REGIONAL DIRECTOR NORTHEAST OP PROGRAMS

Capri Warchol, Psy. D

Dr. Capri Warchol is the Regional Director for our Northeast Outpatient Programs at Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program. Dr. Warchol joined the Discovery team in 2008 and was previously Program Director at both the residential and outpatient levels of care within Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program. In addition to acting as Regional Director, she is also a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in New York and Connecticut. She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where her primary research focused on the experiences of social comparison in residential treatment settings for females with eating disorders. Dr. Warchol has over a decade of experience diagnosing and treating eating disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders, in residential and outpatient settings.

Dr. Warchol has worked in both clinical and supervisory capacities, providing individual, group, couples, and family therapy. She practices therapeutically from a client-centered approach with the belief that each individual is the expert on their own life and has the ability to reach their full potential. As the Northeast Regional Director, Dr. Warchol believes in creating a safe and collaborative environment in which every individual has a voice and an opportunity to grow.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Francine Figueroa, MSW, LCSW

Francine Figueroa is the Program Director at Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program Greenwich. Francine holds a Masters of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in the treatment of Eating Disorders. Francine earned her MSW at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Social Work in 2012. Ms. Figueroa is core trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), FBT (Family Based Therapy for Eating Disorders) and has had trainings in Biofeedback and Hypnotherapy. Francine has close to ten years of experience facilitating group therapy, family therapy and individual therapy. Francine has established Experiential Group Curriculums and has extensive experience in the facilitation of DBT group curriculum.
Francine’s specialized treatment of Eating Disorders began at an Inpatient Level of Care treating children, adolescents and adults. In addition, Francine has worked with individuals, couples and families in Private Practice, Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Treatment who have struggled with mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, trauma and addiction, grief and loss, adoption, infertility, learning disabilities and mental health in the LGBT community.

Francine practices trauma informed care and maintains ethnic and cultural awareness. Her style is both compassionate and non-judgmental. Her approach is geared to build supportive therapeutic relationships that encourage clients to meet their goals. Francine is a creative person always encouraging clients to connect to their creative selves as part of the healing process.

Ms. Figueroa is a strong advocate for the treatment of Eating Disorders, Addiction and Trauma.

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.

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.

PROGRAM THERAPIST

Stacie Handel

Stacie has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Stacie is passionate about working with families and practices from a systemic lens when working with families as well as individuals. Stacie was a senior counselor at Center for Discovery before being promoted to becoming the Primary Therapist. She has run several therapeutic groups at Center for Discovery including dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT) Group, Multi-Family Group, Shame Resilience and Relapse Prevention Group. Stacie has experience working with children, teenagers, adults, families and couples. She has previously worked in Youth and Family Service programs collaborating with social services agencies and schools. Stacie believes in promoting growth and recovery in the individual as well as the family. Stacie works from a cognitive behavioral approach and believes that thoughts and behaviors are strongly connected. With Center for Discovery client’s and families she works to empower the family system and fostering family communication.

PROGRAM THERAPIST

Danielle Deramo

Danielle Deramo attended Mercy College where she received a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science/Psychology. She then attended Pace University where she received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Danielle has provided weekly intensive therapy to clients of all ages struggling with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and family conflict.

As Program Therapist for Center for Discovery, Danielle believes in a healing and therapeutic environment for families and clients. She strives to embody this philosophy in her practice through a multi-faceted, strengths-based approach including CBT, DBT, and art therapy.

Danielle’s true passion is the treatment of mental health and eating disorders and her focus is helping clients feel empowered on their journey to recovery.

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.

DIETETIC TECHNICIAN

Rebecca McCollum, BS

Rebecca McCollum is a Dietetic Technician at Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Programs in Greenwich and Fairfield. Rebecca received her first Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Currently, she is completing her second Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and was accepted into the Human Nutrition Master’s program at the University of New Haven. She is working towards applying for a Dietetic Internship and becoming a Registered Dietitian with a focus in nutritional genomics.

Rebecca promotes positive mentalities about food, body image, and mental health. She is passionate about teaching and believes food can be used as a tool to prevent disease states. Her greatest passion is supporting and empowering clients to have healthy relationships with others, themselves, and food.

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.

Program Therapist

Sarah Turney, LMHC, LPC

Sarah Turney received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Scranton. She credits her experience there for igniting her passion for therapy. Sarah then went on to attend Mercy College where she obtained her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. Sarah has experience working in a variety of settings including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, clinic, and private practice. She considers her style of therapy to be integrative; pulling from a collection of psychological theories, she tailors her approach to each individual client. She believes the client/therapist relationship is a partnership and the client is the expert in their own life. Sarah brings her authentic self to every session and prides herself on her ability to connect with others.

Program Therapist

Megan Zhang, M.A.

Megan Zhang is a Program Therapist at the Greenwich Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program. Megan
holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from Eastern University in Clinical Counseling Psychology, with a
concentration in trauma studies. Megan also received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology from
Eastern University, with minors in both music, and gender studies. Megan has been working with the eating disorder
population since 2014, in PHP, IOP and outpatient settings. Megan has also had experience working with clients in a
variety of settings, including: working with clients with autism spectrum disorder, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief
& loss, career counseling, and working with college students facing various struggles.

As a therapist, Megan offers a nonjudgmental, compassionate approach when working with clients. Megan is
educated in trauma-informed care and practices a trauma-informed approach with clients. In addition, Megan enjoys
utilizing each client’s unique strengths in their treatment, empowering them to use their individual strengths as
assets in their recovery. Megan is passionate about understanding who the client is at their core, or their “soul self”,
and helping them regain who they are as they strengthen their “healthy self” in recovery.