foods fit in balance, variety, and moderation.

ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Danielle Deramo, PCA

Danielle Deramo is the Assistant Program Director at Center For Discovery Greenwich and a Professional Counselor Associate. Danielle joined the Center For Discovery team in 2016 and was previously a Program Therapist at Center For Discovery Greenwich.

Danielle Deramo attended Mercy College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Science. Danielle went on to follow her passion of becoming a mental health therapist and attended Pace University where she received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. During her time at Pace University, Danielle completed her internship at an Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital and worked with clients in group settings that were struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, truancy, and/or oppositional behaviors. During this time Danielle truly realized this was her calling.

Danielle has always had a great interest in the treatment of eating disorders and strives to be a support to those that are struggling. After graduating, Danielle continued exploring her passions and other areas of focus in clinical practice. Danielle began learning about law enforcement and the military in respect to mental health and trauma and ways to best serve these populations. Danielle is certified in providing care to the military and their families. Danielle greatly enjoys empowering people of all walks of life to find the courage and strength to use their voice and advocate for themselves.

PROGRAM THERAPIST

Katrina Lippolt, LMSW

Katrina Lippolt received her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz in Psychology and Evolutionary Studies. Katrina continued her education at Adelphi University by gaining a master’s degree in social work. Katrina has previous experiencing working at a partial and outpatient mental health clinic. She has worked with both children and adults providing individual and group therapy. Katrina believes each person’s path to recovery is different and their treatment plan is based on the person needs. Within Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program, Katrina has experience working as a Counselor III at the Young Adult Residential Eating Disorder Facility in Fairfield, CT and has recently joined the Greenwich PHP/IOP team as a Therapist.

ART THERAPIST

Elizabeth M. Madden M.A.A.T., LPC

Elizabeth has attained her Master’s in art therapy as well as being a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has accrued over ten years of experience in the field of expressive art therapy and psychotherapy. Working with children, adolescents, and adults as well as families who are challenged by trauma, loss, PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She has worked in both in and outpatient programs, schools, and community centers. Elizabeth has established her own private practice with offices in Newtown, Westport, and Greenwich. She has always had a passion for art and believes it can be used as a means of initiating and facilitating the process of healing through the expression of images and symbols. It is also a unique and effective approach for offering an alternative means of communication.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Allison Milch, RD, CDN

Allison Milch is a Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery Greenwich. In 2018, Allison earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science from Cornell University.  She continued to gain experience in the field while completing the Cornell University Dietetic Internship. Through this 10-month program, she completed rotations at an area agency on aging, as well as at a hospital and long-term care center. In 2019, she passed the national registration exam and obtained a license to practice in Connecticut.

During her dietetic internship, Allison realized her passion for counseling and developing trusting relationships with her clients. In her new role at Center for Discovery, she is excited to help improve her clients’ relationships with food and body through a weight-inclusive approach to health. In addition, Allison is looking forward to gaining invaluable experience in eating disorders and learning from an exceptional health care team at Greenwich.

CLINICAL INTAKE COORDINATOR

Kelly Akehurst

Kelly Akehurst is a Clinical Intake Coordinator at Center For Discovery’s Greenwich Outpatient Program. Kelly received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and obtained her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

Kelly is passionate about helping clients with eating disorders and particularly enjoys working with clients around perfectionism, anxiety, depression, trauma and shame resilience. With a background in admissions and counseling, Kelly appreciates the life experiences and challenges that bring clients to make the brave decision to embark on their journey in treatment. She has experience working with youth and adults within outpatient, residential, and inpatient hospital settings. Kelly’s therapeutic approach is warm, non-judgmental, and empathic.

DIET TECH

Abigail Almonte

Abigail Almonte is a Dietetic Technician, Registered (D.T.R.) at Center for Discovery’s Greenwich Outpatient Program. Abigail earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics, Food, and Nutrition from City University of New York’s Lehman College in 2017. She has since expanded her experience and education through Lehman’s Dietetic Internship.

Abigail has gained experience working in a variety of healthcare and retail settings in New York and New Jersey; including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, non-profit organizations, and within an eating disorder treatment program. During her internship, Abigail realized her passion for teaching others about balance and the joy of food. Overtime, Abigail has grown comfortable working hands-on with clients and their families with menu planning, cooking and providing educational programs around our relationship with food and its impact on our physical and mental health.

Abigail is an active member of both the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Westchester Rockland Dietetic Association. Abigail is excited to support each client on their path to growth in her role as a Dietetic Technician for Center For Discovery.

Program Therapist

Sammi Farber, LMSW

Sammi Farber attended The Culinary Institute of America where she received her Bachelors degree in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. Through her experience in hospitality, Sammi discovered her strengths in problem solving and the joys of interacting with people. This rerouted her life path towards the field of mental health.

After attending Fordham University and graduating with a Masters Degree in Social Work, Sammi went on to follow her passion for supporting the eating disorder population through her role as a Recovery Coach in an outpatient meal support setting. Sammi remains an active advocate for raising awareness around the need for eating disorder treatment in communities. She is a reoccurring speaker for Delta Phi Epsilon during ANAD week on multiple campuses on the east coast as well as an active member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Sammi is currently working towards her goal of becoming a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist.

Aiming to help her clients achieve freedom from their eating disorders, Sammi takes an empowering, collaborative, and humanized approach to help her clients reconnect with their authentic soul-self. Sammi wholeheartedly believes that in order to live a fuller life, one cannot focus on what they wish to restrict about themselves; but rather, all they have to gain in this world. She implements this belief into her work with her clients.