PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Damon, R-DMT, LPC

Elizabeth Damon is a registered dance/movement therapist and licensed professional counselor with over ten years of experience in the mental health field. She believes in providing empirically validated treatment in a safe and supportive environment and is passionate about treating women with eating disorders. Her treatment approach is to provide room for growth and self-reflection as well as laughter and joy. She hopes that when her clients leave treatment they feel whole again, and are able to experience themselves, as well as life, in a more rich and complete way.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Tara Abish

Tara Abish is a Registered Dietitian at the Center for Discovery Outpatient Facility in Paramus. Tara received her Bachelors of Science Majoring in Food and Nutrition from The University of Alabama Distance Program. She is an accredited member of both the CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration), as well as the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, as well as the CDR.

Tara prides herself in using a client-centered approach to nutrition therapy; providing her clients with individualized meal plans and personalized nutrition counseling. Tara also practices Exposure Response Therapy that is specific to the client’s unique lifestyle and needs.

DIET TECHNICIAN

Breana Penzenik

Breana Penzenik is a Diet Technician at Center for Discovery. She recently received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in Dietetics. She is looking forward to starting the Dietetic Internship this upcoming year to continue her career and become a Registered Dietitian.

Breana is thrilled to begin her dietetic career with Center for Discovery in Paramus. She thoroughly enjoys working hands-on with clients in the various nutrition groups, including kitchen, intuitive eating and menu planning. She has a passion for helping others find joy in cooking and the eating experience. She can’t wait to put her nutrition knowledge and skills into practice to help clients view nutrition in a new light. Breana is excited to help educate and support each client on their personal journey to recovery.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Nicolette Bernabeu

Nicolette Bernabeu is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She graduated from Marywood
University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. After graduation, she
then became a Dietetic Technician. Nicolette completed her dietetic internship through
Marywood University’s distance internship program whose concentration was health
promotion and wellness. Nicolette is an active member of both the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics and New Jersey’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nicolette is excited
to be able to her share passion for nutrition here at Center for Discovery.

MILIEU MANAGER

Samantha Kral

Samantha Kral is the Milieu Manager at Center for Discovery. Samantha earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Rutgers University New Brunswick. Prior to working for Center for Discovery, Samantha worked at Penn Medicine Princeton Health as a Dining Coordinator in the dietary office. Samantha appreciates her time at Penn Medicine working directly under qualified registered dietitians because through that, she has gained years of experience in providing quality care to patients with specific dietary restrictions and in some cases, eating disorders.

As the Milieu Manager, Samantha handles the day to day operations and administrative management of the Paramus facility. Samantha truly loves lending a helping hand and enjoys utilizing her dietary background to assist clients and her team when she can. Samantha’s approach to program is building a strong community through experiences, respect for one another, and laughter. Samantha is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of each client’s road to recovery and looks forward to growing even further with Center for Discovery in the future.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Cara Cuccinello

Cara Cuccinello is a Primary Therapist at Center for Discovery, Paramus. Cara earned her Bachelor’s degree majoring in Psychology, minoring in Sociology from Rutgers University. Following that, she earned a Master’s degree from Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work, specializing in clinical practice, with emphasis in mental and behavioral health. During her education she had an opportunity to grow her skill working in the areas of social-emotional development, behavioral healthcare, and eating disorder populations.

Cara has experience with the eating disorder population in various settings including inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. She aims to provide clients with the calm and validating atmosphere needed for a positive therapeutic relationship and to promote change. Cara engages clients in a variety of ways best suited to one’s unique needs, but consistently incorporates lessons of acceptance, self-awareness, and skills to live an emotionally balanced lifestyle. It is important to Cara that her clients feel heard, valued, and safe to explore and express themselves. She hopes her clients conclude their treatment having developed a sense of confidence and resilience, identifying more closely with their healthy-self than with the eating disorder, and excited to experience the true joy of recovery.

