PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Ashley Rist, RD

Ashley Rist completed her undergraduate degree in Food and Nutrition at San Diego State University. Ashley is a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and began her career in the field of Eating Disorders with Center For Discovery in 2017. Ashley gained experience at both the PHP/IOP and RTC levels of care, as well as working at the Mental Health RTC. Ashley transitioned her career into leadership as the Program Director. She is an advocate for body acceptance and Health At Every Size, and enjoys assisting clients heal their relationship with food and body. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, practicing yoga, and spending time at the beach. Ashley believes that recovery is possible and aims to provide a safe space for all clients.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Tiffany Trent, MS, AMFT #113733

Tiffany Trent is a Primary Therapist at Center for Discovery La Jolla Residential Treatment Center treating adolescents, emerging adults, and families impacted by eating disorders, mental health, and substance abuse. Tiffany is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and earned her Bachelors of Art in Psychology at California State University, San Marcos and her Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Her clinical theory of practice is a client-centered approach within the framework of Family Systems, Psychodynamic Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Tiffany practices using evidence-based treatment modalities including DBT and CBT, while cultivating hope and resilience through a strengths-based approach. She has experience working with a broad range of issues including eating disorders, women’s issues, mood and anxiety disorders, family conflict, attachment issues, trauma and PTSD, co-occurring disorders, gender identity issues, and crisis intervention.

Tiffany previously worked as a therapist at a non-profit counseling center in Orange County treating couples, families, teens and individuals and has experience working in a private practice treating trauma, depression and relationship issues since finishing graduate school. Tiffany’s approach to therapy is collaborative and compassionate with the belief that no one is beyond help or beyond hope and that rewriting one’s story is the foundation for healing and recovery.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Yvette Gough, MA, AMFT #89182

Yvette Gough is a primary therapist at Center For Discovery La Jolla Residential Treatment Center, treating adolescents, emerging adults, and families impacted by eating disorders, mental health and trauma. Yvette earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development at Chico State University, and her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University, San Diego, CA. Her clinical theory of practice is a client-centered approach within the framework of Narrative therapy and Attachment therapy, which provide clients with the opportunity to rewrite their life story, and to strengthen their relationships with loved ones and most importantly the relationship to themselves.

During her graduate studies, Yvette has previously worked in a school-based system working adolescent teens and their families for two years as a AMFT, providing psychotherapy to adolescents and families suffering from a variety of issues such as suicidality, eating disorders, low self-esteem, transitional hardships, trauma and significant loss. Yvette has experience working with a number of mental health issues such as dual diagnosis, mood disorders, trauma, grief and loss, family and relationships problems, and crisis interventions. She has been an integral addition to Center for Discovery and enjoys working with a multidisciplinary team in order to provide clients and their families with the best continued care.

NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

Calyn O’Connor, BSN, RN

Calyn completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Boston and has over five years of experience working in mental health settings. After completing her degree, she began working in residential settings treating adolescents with behavioral and mental health challenges. From there she went on to work in residential eating disorder treatment for both adolescents and adults. Recently she relocated to California from Massachusetts to assume the role of Nursing Administrator. She takes great pride in the work she does, striving to provide the most competent and compassionate care possible.

ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

Dr. Christine Wood, MD, FAAP

Dr. Christine Wood is a pediatrician with a special interest in pediatric nutrition. Dr. Wood is the author of the book, How to Get Kids to Eat Great & Love It! and is in private practice at Coast Pediatrics Carmel Valley. She often consults with parents, children and teens in the practice on nutrition concerns ranging from picky eaters and overweight children to eating disorders in children, teens and young adults. She is a frequent speaker at medical conferences on nutritional issues for children, including dealing with overweight children, body image issues, eating disorders and the impact of environmental toxins on health. She graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and went on to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for her pediatric residency.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Timothy Liu, MD

Timothy Liu MD is a Board Certified Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist. He graduated from the adult psychiatry residency at Yale University School of Medicine. He also completed fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center, as well as an internship at the Mayo Clinic. His clinical research on impulse-control disorders, problematic Internet use, and depression has appeared in numerous scholarly publications. He is a co-author of four psychiatric texts including the Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience (Cambridge University Press; 2010) and The Oxford Handbook of Impulse Control Disorders (Oxford University Press; 2009).

Dr. Liu enjoys working with families and children. He provides psychiatric assessment, comprehensive treatment planning, medication management, and psychotherapy. He received training in Parent Management Training and is most familiar with methods developed by Alan Kazdin Ph.D. and Russell Barkley Ph.D. During his fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, he also underwent elective training in Habit Reversal Therapy for the treatment of tic disorders. In the past few years of practice, he has been devoting much of his time in helping parents and children communicate, and navigate through the excitement and confusion of teenage years.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Dr. Liu is trilingual in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. He is very interested in the cultural aspects of psychiatry, in particular, mental health awareness among immigrants of diverse cultural backgrounds. He was selected to be a Diversity Leadership Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2009-2010. He continues to consult at community agencies that reach out to underserved minorities and give periodic health education seminars to the Chinese-speaking community.

Dr. Liu has been in practice in San Diego since 2011. In addition to clinical practice, he organizes a peer consultation group for the San Diego Psychiatric Society to support fellow psychiatrists in the area.

Dr. Liu is married with two young children. He is a humble parent who is learning to perfect his love for his children one day at a time.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Hanna Koester

“Hannah received her Bachelor’s degree in Foods and Nutrition at San Diego State University. After earning her degree, she completed her dietetic internship through Sodexo Dietetic Internships with a concentration in Leadership. She has worked with adolescents and adults in mental health and eating disorders in both residential and outpatient settings since 2018, as both a Diet Technician and Dietetic Intern. She is passionate about helping individuals find freedom with food, their bodies, and their health by utilizing Health at Every Size, Intuitive Eating principles, and the All Foods Fit approach.

MILIEU MANAGER

Sarah Pedersen, MScN

Sarah joined the La Jolla Center for Discovery team as the Facility Manager in February of 2020. Sarah received her Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Vermont, and then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in the Science of Nutrition in 2019. During her educational endeavours, Sarah became passionate about the connection between nutrition and mental health, with specific interest in intuitive eating and Health at Every Size philosophies. Sarah joined the team with a strong background in nutrition and a passion for helping others. Sarah is also a Certified Yoga Teacher, and enjoys hiking and riding her bike in her free time.