PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Allison Marek, LCSW, CDWF

Allison Marek, LCSW, CDWF has treated eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related issues within private practice, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment settings. Allison has been with Center for Discovery since 2015, serving as opening Program Director for the Houston Outpatient Program. Allison was awarded Center for Discovery’s Employee of the Year Award in 2016. A dynamic speaker and facilitator, Allison often presents on topics related to eating disorders, diversity, trauma, and shame. Allison earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, where she studied under shame and vulnerability expert Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW. Allison is certified in Dr. Brown’s Daring Way™ method and has facilitated the Daring Way™ in a variety of clinical settings and within professional teams. With her training in Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Allison was one of the first clinicians to utilize EAP to facilitate Dr. Brown’s work. Allison is also trained in EMDR through the EMDR International Association and uses this evidence-based practice in her work with clients. Regardless of her treatment approach, compassion is at the heart of Allison’s work with clients, families, and teams.

Allison serves on the board of the Diabulimia Helpline, a nonprofit organization serving individuals with co-occurring type 1 diabetes and eating disorders. She also volunteers with Woman Within International. Allison is a member of Houston Eating Disorders Specialists, Houston Group Psychotherapy Society, and the National Association for Social Workers.

ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Alexa Shank, MS, LPC

Alexa received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. While earning her degree, she took on the role of research assistant for the Psychology Department’s Mood Disorders Laboratory, under the direction of Christopher Beevers, PhD. Alexa helped facilitate studies advancing our understanding of mood disorders; particularly the factors that lead to and maintain depression. This prompted her to pursue her Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University.

Alexa has a background in working with adults and adolescents struggling with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and private practice settings. Alexa is committed to helping clients resolve interpersonal, psychological, and life-transition issues with warmth and empathy.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Abbie Womack, MS, RD, LD

Abbie Womack earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Master of Science in Nutrition from Oklahoma State University. During her dietetic internship through the University of Houston, Abbie obtained experience with the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of eating disorder care, as well as extensive nutrition counseling and clinical training at Houston Methodist Hospital. In addition to working at Center for Discovery, Abbie also works in private practice. Abbie operates based on the Health at Every Size philosophy and specializes in helping clients journey toward food freedom through intuitive eating.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Emily Travis, MPH, RDN, LD

Emily Travis, MPH, RDN, LD, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Baylor University in 2014. She then completed her Dietetic Internship and customized Master’s degree with concentration in nutrition and focus in epidemiology from the University of Texas School of Public Health in 2016.
​
Emily obtained extensive training and experience in outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization eating disorder treatment throughout her dietetic internship. Emily also has experience working in private practice. Emily works with individuals to help them obtain a more positive body image, while overcoming their obstacles around food.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Melanie Lammers, MS, RDN, LD

Melanie Lammers, MS, RDN, LD, earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in both Nutritional Sciences and Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2015. She completed her Dietetic Internship and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2017.

During her dietetic internship Melanie gained experience working in all areas of nutrition including inpatient clinical care and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization eating disorder treatment. As a dietitian, Melanie helps clients develop a more positive relationship with both food and their bodies by embracing the philosophies of both Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size. In addition to her nutrition background, Melanie is also certified through Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200 level yoga instructor. She believes that both the physical practice and spiritual principles of yoga help clients develop a healthier body image and increase awareness of their physical and mental selves.

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.

PRIMARY THERAPIST, CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Sara Benefiel, LPC

Sarah received her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston. She went on to pursue her Master’s in Counseling from Sam Houston State University where she specialized in marriage and family therapy. While working on her master’s she explored many different areas within the counseling field during her internships where she honed in on her desire to work with adolescents and their families. During her internship she counseled at a community counseling center and within the Texas Juvenile Justice System. She also has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in an acute care facility; it was at this time she realized her passion to work in a more intensive environment.

Sarah tends to take a systemic approach to therapy where she involves family and supportive others as much as possible to increase support, communication, understanding, and connection within the support system. She enjoys working in collaboration with clients and their families through challenging family transitions such as family conflict, trauma, self-harm, depression, and anxiety that are often tied into eating disorders.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Sehrish Ali, MA

Sehrish received her Masters of Arts in Counseling from Houston Baptist University. While pursuing her graduate degree she centered her intern experience around gaining a better understanding of the complexities involved in various eating disorders.

Prior to joining Center for Discovery’s team, Sehrish worked extensively with both adult and adolescent individuals presenting with eating disorders, depression, anxiety and trauma. She did so while working alongside their families and loved ones to help gauge a better understanding of how to care for their loved ones at various levels of care.

Sehrish believes in an approach that is collaborative and allows one to effectively acknowledge parts of oneself, including behaviors and relationships that are presently impeding future growth. Sehrish utilizes various forms of empirically based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Action Committed Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to meet each individual client’s needs.

FACILITY COORDINATOR

Jon Carapezza

Jon has 10 years of experience in the mental health field, including management and client care coordination of inpatient, residential, and intensive outpatient facilities. He joined the team in May 2018 as Facility Coordinator and is currently fulfilling his hours to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. In his spare time, Jon likes to play with his dog and spend time in nature.

FACILITY COORDINATOR

Sonia Albin

Sonia is originally from Mexico City and earned a B.S. in Aquatic and Fisheries Science from the University of Washington, after which she was an outdoor and adventure educator in western Maine. After working as a science teacher at an arts-based school in Houston, Sonia decided to become a health coach and counselor, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of St. Thomas. In addition to being an educator and coach, Sonia has worked as an artist, barista, farmer, and karate instructor and is passionate about nature. Sonia joined the CFD team in May 2018 as Facility Coordinator and is now a Group Counselor.

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.

PRIMARY THERAPIST, CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Brittany Phillips, LMHC

Brittany is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who graduated with distinction from Long Island University. During her Master’s Degree program, she held a graduate research assistantship in the School of Education, as well as a teaching assistantship co-facilitating training groups for graduate-level counseling students. Brittany started working as a milieu counselor and per diem therapist at Center for Discovery Hamptons when the facility first opened it’s doors in 2016. Since then she has moved into the role of Primary Therapist and is dedicated to facilitating behavioral, emotional, and spiritual growth for adolescents struggling with eating disorders and their families. Brittany has had a desire to work with youth since she first embarked on her career path. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Adolescent Education before moving on to get her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Brittany completed her graduate-level practicum at the Suffolk County Corrections Facility working with incarcerated youth and their families. She completed her graduate internship at Saint Joseph’s College of Long Island where she provided individual counseling for undergraduate students and co-facilitated counseling groups in the Wellness Center. Brittany has a special interest in adolescent identity development and her treatment approach is person-centered and integrative. She has been clinically trained in both psychodynamic and humanistic orientations but blends elements from various evidence-based modalities to create a transformative therapeutic experience tailored to each client’s needs. Through her holistic approach to counseling and psychotherapy, individuals are guided and empowered to self-actualize.