REGISTERED NURSE

Christine Paparozzi

Christine Paparozzi is a Registered Nurse who graduated from Jersey City
University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Christine went on to receive her
Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Western Governors University, where
she created an educational module focused on nutrition for her capstone project.

Christine has many years of experience in nursing with various populations. In addition to her role at
Center for Discovery, Christine is employed as a Certified School Nurse at a high school and has additionally
worked as a home care nurse for many years. She has previously worked as a hospital staff nurse in
a step-down medical surgical unit and enjoyed collaborating with Physical and
Respiratory Therapists.

Christine is enthusiastic about nursing is very excited to be part of the Center for Discovery team as a
Registered Nurse.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Jenna Park

Jenna Park is a Primary Therapist and Art Therapist at Center for Discovery. Jenna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Caldwell University with a double major in psychology and art. Jenna went on to achieve her Masters from Caldwell University in mental health counseling with a specialization in art therapy. Throughout her internship and professional endeavors, Jenna has had experience with a variety of populations in outpatient, inpatient, home, and rehabilitation environments.

Jenna is pursuing her Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist credentials. Jenna uses a client centered, psychodynamic treatment approach, empowering clients to recognize their own strengths, patterns of behavior, and solutions. Jenna aims to help clients understand how underlying emotions contribute to interpersonal experiences and relationships to facilitate understanding of the self and increase insight. As both an Art therapist and a Counselor, Jenna believes in the innate healing and communicative properties of art making. Jenna aims to infuse the traditional therapy modalities with the creative process to provide an immersive, comprehensive counseling experience.

CLINICAL OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVE

Cathy Lane

Cathy Lane joins Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program as the Clinical Outreach Representative for New Jersey. She has dedicated the entirety of her professional career to the treatment of eating disorders, having held leadership positions in admissions and outreach over the past decade. Cathy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies from The College of New Jersey.

With a caring, patient heart and detail-oriented mind, Cathy’s goal is to create a path to recovery for those struggling with eating disorders by sharing what makes our Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Program programs unique and assuring access to these services is as seamless as possible for the members of our community.

Cathy proudly lives near our beautiful New Jersey beaches with her husband and two boys, and enjoys crocheting, camping, and making sure each day includes a little bit of sunshine.

THERAPIST

Amy Giarratana, LSW

Amy Giarratana is a primary therapist at Center for Discovery. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Following graduation, Amy earned her master of social work from the Social Policy and Practice School at the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on clinical work. At the University of Pennsylvania, she spent her time practicing and learning at Pennsylvania Hospital in the Neonatal ICU and went on to focus on clients with comorbidity and substance use.

Amy is a certified yoga instructor and incorporates this into her clinical practice. She has spent a few years specializing in substance use and supervised an intensive outpatient program. Just before her transition into the field of eating disorders, Amy was involved in individual outpatient care. Her passion for her work comes from her motivation to foster healthy minds and positive self-images.

Amy is licensed as a social worker (LSW) and is currently pursuing her License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW). She incorporates several modalities into her clinical practice including dialectical behavioral therapy techniques, mindfulness and meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Amy enjoys focusing on thought patterns and using her skills to identify and modify negative behavioral patterns. She hopes that clients are able to build positive self-images, self-efficiency and incorporate the techniques they learn into their everyday lives for better overall well-being.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

John Chipman

John Chipman is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at the Center for Discovery Outpatient Facility in Paramus. He received his Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics from Montclair State University. He attended College of Saint Elizabeth for his joint Master program and dietetic internship and also an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

John has experience working with many different populations of all different ages. He provides patient-centered medical nutrition therapy in both the acute inpatient and outpatient settings at Englewood Health. John is also an adjunct professor at Eastwick College educating future nurses on Nutrition 101.

John is trained in motivational interviewing as it relates to nutrition and intuitive eating. He is so excited to be part of this multidisciplinary team and work together for the benefit of clients.